Do you give money to beggars?
By nielcdg
@nielcdg (709)
Philippines
May 21, 2007 2:30am CST
Philippines is a third world country still, eventhough we have a considerable economy going for us. That means a lot of the population are in or under the poverty line.
I see a lot of beggars almost every day from my commute to the office and back home, some will just be sitting at side walks and outside of restaurants and churches, while some will approach you holding a kid or a blind person or in some cases a retarded person as If asking money in behalf of the person they are with.
But these people are mostly in good physical condition, able to work for themselves even for construction work or other things but they still choose to ask for money. Believe it or not some beggars have a home may be in the slums, but some are indeed homeless but how can you tell them apart right?I myself limit what I give, 1 because I worked hard for each penny I get, 2 if the person is an able bodied guy or girl I wouldnt think of giving them any amount. 3 if I notice that its becoming a habit for them to ask me for some money, some will actively look for you if you were kind to them and later take advantage of it. And get this I even encountered a kid that asked for a price!It is our responsibility to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters, but they must understand that now a day all of us are feeling the hardships of life. And they should learn that bread is earned not always asked for.
Its good to help once in a while but if they become dependent on it its not really helping them right?
4 people like this
19 responses
@msjigga (864)
• United States
21 May 07
I use to help beggers everytime they approached me until one day this Man asked me for some money so that he can get something to eat I was walking into McDonalds I replied Sure come on and signaled for him to walk with me he would not come he said he didn't know me like that, but I was giving him what he was asking for. It was funny because all the other guys that was around was saying things like I'll go with for you or I'll wiith her anyday, so the Man ended up leaving from in front of McDonalds. That was the end of me giving. I use to feel bad because that person begging can be me nothing in life is guaranteed to stay the same. I would rather give to Charities, and organizations.
@mae1216 (658)
• Philippines
12 Jun 07
Yes, you are right to help but we must also consider that they are being dependent already. Me, it is ok for me to help especially if the one who is begging is already old or very young at age. I gave them food but not big amount of money because I just wanna make sure they will use the money to their necessities.
@smartbrain69 (2790)
• Canada
21 May 07
Yes i do give beggars money, the thing is that when you see their bad conditions you become kind hearted.
Though we all know that lot of gangs are there who amputate the kids and old person and but them in corner of street in morning and at the end of the day they collect money from them and gave food to them. No one can do anything except giving some amount of money.
I have heard in TV that one person in Mumbai he is begger for the many years, he has got 2 flats on rent and he stay in good place but due to habit still he beg on roads.
So it is responsibility of the government to give them employment and give free vocational training to that they can stand on his feets. It is equally the responsibility of community to extend helping hands.
@nielcdg (709)
• Philippines
12 Jun 07
That is not possible for our country, the government is having a hard time keeping the economy stable as it is believe me our country sucks because of our greedy and a times stupid politicians and stupider still are the people who vote them eventhough the are aware of the situation and the reputation of that candidate.
In a perfect world poverty can be cured by help and by education but sometimes beggars become what they are because they are lazy...
@nill_07 (1104)
• Bangladesh
22 May 07
Bangladesh is still also a Third World Country. A number of beggars are seen here & there on the way.. specilly on footpath, ovebridge, infront of mosque, parks & so on.
It is really a matter of hurt when I see some sick old man & women, some child which must have to be in school now are begging. I usually try to give them something as possible for me..
But it is not a permanent solution; from my childhood it hurt me & still I'm looking for a permanent solution for that.
Few times ago... I went infront of my campus inorder to drink tea. I saw a 8 years old girl is looking something in dustbin & at that time I was thinkig how can I help her to continue a better life as well as family.
If my Creator give me the power (situation) then certainly I will do something better for them. But still it is long way left to walk for me & till then how will they remain?
Ofcourse it is not a matter for oneself & everybody of us should come forward to solve this problem.
@SilentRose19 (1733)
• United States
22 May 07
I dont' make it a point to give money to people that are sitting on the side road, because you never know if they are lying or not. I wouldn't want to give my money to a person unless they were a child on the side of the road, or maybe a pregnant woman.
@jemjemjemperez (109)
• Philippines
9 Jun 07
i don't give money to beggars..! instead, i give them food..! :D
@rosyidi (101)
• Malaysia
22 May 07
yeah i agreee too. Maybe sometime you can help them but eventually themseff need to chance. From what i can see sometime beggars can get more money than the work people. Actually beggars is lazy people, they don want to work harder. I think beggars problem need to take serious action becoz when its became serious nothing can be done.
@jlara_gtr34 (3491)
• Philippines
21 May 07
yes, i do give money to beggars. but i choose whom i give to. i only give money to those elderly people because i know that they dont have the strength to look for a job, i know that they are not strong enough to work and i feel sad just wondering why they are abandoned and just left alone to rot on the streets.
@nielcdg (709)
• Philippines
21 May 07
Exactly, that is also one instance that I give to beggars if they are now so old. I am disgusted at their kids if they have any, not taking care of them or even loosing them or kicking them away from their homes...How infuriating right?
