Dishonest beggars and ineffective apologies

OK, bit of a rant coming. Recently, I've noticed whilst going about my everyday activities (which are quite numerous), that the humble apology doesn't quite have the same effect as it used to have. For example, you may be in the lunchtime canteen queue at work and you know as well as I do that this is quite a busy environment; people buzzing around trying to get as much grub down them as they can before returning to their desks to get on with the day. It’s a hot bed for potential hazards and breeches of health and safety. So, if someone does accidentally turn around unaware of your presence and bump into you please don't get an attitude after the person has humbly apologised for their mistake -there is just no need. 

Another example, you may be on a train late at night or perhaps a bus, people are trying to get home to their loved ones (including the driver), some people may have had a few shandy's along the way, no harm in that, 'tis the season after all.

If someone does unintentionally step on your toe whist trying to manoeuvre themselves on a jiggling and over-capacitated bus or train don't give them a dirty look after they apologise, what's wrong with you? Try and be more understanding of those in a tricky situation and speaking of tricky situations... "Spare change please?" We all recognise the  request of the humble beggar, don’t we? we have come across it throughout history, but the integrity of some of the afore mentioned street dwellers has certainly been given merit to be challenged in recent times with the arrival of those commonly known as bums and junkies. 

They stand there, pleading their dishonest sympathy campaigns when in truth they are only intent on raising the funds to feed their unsavoury habits and have certainly harmed the chances of an honest beggar getting the average passer-by to contribute to their next plate of food. 

It has reached the point where we immediately assume that the scruffy looking man or woman who has their hand out or perhaps an empty paper cup must be an addict of some sort and their unfortunate situation is a self-inflicted one and therefore deserves less sympathy. 

I was recently approached by a chap who by all accounts appeared to be quite down on his luck.

His opening line was: “Can you spare me some change; it’s not for beer honest?” I honestly didn't know what to make of it. Either he was aware of the preconceptions and was trying to avoid the inevitable or he was indeed a raging alcoholic and was cunningly attempting a double bluff. Then again, perhaps he was telling the truth and the change that he wanted was not for beer but it was in fact to quell his hunger for some hard drugs… In any case he didn't get a penny out of me.

David, TCC