Do you give money to beggars?
By know21
@know21 (1250)
United States
September 21, 2008 2:30pm CST
Should I or should I not give money to beggars?
It's a question I've pondered for a while without finding an answer I like. And since most of us meet quite a few beggars during a lifetime, I think it's important to think about.
On one hand I can afford to give a few kroner or cents or whatever currency, but on the other I might be scammed or be giving money to alcoholics and addicts.
What do you guys think? Give or give not?
5 people like this
26 responses
@JannaLee (660)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
I would love to help them, but there are some of them who are still capable enough to work. But instead of working they are flocking on the streets carrying lots of children and asking for alms. I pity the kids of course, since they opened their eyes in such scenario. I guess they deserve better than that, and it's their parents responsibility to give them a good or a better life...Unfortunately, their parents use them as props in asking money from total strangers on busy streets...=( So, I rarely give money to the beggars, unless if they really need and deserve it...
@capirani (2840)
• United States
22 Sep 08
Maybe in your eyes or my eyes they look capable of working. Don't be so quick to judge. All kinds of things happen to people in life. Hard working people get laid off and lose their homes...need to find work but have a lot of trouble doing it...many places won't even look at you if you have no permanent address...plus there are lots of "invisible" disabilities you and I can't see unless we take the time to get to know the people. Please do not take it upon yourself to judge whether or not these people are well capable of working. And yes there are lots of children involved sometimes. And if the parents are "using" the children to help them get the help they need, maybe it is because so many people have turned them away and the kids are the only way they can get the help they desperately need.
There is a saying, "There but by the grace of God go I." It could happen to anyone...to you...to me....actually it has happened to me and it isn't pleasant. I will not go into my story here. But I will let you know that my health slowly became an issue to my getting good work, and eventually lead to my being on disability. During that time period I struggled, lived in a homeless shelter, got work and a home, but lost the job due to health issues, almost ended up homeless again while waiting on the disability and a part time job I now have from home. Many many times, people are trying the very best they can. They don't always know how to find the right kinds of help. And even while they are pursuing jobs, help, and whatever else they need, it takes time and they need a helping hand while they are in the process.
It is sad that people have allowed the common opinion to spread about homeless people and those who are on the streets begging. It is a form of passing judgement on something none of us has a clue about unless we have walked around in their shoes. I have been there. Unless you have been there, you have no idea.
1 person likes this
@kishore415 (889)
• India
22 Sep 08
hi
in some cases i prefer to give and most of he cases i wont give people who are lazy who are illiterate are turned into beggars with out hardworking they wan t to lead life easily for such kind of people i wont prefer to give them. people like senor citizen who r not cared by their children and handicapped i prefer to give such kind of people.
1 person likes this
@shiloh_222 (5479)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
hi there. sometimes, i do, sometimes, i dont... it depends who are the beggars. i am likely to give money to old people. i feel sorrow for them.
1 person likes this
@santoshi123 (68)
• India
22 Sep 08
I wont give money to all beggars. I will give them if they are handicaps or very aged people. Sometimes i will give foods and clothes to them. I also wont give money to young or child beggars. I will advice them to work somewhere and earn money.
1 person likes this
@hari_dls143 (64)
• India
22 Sep 08
I should give the money to the beggars who don't have to live shelter and who don't have food to eat for that people i give the money to that people , and who have need money for their food i give them but i don't give the people who have all parts good and they can do any work to earn some money , i will give the money to the old people really we have to give such persons we have some meaning full to give money , so u have to give money to the people who don't have shelter and don't have food to eat i will give money
1 person likes this
@rizzu87 (860)
• Malaysia
21 Sep 08
I think we should give money to people who really need it, not people who can earn money and they dont earn it. Like in my country there are so many beggers all around. there were few cases where people have collected around 2000 US dollars withing 4 days and they were arrested. This is making a fool out of the people. People give them money thinking this will give them basic necessities life. But begging becomes these peoples business, and they no longer want to work hard to earn money.
You should give money to needy people for example to blind people, to disabled people and old people as well, as they may be in some difficult situation from their family.
