Beggars

lumberjim · 11-11-2008, 10:17 PM

Do you give spare change to beggars? How often do you find yourself in the position of deciding whether or not to give? Do you have a strong opinion about it?

multi choice poll .....read all the answers before you submit your votes.

HungLikeJesus · 11-11-2008, 10:31 PM

I only give them money if they don't ask for it.

classicman · 11-11-2008, 10:38 PM

I remember a recent visit to Philly with my sons where we were asked for money right outside a McDonalds. I refused him and we continued to go in and have lunch. My son asked if we could buy him lunch instead of giving him money he would probably waste. We did and he was most grateful for a warm meal.
Things your damn kids think of - eh?

Bullitt · 11-11-2008, 10:38 PM

I don't normally give directly to beggars. Instead I give to support institutions like Goodwill, AMVETS, The Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. I believe greatly in the impact of and value of voluntary societies and their services to the needy public. That said, I also do not live in an urban area at the moment so I am not encountering beggars on a regular basis right now.

Undertoad · 11-11-2008, 10:51 PM

True story, there was this one guy who announced that he was the joke-telling beggar. He wanted to give something in return for your donation, so he had jokes. He said

"Who was the first carpenter."

who.

"Eve. She made Adam's banana stand."

I gave the guy all the change in my pocket.

lumberjim · 11-11-2008, 11:42 PM

i gave a guy a chic fil a sandwich tonight

Aliantha · 11-12-2008, 12:14 AM

Begging is illegal here, so we really don't see it other than the odd smoke bummer at the bus stop or drunk late at night.

We have a lot of charities which we give to though as often as we see them.

smoothmoniker · 11-12-2008, 12:20 AM

I make frequent trips with my wife to the LA wholesale flower mart, early in the morning. Every time, I load up my pocket with singles to hand out. I usually ask street people to give us a hand with loading the van, or schlepping things back and forth from the warehouse.

SquidGirl · 11-12-2008, 12:30 AM

Last time I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, I was waiting for the public transit coach when a guy kept hovering around, asking us to move. He was picking up the cigarette butts off the ground, from under our feet, and using the remains to make his own ciggy's. When I got back to my friends house I told them because I had never seen it before and they said it's actually pretty common due to the high cost of cigarettes. I thought he was a beggar and I was pretty close to just taking him to the damn store and buying him a pack myself (and I'm a non-smoker).

I've also heard stories of beggars in NY making a killing on the streets who have a pretty high incomes so at the end of the day they would walk around the corner and get into their new sports car. I don't know if that ones true....

ZenGum · 11-12-2008, 03:25 AM

I have met quite a few beggars in Australia, in city centers in the evening usually. If I am walking through such a place I often have a few coins - $1 or $2 - in my pocket so if I do choose to give, I don't have to dig out my wallet.

I was approached by beggars several time in Japan. The weird thing was the gesture for "money" is to make a circle (representing a coin) with the thumb and forefinger, much like our "ok" gesture, but done in front of the stomach with the palm upwards. The "gimme money" gesture is to move this backwards and forwards gently.

I was quite taken aback, at first.

I always gave to ones who could ask me in English. They might be useful later on.

And on recycling nights I would sometimes leave several coins stacked neatly (to show it was on purpose) in a place where the homeless recycling scavengers would see it. It was always gone the next day.

slang · 11-12-2008, 04:51 AM

If the beggars are polite or entertaining in some way, like UTs example, I'll give them something. Most often not what they would like but something.

Most of the beggars that I encounter are outside the US. That will surely change in the coming months as we see the screws tighten here, but anyway....

An American beggar will demand $5 if I offer them $2. Twenty if I offer five and so on. If they aren't satisfied they carry on which doesn't help their cause. I all but quit giving money and instead give food outside McDo or a grocery store.

The Filipino beggars are pretty easy to please with just a few pesos and a few minutes of my attention.

