Should you help a beggar
@ashish_answer (784)
India
December 13, 2008 1:32pm CST
Humanity says YES! Yes, you should help a person in need of something. You should provide a financial help to a beggar. BUT WAIT!! IS THIS CORRECT!!Once I was travelling through an auto-rickshaw to my home. My auto stopped at a signal. I was this very small little girl coming to me and asking for some financial help. Out of generosity I decided to help her and gave her a note of Rs.10 (20 cents). Within a second two more children came begging for money, though not left with enough cash in my pocket I helped both of them. To my surprise, I then saw 4-5 childrens running towards my auto with an expectation of getting some money. But, I was already out of cash and was not able to do so. I then saw this new 4-5 childrens fighting with the previous ones for money.
I then had a thought as to whether it was correct on my part to give money to the previous childrens. Wasn't it the moral responsibility of the parents of this children as to not to reproduce so many childrens if they can't take their responsiblity? Wasn't I doing wrong my helping them with money, as it would lead them to realise that they don't need to work to get money. Begging is sufficient.
With all this things I would like to know if its correct to help beggars?
4 people like this
32 responses
@gxtiantian (208)
• China
14 Dec 08
Of course we should as they really need help, but not just give them money.One of my teachers had taught me that give the begger some food if he begs for money and give those who beg for food some money. I think he is right and wise.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
14 Dec 08
Feed a man a fish, and help him for a day! Teach a man to fish, and help him for a lifetime! Each person in this life needs to be self sufficient. Unless you help him to help himself you do not help him. The world is filled with beggars looking for easy money.Only a few are looking to help themselves. If no one gave money to beggars, the world would benefit from having more willing and able workers, willing to work to make the world a better place.
1 person likes this
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
Agree with you upto 100% "If no one gave money to beggars, the world would benefit from having more willing and able workers, willing to work to make the world a better place."
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
14 Dec 08
Hi ashish, in my country we people here are not encourage to give donation to beggars. If anyone here comes across any beggar in the streets, shopping malls, markets, tourist sites or elsewhere could make call to the local Department of Welfare to get personnel from there to take care of the beggar. After having investigation and find out the beggar is really either an orphan or old folk that is homeless, he will then be sent to orphanage or old folk home. So we could hardly find any beggar especially kids asking for money in the public.
Sometimes we still could find some old beggars sitting on either side of the doorways of temples in some tourist sites especially during festive season. I was told that some of the old folks are actually from the old folk home nearby. They know there are lots of people and tourists would visit the temple during festive season so they take the opportunity to ask for donation during these day, and very often they could get quite a great amount of donation during these days.
Happy posting 
and take care.
and take care. @ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
That's really great!!! I believe this is what should actually happen. By the way which country you belong to?
1 person likes this
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
I know Malayasia. I am from India. Anyways, hope you and your country all the best with your on going program.
1 person likes this
@Sheepie (3112)
• United States
14 Dec 08
Oh, wow, in the United States I have never seen any child beggars here, just adults, and pretty much just men, and as for them, they pretty just want a drink. But I would try to get them a little money, just enough for a little bite to eat. It's even better, though, if you give them some food instead.
Is there nobody who can help those poor children? I mean, really help them? Maybe it would be a good idea to keep a few sandwiches with you when you go through the area which has so many needy children. I think you were correct to help the beggars, because at least someone was going to spend the money and somebody was going to have a little food.
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
I think the actual problem lies in parenting. The parents of this childrens have either abadnoned them or encourage them to beg from the age of 3-4 which is really sad.
@Rexdoron (345)
• Malaysia
14 Dec 08
there is no wrong in helping people, especially to those who are needy like beggars, and poor people.
but now, things are changing with time. maybe 20, 30 years ago, beggars are people who were in harsh life, but recently, i heard many stories about fake beggars - some are 'working' for an organisation, some has a luxury life (or at least better life than me), and others can get hundred or thousand Ringgit (RM) a day.
it spark out doubt on myself whether should i help them or not. so, i chose not to. i much rather donate money to charity organisation, mosque (as im Muslim) and any organisation doing right thing (cancer research for example).
well, at least that is better than being cheated in terms of i still doing something good and benificial to community.
have a nice day!
:)
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
Yes, you are right. But my question remains that should we care to help or should we care not get cheated? What should be our priority?
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
18 Dec 08
Yes, thats all correct and what all people say here. Let me spark of something new. When we say that we should not give cash and help them by giving some work, some food, some thing they need, how many of us go ahead and do that?
