And I shouldn’t have used the word scrooge. I should have went with grinch, maybe. It was all the small things that bother you that seem a bit too much. But then again I don’t travel any metro.

And the “Scrooge” comment. In true Socratic fashion, let me just ask, “What would you do differently?”

More effective to give money to charities, especially those that dont’ use most of their funds on administrative costs, which Mel B. and I do. If you pulled your wallet out on the street for everyone who asked (and if you live in Fresno, you’re asked A LOT. Though prob. not as often as in DC), you’ll have nothing left for yourself. Especially if you’re me and rarely carry cash around. And especially if this happens in places where you’d prefer not to take your wallet out.

The other day at the local begging spot normally known as the drug store near work, I preempted the feeling of guilt and just gave a man a dollar as he was crouched by the door. After he’d been refused by three well-dressed gentlemen. Thank you, miss.
Came back out, and he asked me for money again. “I gave you all I had,” I told him. I was just an automatic reaction, a faceless person. He didn’t remember me, even though I gave him a dollar bill and he was just expecting change and I hadn’t been more than two minutes.

Something that stuck in my craw a few weeks ago is when Heather and I were accosted by one of those Street Wise guys right outside of a train station. Heather had whipped out her map and the guy came up and said, put that way. I can tell you where you’re going.
It was ultimately a shakedown for money for Street Wise and Heather didn’t have/didn’t want to give him money.
I was the keeper of a bag full of quarters for our public transportation fare for the weekend.
It was probably a mistake to get it out, but it’s really all I had, except for 20s.
I gave him two quarters out of $7 (and it turns out I needed that 50 cents later, but oh well) and he looked at it sort of incredulously in his hand, and then back up at me.
Defensively, I said, “Look, that’s my bus fare. That’s all I can give you. That’s all I have. She wasn’t going to give you anything.”
Sarcastic thank you as we walked away.

Another Street Wise blackmailer tried to get money out of us at another stop somewhere else. Got nasty with his thank yous after we said we didn’t have anything.

I think you should add to your list: People who are rude to you after you either refuse them or give them money, but it’s not enough. They are not helping their cause or making me feel more likely to give something to the next beggar down the line.
And I’ve started to recognize at least one person at the drug store. I’ve given her money a couple of times. If she were rude to me, you can bet I wouldn’t do it again.