But this one old lady that I once knew, she was a beggar slash guardian of my old school, she is like the watcher at the gates, she would make sure that the kids would get out of school and get a ride on a jeep or picked up by the right people you see when I was in gradeschool kidknapping was ramphant in my country so this old lady actually remembers who is who and who can pick up who.
One day her vigilance paid off, she scared off a kid knapper from taking a nursery student, the woman was pretending to be a new house maid of the family but the child didnt believe her and called for our friendly beggar.
The beggar whom we lovingly call Manang Nena pretended to be crazy and chased her off. to ther reliefe of the real guardian of the kid. She was killed by the same gang who attempted the kid napping thats all I know...But she had a noble cause and this old woman had no family and just camped out near our school's entrance, she wasnt smelly but she was a bit grimy but she would bathe at our school's bathrooms when the security guard on duty was one she knew.
We used to give her sandwiches and she would refuse money only food and drinks was this woman's need. too bad she is gone...
@alpine_007 (1469)
• Pakistan
21 May 07
yes, i do give money to beggars but in small amount, because if i give them more they will become dependant and always ask for money even if they camn work, i give big amount in the organization which help people who can't work and don't have money.
@nielcdg (709)
• Philippines
21 May 07
That is always the bad side of giving, people tend to ask for more. That is the curse of man since the beginning of time, to earn his bread not to ask for it, hey money is not mana from heaven right so why should you ask. But to those who really need it then giving a few pennys or a dollar would be good to atleast help them survive but a sandwich and a cup of coffee is also good, if they refuse it then think twice...its might be a syndicate
@buen04 (76)
• Philippines
21 May 07
Nice topic. I myself is quite disturb with that issue. Being raise as a christian, we are taught that it is just indeed right and it is a good deed if we are doing charity. But I observed some of these beggars are abusing the kindness and generosity of the people. Your right, some of them are still able to do work. And also we will hear news that beggars are being used by syndicates to generate money. And sometimes we see some of them especially the teenage ones sniffing rugby on sidestreets.
And I read a saying about begging, that when someone asks you for a fish, if you really want to help, you should teach him fishing instead of giving a fish because in that way you taught him how to live.
@Vizeroh (32)
• United States
22 May 07
I know what its like to be poor. I know what its like for no one to want you. Also no one will hire you if your dirty, flithy, and no place to live! People can say sometimes, that they work hard for their money, that they earn it by working 20 hour shifts, etc.. But I tell you right now, live on the streets, in the shoes of a beggar one day.. You'll find that your views could change so easily.
If I was rich enough to provide money to everyone person/beggar I meant who needed money, I'd give away 100s, what they chose to do with it is up to them. An honest man/woman can only help so far, but if I gave 1$ to someone, and allow them to eat at least once, then you done your job.
@RockShanghai (86)
• China
21 May 07
In China there are also many beggars. Some of them are rich! Yes it's true, trust me. I've given a begger money once only, and never again.
@xjofficer (4)
• China
22 May 07
I think I willing give money to beggars . But I would advert to their ages and body status.
@panicdude (456)
• Philippines
21 May 07
we don't usaually give money to beggars because my dad said that they won't grow up and they will just depend on the people who give them the money. its really hard to earn money these days. but if someone really needs it, we would really give some money. like one time, we were about to go to the mall and we saw an old man looking at the garbage, that was about lunch time. we thought he was just looking for plastic so that he could sell them. but instead of looking for plastic, he was looking for food and he looked really hungry. he was eating some of the watermelon that was in the garbage. we were really sad about this. we were also shocked because we've never saw anything like that before. so, we gave him money about 30 pesos and told him to eat his lunch. he was so happy that we gave him the money. and i'm really glad that we've blessed him somehow. =D
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
21 May 07
I rather not give money to them, I sometimes give them food because we know it theres alot of them are from sindicate that are victim from other people who forced them to beg for them and give them part from what they earn.I prefer giving them a food for they might eat and that really helps them a lot. Some teens begging for money just to by rugby or solvent to sift from their nose. Right?
@oasis_9 (831)
• Philippines
21 May 07
I personally don't give money to beggars whenever i could encounter one on the streets...Its really embarassing to turn away from them but believe me your doing them more good if you don't give them anything! I know that you only want to help out and its not a big of a deal to you but what happens then?what would they do tomorrow? Ask for somebody to give them money again?and it will just go on and on!!! can you get what i mean?
@favefive (178)
• United States
21 May 07
Poverty is the biggest issue here. No matter how much money you give to the beggars, it will not improve the situation, even if you do this daily. They become dependent too and think that it is okay to depend on the kindness of others. If I do see beggars, and they are really helpless, I give them food rather than money. We cannot all be saints but we try to do the best we can to help out. If only there is a way to create something to help the poor or beggars to be self sufficinet,for example- start a "livelihood projec for the community" that will train and help fund for small businesses to help them earn money on their own, that would be more helpful than givng them alms every now and then .
