www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I saw it all this past weekend. There was a lady with a baby that walked by. The lady looked hungry, as did the baby. I gave her a few coins and said have a good night. Not 1 minute later another sad face and a baby hit me up. I was like, WTF? Are they in cahoots? Are they lined up around the corner trying to get my loot? Then, the cute little sticker girl, Stephanie, she asked for some coins. I usually give her a couple just because she's so cute. About 5 minutes later as I was walking to the Monkey Bar about 6 K*ds with stickers damn near body tackled me! Holy cow, I had no idea 6 and 7 year olds were so strong. Later I saw this guy, he kinda walks on the sides of his feet as he hobbles along. I saw the guy damn near running around calle 1. When he got to ave central he started hobbling and hopping around like he could barely walk and he was mumbling saying something like 'money for me please' or something... I could barely understand what he was saying. Anyone ever seen this guy?

Sir Splooge aka Indiana

I never give money away unless they are providing a service, save for the operation lady. That was just a knee-jerk reaction.
Me giving her 4 cents will probably be offset by the next gringo who tells her to piss off and calls security. The whole little begging economy finds an equilibrium just like any other system. And if everyone strictly followed your advice we would miss out on some funny shit.
We can each do our own part to keep the freak show going, not too fast and not slow.

To each his own.

My friend ,
I have to say, this is one the most humanitarian and ultimately coolests
posts I"ve seen on this site. Also some guys love to be negative, and
I find tight fisted money grubbing to be the most irritating of all.
You can spend your money anyhow you want.
Enjoy yourself,
Pura Vida
Cali

1. The little crack addict that says he is from San Diego. I always say "no" and he never justs goes away. Always tries to follow telling me some kinda bullshit.
2. The guy who tries to get in your face and say he needs money for medicine. He says he is HIV positive. Then he tries to get as close as he can to you when he speaks so he can intimidate you with his disease.
3. The fake nun.

I am able to ignore almost all the rest.

Cali,
You deride any negativity, but if you stop and think about it the very subject matter of this entire thread is somewhat negative by its very nature. You find tight fisted money grubbing to be the most irritating of all and I would agree that can be as irritating as ANY extreme but there IS a happy medium between careless extravagance and unflinching miserliness. You say people can spend their money anyhow they want. And that is also undoubtedly true, for what can any of us really do to stop them. However the subject of how certain spending behaviors can impact the rest of us has been thoroughly discussed around here and widely acknowledged. Case in point, the ignorant greenhorns who readily fork out $100 or more without batting an eye because they ethnocentricly apply US standards to DR girls. The same principles apply to the irritating street characters and forking over any semi-significant amount only encourages these guys to prey upon the rest of us. I say go ahead and watch these characters in amusement if that floats your boat, even dropping 3-4 cents as Carib did as a joke will do no real harm, but there are some here who may be reading this who would pay more either out of gullibility, misguided philanthropy, thinking that this form of entertainment deserves greater reward or just as a sort of extortion money to make them go away. Some might find these characters somewhat amusing ... up to a point. However, many others don't, as is evidenced in this thread. And I'm sure nearly all of us reach a point where we have simply had enough and I don't really think any of us would really be that heartbroken if all these characters disappeared from the Gulch.

Now if you really appreciate humanitarian and ultimately cool acts, and want to help poor people in countries like Costa Rica, you should do as I do and save your charity for established social agencies and let them deal with the factors that lead people to live on the streets. Here are a few you might consider:

An earlier post by me:http://www.costaricaticas.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2206&start=6

an article on Fundación Rahab which works retraining SJ streetwalkers with job skills so that those wanting to get out can rejoin conventional society: [url]http://www.ticotimes.net/archive/08%5F18%5F00%5F3.htm
[/url] tel#257-7785

and my personal favorite, which currently doesn't have any programs in CR because CR already does a pretty good job of taking care of its own people, but works in several nearby extremely poor central american countries: http://www.savethechildren.org/countries/latin_america_caribbean/index.asp

OK guys--

Since I started this post, I would like to explain why I post threads like this. This I repeat, is not a negative thread. This was posted as a point of interest and humor as well as to warn some of the inexperienced members of this board about some of the dangers that abound in San Jose.

Please, do not take these posts so seriously. As far as I am concerned, it is everyone's personal business how they choose to spend their money.
I think most of us enjoy having fun with this whole experience by interjecting humor and harmless kidding into these posts.

The time when this board becomes a serious forum for social and political discussions is the time when I will find another board.

We had quite a discussion here at the BM last night about this thread and this cast of characters, our conclusion was they really don't bother us that much and are part of the charm and fun... After all, how boring the streets would be without them

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Thank you Paco.... my guess is that you guys were splitting your phuckin sides laughing about our little cast of characters that hang around the gulch. I just had lunch with a veteran guy who told me that the so called "nun" "mother teresa" is one of the highest paid women in all of CR.

The bitch keeps half of the money for herself according to him reliable source. She probably rolls out of the Del Rey in a Mercedes and lives in Escazu with all the rich Gringos. Look at her shoes the next time, they are probably Gucci.

The truth is that none of these people really do anything to interfere with my fun here. Like a said before, it's a free freak show so enjoy it.

Sir Splooge:

Thanks for reminding me about cute little Stephanie, the sticker girl.
How could I have forgot her. Yes, I do believe Stephanie is a certified pain in the ass.

Stephanie, for your punishment, stand on the sidewalk at the Del Rey and take the Chinese Water Torture on your cute little head for a half hour.
Someday, you will either make a great saleslady or a real pain in the ass beggar.

LMAO,
I was just coming in and spotted suit shoe shine guy and asked him for a pic, get my camera ready to shoot and that phuckin water is dripping on my camera from above... Got a pic though, he has gold chains on today to accent his nice suit...

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

[quote="PacoLoco"][quote="King Costa"] for your punishment, stand on the sidewalk at the Del Rey and take the Chinese Water Torture on your cute little head for a half hour.[/quote]

LMAO,
I was just coming in and spotted suit shoe shine guy and asked him for a pic, get my camera ready to shoot and that phuckin water is dripping on my camera from above... Got a pic though, he has gold chains on today to accent his nice suit...[/quote]

Yes and I had to give him 150c so Paco could take the pic.
Lee

OK, just uploaded my pics of some irritating characters, didn't get them all but quite a few. Should be up soon, thanks admin1!

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

One of my favorites: The ugly girls that have the nerve to even ask for $100...

A special thanks to Paco for the pictures of some the irritating cast of characters you usually see when you visit SJ. Pay particular attention to the smooth talking Leetch Guy. Please, someone, give me a name and positive ID.
Do not talk or trust this SOB. Paco, loved to see the crazy, loco, Hugo Boss suit guy dressed in all his sartorial splendor. It is really nice to see that the local funny farm has people on daily release.

I think this thread is histerical, not really negative, as Paco is correct all these guys make up the Charm of San Jose..... Now its even funnier, to see them in 3-D in the VIP section then when we get there, your laughing at them inside even though they are irritating... For newbies, it has to been truly funny to see these characters in real life.......

Now Question, Is Stephanie with the stickers the same little girl who sells the Chicklets (Gum) on occasion as well..... She is always coming up to me in Mariscar the Chicken join with Chicklets, this she can't be more than 8-10 years old... It is one thing to be cold, but I am sorry, this little angelic face sellling me chicklets, I can't resist a few coins, as I wish this girl a better life than having to do that.... At least I get some gum out of the deal......

_________________
The Boss of All Bosses!!! Hey I'm a drunk alcoholics go to meetings!