That said, panhandling is one of the more impressive sales accomplishments in our modern world. Good panhandlers understand the math - about 15% of people give, 15% of people call you a bum/tell you to get a job/otherwise insult you, about 25% just walk by and the remaining 40% say no. Consequently, they have learned that the only way to make enough money is to be relentless and keep asking, even if the last person threatened to kick your ass. Good panhandlers will make 200-300 contacts a day...

As a sales problem, panhandling has almost no compare. Your only 'product' is your humanity. And, unfortunately, since many of the people who panhandle have some rough years behind them they don't always look very good.

As a startup type, I have way more in common with panhandlers than people who work for the government. Their hustle both amuses and inspires me.

That's all a long, roundabout way of saying, "Seriously, don't use the word beggar. With all due respect, you don't know how much pain that word causes."

As for the well dressed fellow with the iPod, he may not live on the streets - truth is that many panhandlers have homes. But, I assure you that his clothing and iPod are part of his pitch. People are nicer to folks who look like them.