To give or not to give: Panhandlers, beggars,

[Tekee]

If anyone has seen these fellows around town, the ones who sit around asking for money. Sometimes they look even more pathetic by having crutches or injuries or having appearance of "lost a leg or arm". Or they are children or young looking beggars.
Do you ever need to give them anything? And do you ever give them? maybe if they are lost a limb then you give?
Because to all this I answer no and never. It is so strange because at first I used to consider that I would only give to those who really need it. (like the children ones or the disabled ones)
But I now reason that they are all faking it and ENJOY being panhandlers or beggars because it is the easiest way for them to live, all they need it is begging.
Now I doubt "statistics" (like always) that say that on average a beggar can make 500-800 dollars a day or 250,000 dollars a year. These ae just stupid so I prefer to rely on anecdotal evidence.
Like one time, at the entrance to a Cathedral I always used to walk by everyday, at the Cathdral gates hung around these 3 beggars, one was a young woman, one was an old "disabled" and another an old woman.
They asked for kopecks (like 1/30 of a cent is worth anything) and to be Christian and give them some charity. IF you did not and just wanted to go inside the gates you were either cured by these beggars or they would just say that they would find someway to live without your help. Thanks for listening...
The cursing gets me really pissed off because as you leave and enter you leave and enter with an angry face because these beggars insult you!

And the Church is looking for servicemen and woman, if they just asked for a job they could've got it. .. but they consider it easier to just beg then to work.

Or am I just stingy with money, since I also never tip people either.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

These ae just stupid so I prefer to rely on anecdotal evidence.

You made me use it. That's certainly a feat.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I almost always give, if I have money. Cause its the right thing to do.

 

[Shekwan]

I don't give beggars money in general. However if I had a decent job I would.

I was shocked by the amount of beggars I saw in Berkeley and San Francisco. The Municipal Center in SF had about 30 homeless people outside it. Even more shocking was the fact that they didn't all seem drunks. In Ireland the only homeless people seem to be drunk 24/7. I dunno, maybe the one that aren't drunk don't make it so obvious they're living on the streets.

 

[Lone Wolf]

If they are old, I do. Russian pensions are rather low. Sometimes when I like the sound of the musical instrument a beggar is playing, I give some money too.

 

[Merkinball]

Never give money. When I give "stuff" it is individual dependent.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

I don't give as we have a pretty decent security-net in Sweden. I have trouble seeing them being better off with my extra money. Besides, I'm a student with pretty bad economy, so I've got to live cheap.

But I do feel sorry for many of them.

 

[Cato the Elder]

I give to street musicians playing decently, because they're at least doing something for their money. Otoh, beggars, I rarely to never give to.

 

[Tekee]

I don't give beggars money in general. However if I had a decent job I would.

I was shocked by the amount of beggars I saw in Berkeley and San Francisco. The Municipal Center in SF had about 30 homeless people outside it. Even more shocking was the fact that they didn't all seem drunks. In Ireland the only homeless people seem to be drunk 24/7. I dunno, maybe the one that aren't drunk don't make it so obvious they're living on the streets.

I went to Florida from Canada and never seen so many beggars. I figure they all move down south to get to a warmer climate.
This migration shows some thinking, so I assume that their thinking is also that they would prefer to be bums rather then work. They do not ask for much.

If they are old, I do. Russian pensions are rather low. Sometimes when I like the sound of the musical instrument a beggar is playing, I give some money too.

Musicians I consider not beggars but yeah I always give them money if I like their music. Generally if there is someone singing I give them money or if they play violin but not flute or guitar I not give money.
Old people I never thought about as I focused only on these young beggars who could do manual labour if they really wanted to. Yes old people I could understand why to give money to but why do they curse you if you ignore them?! These are not normal old people, old Russian pensioners who are beg are crazy.

 

[cardgame]

*facepalm pic*
You made me use it. That's certainly a feat.

It's rare to find a Tekee thread without one of these, tbh.

We don't have any beggars around my town, though, so idk.

 

[Counterclaw]

I'm sort of a softie, so I'm sure I've given to people who were faking. I don't as much now, since there were some news stories of "beggars" attacking people who they felt
didn't give them enough. But I used to always think that even if some people were phonies, others were legitimately in need. It would be worse to figure out
that you could have helped someone in need but didn't, than to find out
you'd given five bucks to someone who really wasn't.

 

[Tekee]

Yeah 5 dollars at least is what you need. Not this 5/30 of a cent they ask for.
But they hang around a Cathedral that is welcome to them. Just they need to ask, find work.
They didn't do this, its like being a beggar around a help wanted sign.
I figure that beggars just like living like this.

 

[Ecofarm]

I've stepped over crippled old women in Kenyan streets without dropping a coin. I do not believe that money will solve the problem of homelessness. Now, I've taken in homeless people to my house, gave them a room to sleep, access to showers and food. Did they get on their feet and become productive members of society? No. They rode my private welfare train till the wheels came off. These people need psychological help and drug-rehab, not money or other free material things. I refuse to address the symptom while society ignores the source of the problem. I will not be a part of the bandaid that promotes ignoring the disease.

I do give food to street kids. I mean real street kids; they live there in bunches, ages 5-12. They follow me in a group of 5-10 to the store, wait outside and then try to haul with the food right away, but I make them stay and each one eat something before they leave with the balance of the food; that way, the little ones who would get nothing if they split it at home get something too. They probably trade the leftovers for formaldehyde alcohol, but oh well. They meet me when I come into town, and they know to wait till after I go to the internet cafe and general store before following me to the grocery store.


I pay street musicians if they are good, though I've only encountered such in Europe (street musicians at all, not just good ones). I remember one at the train station in Lund who played 'let it be' and one in Amsterdam under that huge arched street.


ps. I tip 15% for terrible service, 25% for great service.

 

[Perfection]

I almost always give, if I have money. Cause its the right thing to do.

No it isn't.

You're enabling them to continue doing what they're doing.

People should not be rewarded for begging. That is not an acceptable avenue.

 

[Newbunkle]

In my area we've been told not to give them money because they'll spend it on drugs. Food is acceptable though.

 

[Labtec600]

I dont carry cash so no.

 

[Zardnaar]

Homeless people here are virtually unheard of. The few that are tend to have drug and alcohol problems and basically reject all help offered to them as theres plenty of government departments and charity to avoid this. You need to have a permanent address to collect welfare which generally pays your rent so you have to be so messed up or anti social (for whatever reason) to not get any money from the government.

I don't give money to beggers but if they are playing an instrument or singing or selling something I sometimes give money if I can spare it. They don't even have to be good at it just making an effort. I don't give money to the known drunks and druggies.

 

[emzie]

I don't give money. I have twice hired a cab to take homeless people downtown.

 

[Leonel]

A good 95% of panhandlers and beggars here in Seattle use any given money for alcohol, even if they tell you they'll use it for food. I've actually offered my untouched food and they flat out say "I just want the money."

If you must give to beggars, I'd actually give them food and see their true colors.

 

[mechaerik]

Money? Not really. I have no source of income. If I can though, I give them food, or whatever I can.