Do you give money to a beggar?

Tweet

My family and I were having our dinner at a roadside food stall when a child beggar, around the age of 8 or 9 years old approached us. With a square paper box in his hand and a pitiful expression, he showed us the box and begged us some money. My mom was reaching for her purse in her handbag when my brother told her not to give. She was surprised and felt pity for the boy. She scolded my brother for acting like that. My brother asked the boy to go to another table. The boy walked away quietly, feeling disappointed for not getting a single cent from us!My brother explained his act to us. He told us about a large number of syndicates who have been using these small kids to make money. He showed us a few kids who were wandering around the nearby stalls, looking for money. He told us why we need to spend our hard earned money for helping the syndicates. It is not that the kids really need money for themselves but they have been forced to do it. He said that if we stop helping the kids, the syndicate will stop using them as a beggar. This is what we should do to help those poor kids. I understand his explanation but sometimes, I do feel sorry for these kids. Judging from the look, I am definitely sure that they are not local but being brought here to be a beggar and get as much money as they could. My friend once told me not to give money to a beggar while we were eating our food. He said it is not a good thing to do. According to a belief, if you do so, it will make your luck goes away. I don't know whether it is true or not:) How about you? Do you give money to those pitiful child beggars if you know that they are forced to beg by a syndicate?