The older pinoys are those that get my sympathy. Most of the time we buy extra at the burger shack or grocery store and hand a small number of items out to people.

They are always thankful and appreciate what we give. Contrast that with the Americans that seem to gravitate to me and are never satisfied and rarely polite.

Trilby · 11-12-2008, 06:49 AM

While my sis and I were in NOLA we ran into quite a few beggars. We always offered to buy them a sandwich (like fast food, whatever) but no money. They NEVER wanted the sandwich so we never gave them anything.

Shawnee123 · 11-12-2008, 07:25 AM

When I was in LA, outside the public library, a guy gave me a song and dance about being a student, his car being out of gas somewhere...etc and so on. He did have a pile of books but didn't look much like a student. I gave him 5 bucks, saying "Not sure about your story but I sure liked your approach." He just seemed very personable, and I was feeling very generous.

sweetwater · 11-12-2008, 07:49 AM

When a beggar asks me for money, I ask if he will give me a receipt. Yeah, I know, but fair is fair for all. We do give generously to charitable organizations and causes, but I'd be very tempted to give to an individual if I got a good joke or story from it!

glatt · 11-12-2008, 07:56 AM

When I first moved to this city, 19 years ago, I would give money to beggars. At some point after seeing the same beggars in the same spot for years, I decided I would stop. I figured I wasn't helping them, I was just enabling them. Now I give money to charities that help the homeless. I won't give a cent to a person on the the street asking me. I don't ignore them and walk by. I'll look them in the eye to acknowledge them and say "sorry, no."

In this city, there are plenty of places that feed the homeless, and there are a couple of shelters (although one is closing.) Nobody is going to starve on the streets of DC as things stand now.

Edit: FYI, I walk past about 6-10 beggars a day.

View Poll Results: waht do you do when confronted by a beggar?
Ignore them. Never give to them. fuck em. get a job	7	14.58%
I give pocket change if I'm feeling weak, and regret it.	3	6.25%
It depends on the beggar, mainly	17	35.42%
I follow my whims	16	33.33%
I try to give enough to make them smile	3	6.25%
I give non cash items like food, clothing or beer	8	16.67%
I dig deep	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

11-11-2008, 10:17 PM	#1
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Beggars Do you give spare change to beggars? How often do you find yourself in the position of deciding whether or not to give? Do you have a strong opinion about it? multi choice poll .....read all the answers before you submit your votes. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

11-11-2008, 10:31 PM	#2
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I only give them money if they don't ask for it. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-11-2008, 10:38 PM	#3
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	I remember a recent visit to Philly with my sons where we were asked for money right outside a McDonalds. I refused him and we continued to go in and have lunch. My son asked if we could buy him lunch instead of giving him money he would probably waste. We did and he was most grateful for a warm meal. Things your damn kids think of - eh? __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

11-11-2008, 10:38 PM	#4
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	I don't normally give directly to beggars. Instead I give to support institutions like Goodwill, AMVETS, The Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. I believe greatly in the impact of and value of voluntary societies and their services to the needy public. That said, I also do not live in an urban area at the moment so I am not encountering beggars on a regular basis right now. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

11-11-2008, 10:51 PM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	True story, there was this one guy who announced that he was the joke-telling beggar. He wanted to give something in return for your donation, so he had jokes. He said "Who was the first carpenter." who. "Eve. She made Adam's banana stand." I gave the guy all the change in my pocket.

11-11-2008, 11:42 PM	#6
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i gave a guy a chic fil a sandwich tonight __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

11-12-2008, 12:14 AM	#7
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Begging is illegal here, so we really don't see it other than the odd smoke bummer at the bus stop or drunk late at night. We have a lot of charities which we give to though as often as we see them. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-12-2008, 12:20 AM	#8
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	I make frequent trips with my wife to the LA wholesale flower mart, early in the morning. Every time, I load up my pocket with singles to hand out. I usually ask street people to give us a hand with loading the van, or schlepping things back and forth from the warehouse. __________________ to live and die in LA