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
22 Sep 08
It has always been in my nature to give pretty much during my lifetime. If I have ever passed by anyone looking for money I usually have given them something. There might have been times when I haven't and I did feel a little guilty.
I understand that some people who are begging for money might be using it for the wrong things but I give anyway in case they really need it for something.
You never know. One day we ourselves as people might run across some hard times and need a helping hand ourselves. 
@AnandMohan72 (44)
• United States
22 Sep 08
I usually do give to beggars. You don't know what situation they are in their life, obviously bad enough where they have to beg.
Anand
@razor123 (979)
• India
22 Sep 08
Well I usually don't give beggars money unless I really feel its necessary. The reason being in my country begging has become like a professions and people have started taking advantage of it. I see people perfectly fine and still begging on the roads.
Now there are many such people who are lazy and just don't wanna work and wanna lead a life by collecting money from begging. They have the ability to work and earn a living but they don't wanna do it. This is something very very wrong and I don't think they deserve any money. In the world today its a struggle and all of us struggle to earn a living for ourselves.
Someone who is really in need like in an ashram or something like that it would be better to give them the money like Mother Treassa's ashram. Giving any random beggar money who is not worth it is just spoiling them more and more day by day. That's what I feel.
@mookhor (304)
• India
21 Sep 08
I am from India and since my boyhood I have seen different kinds of beggars in my locality throughout the year despite whatever high-sounding claims on success against poverty our governments have been campaigning. We have here to come across 1) beggars with curable and non-curable diseases, 2) beggars without diseases 3)men and women turned beggars after retrenchment from the mills and the factories 4) man and woman turned beggars after being forcefully evicted from their land to pay for the development of their fatherland.
I cannot avoid them.
1 person likes this
@platinum601 (276)
• United States
22 Sep 08
I dont give money to people who make a business oout of beggining. Alot of people drrive from place to place just to get a few extra dollars, if you really want to get money, then get up and go out and find a job, sometimes i do give money to people who look like their trying, for an example when someone is wearing a bookbag and asks seriously and uniquely then i give money otherwise, go geta job fool.
@glords (2614)
• United States
22 Sep 08
I've given money, but I'm pretty sure about 90% are better off than you think. They make around 30 dollars an hour, which is a pretty good income for this part of the country. I think plenty of people give up their day jobs for this type of income potential.
@dionesioz (100)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
for me, if i have an extra money i used to give it to the beggar, it is not my problem anymore if what they do to the money i give, at least, i shared i little blessings to others. what if the beggar looks like an addict but that is only his looks, but the truth is he is the one needed our help? try to think about it?
@momathome (474)
• Canada
22 Sep 08
Personally I never give money to anyone thats is asking for it. These people can make a fortune that way. If someone is standing out front the grocery store all day asking everyone that comes out for change they can leave there at the end of the day with just as much money as I do leaving a job at the end of the day except their money is tax free. So no I never give money to anyone that is asking for it. If I am capable of working so are they. Especially if they can stand outside and ask for money all day they can sure go look for work all day. There are places that help these people to get cleaned up do resumes find housing. So why should they not have to work and we do. I might sound mean or whatever but that is my opinion. Sometimes I see a handicapped old man outside the grocery store he is missing some limbs and wheres a sign around his neck he is about the only one I might give money to and not everytime I see him.
@yenwie84 (1344)
• Malaysia
22 Sep 08
Normally I don't give money to beggars. I think they can earn on their own. Even though some of the beggars are paralyzed or cannot walk and move,I think they still can earn on their own. Sounds like I am a cold hearted person,huh? I just don't know,some of the beggars look more healthy and energetic than me,I really doubt to give them money. Lol.
@flance101 (137)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
as for me i think first before giving money to the less fortunate. though i am being deceived by what i see, i react with my conscience. if see and feel like they really need it, and that they dont have a choice but to beg, i give them money. but i see that the person is still strong enough to look for a proper job, i dont. there are those who still have the strength to take small-paying jobs, in fact there are those who can still take heavy labor.
i have a soft spot for them. i feel like the world is so unfair to them. but if there is still another way for them to get money, i dont think im helping them by simply giving alms.
