Do you ever give to beggars in the street?
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
November 4, 2006 4:39pm CST
I very rarely give to people in the street begging for money, although I consider myself to be a caring person who is always willing to help my fellow man.
My main concern is that begging has become a popular profession and many people make more from this than I do working.
I would happily help a person in need, but the problem is knowing who is genuine.
Do you often give to these people or just walk by?
9 people like this
39 responses
@MichelleLDevon (828)
• United States
4 Nov 06
There was a guy once outside a grocery store asking for money for food. I didn't give him any. Instead, I bought him a loaf of bread, a package of bolagna, a bag of chips, a package of fruit cups, and a couple of cans of soda... and gave that to him. He thanked me, and then a few minutes later, while watching him from the gas pumps, he promptly left the bag of food on the payphone and walked away. He didn't want food - he wanted cash...
3 people like this
@MichelleLDevon (828)
• United States
27 Dec 06
It is sad... but the way I look at it is this - I did a good deed in giving, and it doesn't hurt my good intentions if his weren't good ones in return.
I have a friend who says her boss, a very wealthy man, used to go panhandling on the weekends - he'd put on some raggedy clothes and beg at the busy street corners in Dallas. She said he told her he could make 1800 bucks in one or two days on a weekend, and even more around the holidays.
That's when I stopped giving money to beggars. If you want to give, consider making donations or volunteer to homeless shelters. When someone comes up to you for money, give them a card to a homeless shelter and tell them you have donated money there and he can have a hot meal and a bed for the night for what you donated.
@givemechance (3794)
• Indonesia
4 Nov 06
yeah... sometimes i have ever think that they were have make a lot of money.They are like mafia... especially at my country.
@juicemilk (2283)
• Australia
4 Nov 06
I try and ignore them usually, there's one guy at my bus stop who asks me every morning, even when I'm reading and have headphones on!
I think if they're doing somthing useful like busking it's better, but even then I probably wouldn't give them anything, not really sure why
3 people like this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
7 Apr 07
I usually don´t. here in sweden we have such a greata supportsystem that people do not need to beg for money, but in the past few months I have seen alot of beggers and I do belive that they are scams.
We do have homeless people even here - but they are usually the ones refusing to get help.
I have bought food and stuff for hungry people but like i said, poverty is not that common here!
2 people like this
@luzamper (1357)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
I sometimes give, it depends on whom I am to help. Giving should be from the heart and we may give anytime we want to whomever we want to help. We cannot give to God because God has everything but God commands us to help people who are incapable or who are weak. There's nothing wrong if we give, provided it be from the heart.
@petspets (476)
• Antarctica
29 Jan 07
I find it had not to give to beggars especially the sickly-looking ones and the handicapped - blind, on crutches, in wheel chairs, buskers. How can I not give them some money? I always give to these people. I am not able to walk by and ignore them.
I also give to charities which is easy because I know that they are genuine.
2 people like this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
27 Feb 07
If someone ask for some change and I have it, i'll just give it to them. I don't try and size them up to determine whether they are worthy of it or not.
The most I'll give is a dollar. I rarely run into the same person begging.
Lloyd
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
16 Mar 07
I normally would just pass them by for the similar reasons which you stated. I'd like to know that I am giving to someone who has a genuine need. For people who look physically healthy and capable to hold a job other than begging, I usually will not give. Normally, I will give to charitable organizations which have a good reputation of really helping the needy, for example the orphanages, schools for the mentally disabled etc...
2 people like this
@eliza_bennet (133)
• South Africa
24 Jan 07
I used to give to beggars on the street until recently when "carte Blanche" did an expose on the "lifestyles of the homeless". By day they beg for money and by night they spend their wealth. In fact most of the beggars use begging as a means of free money. They drive good cars and live in middle class homes. I would much rather donate money and clothing to a charity to be honest. But of course you do get the real beggars :)
@nady100011 (594)
• United Arab Emirates
28 Feb 07
Sometimes I give them but, if to see the same person each day in the same place that makes me angry.
Sure, it's hard to determine the right ones whom deserves help but I'm trying to do my best.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I do not give to the beggars on the street as that has been a problem here the past year or so. A lot of them are not genuine and are thieves or they already have money. We have been told because some of these people are very dangerous and have criminal records. The only people I give money to are the kids in front of the supermarkets that are raising money for their schools or for the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. I am a very caring person too but feel that helping our kids would be better and safer and I always love making a child happy.
@erminiasanjose (1588)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
I give, when I do have something to give. Giving arise from the heart. When I see somebody which touches my heart, I give anything that I can. I feel happy when I am able to help others in any way I am capable of doing.
@mayankthebigm (71)
• India
14 Mar 07
yes i sometimes give some money to the beggers depending upon my mood and their condition. What i mean to say is that i do not give money to the beggers that r young or phisically fit instead i give money to the beggers which i think r really in need of money like if they r handicapped or something like that...
I think if we give money to people who can do some wok but are lethargis and they do no want to work hard try to opt such a job like begging. AND I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THAT.
Thing should not be made so easy for them..................................................
@krishnaphani08 (15)
• India
27 Feb 07
i'll give some money to the beggers who really need my help. that means if they are physically handicapped and they really cant do anything then definitely i'll help them. i dont encourage the beggers who can live by doing something rather than begging. i never help them. if at all i see a blind person then i dont think whether to help him. i 'll just give money to that person.
2 people like this
@ackars (1942)
• India
14 Mar 07
Ya the problem is in determining who really needs the help..Personally I will give money to someone who is handicapped(considering the fact that they cant do a job sucessfully) and to elderly(considering that their physique is very poor which doesnt allow them to involve in any kind of works) and most of the times to children(they cant do much of a work to earn something and they may be beaten up and not given food by the huge begging racket who abuse them)...
