So for some background: I (21m) am a college student. I am not from a well off background, so I am reliant on financial aid to pay for college and living expenses (I know I am very fortunate for this).
For the actual situation: I was riding the bus from campus to my apartment. I was on a tight schedule, I had plans later in the day and homework to do before then. The plans (relevant i promise) were to go out to the club with friends, it was free before 10 with college id and we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.
An older gentleman sat down next to me and asked for directions to an eye center. Makes sense, he’s wearing an eye patch, so I pull up GPS. Before I finish, he starts getting upset that he’s on the wrong bus. He then starts lamenting his financial situation, and how his eye removal costed so much, and the churches in the area won’t help him. I dont say anything, I’m just looking between him and my phone cause he has to get off soon and he hasnt listened to me say what stop is his.
He then turns it on me. He starts quoting Bible verses about how we have to help eachother, and saying I am probably going to spend my money on stupid stuff anyways (I did infection spend 5 dollars on alcohol earlier in preparation for tonight). He asks me to get off with him, take him to whomever foods, and buy him dinner.
I say no. I have plans, am on a schedule, and don’t particularly want to go somewhere with a stranger (i didnt say the last part). He says Jesus would have helped him, and starts getting upset at me. If I had cash, I might have given him a few dollars. But I didn’t. I did not help him in any way, and he leaves the bus saying I’m a selfish ass.
Am I the asshole for not helping someone in need in favor of my own plans?
NTA, this one is pretty clear. You did nothing wrong
NTA
It’s pretty obvious he was just setting you up to beg from you. You did nothing wrong.
Obviously a scammer, YNTA.
Babe this could’ve turned bad. You made the right call.
Edit: NOT the a**hole
NTA — obviously a trap.
NTA.
This is a post could do NUMBERS on Choosing Beggars imo.
You’re helping a dude out by giving directions. Charity is not compulsory.
As soon as Jesus and an attitude stepped onto the bus, it was over. Scammer.
If someone asks for something free, not the AH
NTA As you get older you will realize just how many people need help and are in worst situations than yourself but you have to only do and give what you can without hindering yourself in the process. It would have been one thing if he had actually been patient and listened when you were trying to help him in the first place but once he went off on a rant on what YOU should do to help HIM… absolutely not. Let him have the day he deserved and move on with your life. Often times people tend to be in their own way in life and never take accountability for it so dont worry yourself about their decisions.
NTA. You did the right thing by not going with him as you could have gotten into trouble and sounds like some sort of scam wanting you to feel bad and get you to spend your money
Nta. Sens this to R/Choosing beggars.
He was trying to manipulate you. Good for you for not falling for it. NTA.
NTA this situation had red flags all over it
NTA. Sounds like a scam, honestly.
There was a guy who hung around my college campus who pulled a similar thing. Said he got beaten up and mugged the night before, they released him from the hospital, and he needed money for the bus to get home.
I didn’t have any cash on me, so I couldn’t help him.
3 months later, I see him again. Same story: mugged the night before, yada yada yada.
I asked some other students about him, and apparently he lived in the area he’d been doing that story for at least a year that they knew of.