I don't care if you're a single mom with 5 kids working a triple shift. I won't care if you're crippled and begging on the streets. If you approach me on Amtrak, sell me something I don't want, I will not give you a single cent, and I'll go out of my way to avoid you.

I was on a train once and some single mom with 2 kids was going from Boston to New York, and was trying to raise money for food or gas or something. And yes, I gave her $7 (I keep $10 on me to avoid exactly this kind of situation).<br><br>Then I had to deal with her kids kicking my chair for the next 2 hours, her randomly walking up to me and trying to make conversation, and her trying to divert my attention with a smile so her kids could steal my bag.<br><br>Then just yesterday I was on the same train, and some crippled dude was going up and down trying to sell popcorn. He had a sheet of paper with some letter from some shelter, and claimed that the popcorn was a prize for some raffle they held, but he wanted to sell it to make money for his bus fair or food or shelter, or something. I gave him a few dollars cause I wasn't prepared for the situation (and because I FLOOR the guy every time, win or lose).<br><br>When he was gone, I realized that he was trying to distract me with the raffle story so he could grab my bag (I'm 100% sure of it this time; I saw him do it to another passenger).<br><br>So here's the takeaway: If you approach me on Amtrak, and you're trying to sell me something I don't want, just trying to get money from me, etc. I will not give you a cent. I will go out of my way to avoid you. I'll move seats, I'll walk up and down, I'll switch cars. I'll do whatever it takes to avoid being scammed/talked into giving you money. I'll even go to the car with no AC just to avoid you.<br><br>I don't care if you starve. I don't care if you're homeless. If you approach me, and you're trying to get something from me, I will do everything in my power to avoid you, and I won't feel bad about it (and I think everyone should do the same).<br><br>Edit in: This is a story from my past. I don't ride Amtrak often. Usually it's once a year, if that.<br><br>Edit 2: If someone approached me organically without trying to sell me anything, I'd be totally happy to give them some money if they were in a tough spot. But if you approach me trying to distract me and get money from me, you're just trying to scam me.<br><br>Edit 3: I'm discussing how I would react in the situation. I'm not saying it's the right reaction, or the one you should have. I'm not saying you should avoid them either. But if they approach me trying to scam me, I'm going to avoid them.<br><br>Edit 4: I'm talking about people who approach YOU trying to sell you something and distract you to take your stuff. Not people just trying to raise money in general. The guy with popcorn could have raised more money if he didn't try to steal people's shit.