11-12-2008, 12:30 AM	#9
SquidGirl Colloquialist Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cavern in Mount Pleasant, MI Posts: 79	Last time I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, I was waiting for the public transit coach when a guy kept hovering around, asking us to move. He was picking up the cigarette butts off the ground, from under our feet, and using the remains to make his own ciggy's. When I got back to my friends house I told them because I had never seen it before and they said it's actually pretty common due to the high cost of cigarettes. I thought he was a beggar and I was pretty close to just taking him to the damn store and buying him a pack myself (and I'm a non-smoker). I've also heard stories of beggars in NY making a killing on the streets who have a pretty high incomes so at the end of the day they would walk around the corner and get into their new sports car. I don't know if that ones true....

11-12-2008, 03:25 AM	#10
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I have met quite a few beggars in Australia, in city centers in the evening usually. If I am walking through such a place I often have a few coins - $1 or $2 - in my pocket so if I do choose to give, I don't have to dig out my wallet. I was approached by beggars several time in Japan. The weird thing was the gesture for "money" is to make a circle (representing a coin) with the thumb and forefinger, much like our "ok" gesture, but done in front of the stomach with the palm upwards. The "gimme money" gesture is to move this backwards and forwards gently. I was quite taken aback, at first. I always gave to ones who could ask me in English. They might be useful later on. And on recycling nights I would sometimes leave several coins stacked neatly (to show it was on purpose) in a place where the homeless recycling scavengers would see it. It was always gone the next day. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. Last edited by ZenGum; 11-12-2008 at 03:26 AM. Reason: Answering this would be too much like marking another #$%&ing essay.

11-12-2008, 04:51 AM	#11
slang St Petersburg, Florida Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,423	If the beggars are polite or entertaining in some way, like UTs example, I'll give them something. Most often not what they would like but something. Most of the beggars that I encounter are outside the US. That will surely change in the coming months as we see the screws tighten here, but anyway.... An American beggar will demand $5 if I offer them $2. Twenty if I offer five and so on. If they aren't satisfied they carry on which doesn't help their cause. I all but quit giving money and instead give food outside McDo or a grocery store. The Filipino beggars are pretty easy to please with just a few pesos and a few minutes of my attention. The older pinoys are those that get my sympathy. Most of the time we buy extra at the burger shack or grocery store and hand a small number of items out to people. They are always thankful and appreciate what we give. Contrast that with the Americans that seem to gravitate to me and are never satisfied and rarely polite.

11-12-2008, 06:49 AM	#12
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	While my sis and I were in NOLA we ran into quite a few beggars. We always offered to buy them a sandwich (like fast food, whatever) but no money. They NEVER wanted the sandwich so we never gave them anything. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

11-12-2008, 07:25 AM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	When I was in LA, outside the public library, a guy gave me a song and dance about being a student, his car being out of gas somewhere...etc and so on. He did have a pile of books but didn't look much like a student. I gave him 5 bucks, saying "Not sure about your story but I sure liked your approach." He just seemed very personable, and I was feeling very generous. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-12-2008, 07:49 AM	#14
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	When a beggar asks me for money, I ask if he will give me a receipt. Yeah, I know, but fair is fair for all. We do give generously to charitable organizations and causes, but I'd be very tempted to give to an individual if I got a good joke or story from it! __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

11-12-2008, 07:56 AM	#15
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	When I first moved to this city, 19 years ago, I would give money to beggars. At some point after seeing the same beggars in the same spot for years, I decided I would stop. I figured I wasn't helping them, I was just enabling them. Now I give money to charities that help the homeless. I won't give a cent to a person on the the street asking me. I don't ignore them and walk by. I'll look them in the eye to acknowledge them and say "sorry, no." In this city, there are plenty of places that feed the homeless, and there are a couple of shelters (although one is closing.) Nobody is going to starve on the streets of DC as things stand now. Edit: FYI, I walk past about 6-10 beggars a day.

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