Beggars (split from Random Rants)

[Commodore]

Did they say what they wanted to achieve with that? Perhaps just an out of sight out of mind situation?

City Council and the mayor want to make Cincinnati more of a tourist destination and attract more businesses into the city. They feel driving out the beggars will make the city more attractive for tourists and business owners.

EDIT: They also think it will help with the drug problems the city is having.

 

[Arakhor]

City Council and the mayor want to make Cincinnati more of a tourist destination and attract more businesses into the city. They feel driving out the beggars will make the city more attractive for tourists and business owners.

Companies like EA and Ubisoft ladle punishing DRM onto games that only affects paying customers. This seems similarly misguided, if marginally more likely to succeed.

 

[Birdjaguar]

You can always give beggars food instead of money. Buy a combo meal at McDs and hand it to them as you drive by.

 

[Commodore]

You can always give beggars food instead of money. Buy a combo meal at McDs and hand it to them as you drive by.

The ones who want drug money though won't accept the food. Can't buy heroin with a Big Mac.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Maybe not, but that may tell you who's really in need and whose not.

 

[Commodore]

Maybe not, but that may tell you who's really in need and whose not.

True, but those value meals are starting to get pretty expensive. I think a double quarter pounder meal will run you between $8 and $9. That's way too much to be spending on a complete stranger.

 

[Birdjaguar]

McDs has a pick two offer right now! 2 big macs for $5 or others.

 

[REDY]

I have read some investigative reports that from begging in the centre of Prague beggars earn more than doctors.

I gave money to beggar only once by accident. The old lady came to me asking me just for 5Kč (thats something like 0.25 USD), so I have thought she just has no money on tram ticket. Then I have seen her doing such trick everyday asking people around station.

 

[Zelig]

Bluntly refuse anything to anyone - because that only perpetuates a person's misery?

This one. I don't find it difficult at all.

You can always give beggars food instead of money. Buy a combo meal at McDs and hand it to them as you drive by.

Then you're supporting McDs. Much better for everyone (beggar gets better food, you save money, Rosa Labs makes money instead of McDs) if you give them Soylent instead.

 

[keli]

Just take a look at Helsinki, its full of begging Romani people from Romania. They are being flown to Finland for begging by maffia organizations mostly duing the summer and they leave before winter. Its still possible they are poor and in need of help but obviously you would not give them money if you knew they are wiring it (or forced to wire it) to these organizations (and they can afford a plane ticket).

The poster does not say you should not hand money to anyone begging, but to choose wisely when you do so.

 

[Takhisis]

The same thing happened in Argentina in the '90s. But it was poor Romanians in general, not just gypsies.

 

[Borachio]

This one. I don't find it difficult at all.

Not that I think it will, but one day (who knows?) it could be me asking for help from a stranger.

And then I fancy the memory of all my past refusals will haunt me.