That's funny stuff.

Now I've admitted to giving most of them some small pittance time and again, but if I saw a guy with one leg, he's guaranteed to get a couple or more bucks from me. Double it if he also has a black cat! I don;t usually fall for the wheelchair guys though but it depends on whether or not they're really believable.

And the "honesty" routine started some time ago when beggars realized that they could get a little more with some tongue-in-cheek humor. Usually, when I see that, it turns me off and I'm less likely to hand out some coin. I figure, if it's really that funny to them, maybe they should try some honest work on-stage.

In the end, it'a all pretty comical in a sad way. Choosing to be pitiful and living the life of a "homeless" bum is a slap in the face to people who are really poor and struggling with two or three jobs to support a family. No, it's an insult to ANY person who works at something for a living...whether they're struggling or not.