i dont know if my experience with a bum is a true experience with a "bum" but i will shoot anyway. about 4 years ago in cincy when i was waiting for a building to open so we could do work inside a guy came up to me asking for $15. he explained that he needed the money in order to get some paperwork from the city building in order to get the job he aplied for at the wendys up the street. i had a few $20 bills in my wallet and gave him one. told him good luck! he thanked me and went on his way. i wanst sure if he was lieing or not but i really didnt care. about a week and a half later i went into the wendys and saw the guy working. it was a pretty awesome sight. he gave me a smile and i did the same. i kow he carred the job for the next year or so, and he offered to give me the $20 back a couple of times but i never took it. but thats abou the only good experience with a bum that i have had. i rarely, i mean rarely give money to beggars. mostly because of personal opinions about them, some of which have previosly been stated in this thread actually.... i just figured i would give my good experience.