I'm such a coward...

[LaPalida]

Today as I was taking an elevator down to the metro I saw this kid, about 12 years old, slide down the railing. At the bottom of the stairs there was as usual a beggar with a hat. A healthy looking guy, french he's there most of the week days. The kid approached and dipped his hand in the beggar's hat then walked away. At first I thought he gave the guy some money but then as I passed by I heard the guy say in French "I'm missing 2 dollars" to the kid. The kid stood there for a second looking at the beggar then turned away and swaggered into the commercial outlet just nearby, no doubt to buy some candy. I didn't do anything, maybe because I was afraid of the kid. What would you do? I think on the way back I'll drop the beggar a toony.

[Thunder Doom]

Let the kid and the hobo duke it out, and take pictures.

That kind of scene just screams masterpiece.

[fukifino]

Well, short of calling the authorities, there's probably not much you *could* have done. Yes, you certainly could have stood up to the kid and backed the begger, but either way you're both powerless to do anything about it if the kid continues to plead innocent. Or at least you would be in the states. I suppose you could theoretically attempt to detain him while authorities were summoned, but if he's got two bucks on him, it's still your word against his that it didn't belong to him.

It sounds like a fucked situation no matter how you look at it. Although I'm sure the begger would have appreciated the support. Doubt I would have stepped in though.

[Blahm]

you should have just kicked the bum and then took the rest of his money. And spat in his face. Then bought the kid some ice cream. Oh and if the bum had a dog, kick that too.

[AndreasM]

Blahm, your title suits you well.

[fukifino]

Wow, that's a great quote in your sig, n0fish

[Undefeated]

I wouldn't feel too bad. Short of tackling the kid (which almost no one would have cared enough to do anyway), maybe the only thing to do which would have made you feel better was give the bum two bucks. If he's there all the time, give it to him next time.

And n0fish's sig is pretty cool, even if it makes me feel bad.

[madplanet]

You could have tried to embarrass the kid by loudly letting others know what he did. In that way, maybe he would think twice about doing it again.
Or you could have followed the kid home and threw a brick through his window...

[darth massacre]

I'd drop him a toony and remind him to fight back harder. I believe this wasn't the first time the kid did that. Even though he's "just another homeless dude", no kid would have the balls to just walk up and take something away from another individual regardless of "social status".

[DavePalumbo]

I saw the word "balls" in DMs post and though it would involve somebody getting kicked in said region. That made me smile.

But yeah, some kids are just assholes. Like when somebody breaks into your car or spraypaints your building. It's fucked up, be glad that you were brought up better. I know injustice witnessed is very distressing, but the above comments are right on as to what could you do.

[egerie]

This kind of shit makes me jump out of my skin. My first thought would be to tackle the shit out of the kid against a wall. Dunno what I would've done because you never know what you would've until it really happends. Am I getting old for thinking teens with spanking new nicks are acting like assholes ? I sound like a senior citizen...

Anyhow, one day in the subway there was this girl who just got her wallet nabbed by this apparently amateur pickpocket. Long story short, I got involved because nobody blinked while this featherweight girl was getting roughed. Especially the big fucking jocks 2 meters away from the scene... We overpowered him but I realised that was pretty stupid as it would've been child's play for him to slide a blade between my ribs while I was blocking the door and wrestle him to the ground.. tsk tsk tsk.

Le civisme se fait rare.

[Qitsune]

I think I'm more fed up with beggars than I am of kids... Maybe from living in a squalid neighborhood.

[flatliner]

im sure more fed up of asshole kids more. Then again, more of them populate my neighborhood than beggars do. Either way, it dos'nt make what the kid did right, but there really is'nt much you can do about it.

[DSillustration]

why does it not surprise me that someone who sits around begging for money didn't take the effort to get up, and get back what was his?

[aesir]

lol DS, a beggar assaults a kid and tries to take his money, and what do you think is going to happen?

[darth massacre]

why does it not surprise me that someone who sits around begging for money didn't take the effort to get up, and get back what was his?
No arguments regarding your views DS. That's what I felt too, but the situation is wierd. Aesir is right on the money too, bad deal for him. A homeless bum is already pretty low on the list, so how much further down is a kid who takes shamelessly from a homeless bum?

Like Dave said, I'm just glad that my friends and myself were brought up better.

[seba_boi]

why does it not surprise me that someone who sits around begging for money didn't take the effort to get up, and get back what was his?
Well, I can see where the beggar stance is: he seems to think taking the money back from the kid won't help since people might think he's snatching the kid's money...

[S.C. Watson]

Knowing myself like I do, if I saw the kid take the cash, I would have confronted him. If I couldn't have gotten the money back, I would have given the guy some of my own.

Seriously. I'm stupid this way, but I've been homeless and it fucking sucks. It means the world when someone helps you, and it can devestate you when someone shits on you.