Tips on dealing with homeless?

Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with persistant homeless people. I like to walk around Downtown and maybe sit outside somewhere. Its easy to deal with the ones that just ask for money as you walk by or they walk by. By the majority I encounter do not do that. If you completely ignore them which seems to be the better option you get "Hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man, hey man!, hey man!, hey man! Hey Man!, HEY MAN!, HEY MAN!", then they maybe make some insulting comment and walk away. If you make any eye contact or respond you get. "Hey, I'm not asking for money", then they start asking you personal questions. If you go along with it they will eventually get to a long windee sob story and ask for money. If you start ignoring their questions then you get the even worse insults or aggresive taunting as they walk away. I've yet to say anything back, usually just taking the insults in stride happy to see them go. How do you deal with these situations?