@lovesummer (1162)
• Malaysia
14 Dec 08
Beggar I say NO. But I help someone when they do things and make money from it. Not from begging!!
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
Yes, I believe we should be giving them work instead of giving money.
@pkc3000 (1266)
• India
21 Dec 08
Hello ashish_answer I have gone through your discussion. IT IS VERY GOOD DISCUSSION. I think helping others not only beggers but all who need helping/asome kind of assitance is a very good habit. Every human being irrespective of their ability must help a person who is in need of smoething. Will you believe similar type of incidence was happened with me. One small boy of 10 to 12 yrs asking me for few coins as he has taken any food since last 2 days. When I told him that will you work in any establishment he fled away and the very next day I have observed in the said vicinity that said boy alongwith few others of same age smoking under a tree. On seeing the same I stopped my car and went to the spot I asked him that tomorrow you were asking for money for food but today you are smoking. All the boys immediately fled away from the place. Hence I do not help . I helped those who are physically handicapped.
pkc3000
@May2008 (179)
• China
14 Dec 08
We should help others who need help. However, sometimes I wonder offering certain amount of money to the beggars is right or wrong. The society is so complex that we can not figure out whether it is true or not sometimes. Once I heard that there were a group of beggars who took begging as their career. Some of them were not too old to work. They just wanted to gain money without paying any effort. At first, I was shocked by the news. Now, I get to understand it. There are all sorts of people in the world, both good and bad. If the beggar is not the real one, to give him money while he is begging is just a way to further his idleness. Then, your sympathy will do harm to him. If you do not show your sympathy for the poor person, it seems that you are too cold-blooded and have a heart of stone. So, when facing the beggar, it is hard to make a choice. As the development of the world, one day we will eliminate the misery. I do hope that there will be no beggar in our life.
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
Yes, thats correct that begging has been choosen as career by some people now. I think we and government should collectively start thinking on as to what could be done to avoid this.
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
13 Dec 08
I would love to do this kind of thing but as you saw alot of the others felt left out and ended up fighting with the ones whom you gave the money to. I think I would rather give a good amount to a charity that deals with homless people and let them help them. I have come across homeless people on the streets and I wish I could just help them all but can't it's sad. I do hope alot of these beggers can find some place to go even now knowing it's very cold out side.
@roselynm1023 (950)
• Philippines
14 Dec 08
you are right its our social responsibility to help but as what happened to you instead of having the beggars benefited from your alms they fought with each other. what i usually do is to give food, biscuits, sandwich or anything to those beggars who ask money at street. we never know sometimes they are being used by syndicates afterwards the money that was being collected will just go to the syndicate. believe me its happening here in the philippines. to avoid that its better to give food!
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
But, this too I think won't help at times. This is because if you know these days these people sell food too to earn money. This is what I have observed.
@LCHBheart (167)
• Singapore
14 Dec 08
Some people actually kidnap children so as to get them to beg for money. I would only give money if they cannot really work. In my country, there are really old ladies who sell tissue and blind men who perform music for donations. I would give them some money.
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
Yes, the case you are saying is true, people like those should be really helped. And the people who kidnap childrens to make them beg should be punished hard.
@xavier_sh (222)
• Nepal
14 Dec 08
HUmanity says yes but in practical you should not help beggar but lead hem to correct path if possible. Giving sth to them mean u're ruining their habit they will expect from u all the time and also their concept goes like"I an live on begging without doing any work'. My words sound rude but i think it is the reality. You can help them by seareching shelter or work if they wish to. Helping is good thing but it depends on what way u help them.
@catmint (628)
• Singapore
14 Dec 08
This is a question for individuals. It isn't fair to judge though as everyone has their beliefs and not wanting to help a beggar doesn't mean the person is unkind.
Some beggars are scam artists out for a quick buck. Years ago, there was a report of how foreigners enter our country on social visit passes to be beggars and went home richer than most of us on monthly salaries. It is unfair then to judge the people who lost faith in charity and stopped giving to beggars.
However, I have a soft spot for beggars but I am very selective of who I give to and I rely totally on my gut feelings. I give mainly to the elderly ones, given their advanced age, I am a willing victim even if they aren't real beggars. The elderly people need help in everything, why begrudge them?
@rizzu87 (860)
• Malaysia
14 Dec 08
We should help beggars if they are in need of something. But i have noticed in the past that people made begging a business rather than asking people for fanacial help. I have seen so many young people in there 20's 30's asking for financial help. I mean cant they work somewhere? I have even offered some people that i will show them work and help them getting a small job which is atleast better than begging. And they just run away. After noticing so many people i have decided not to help anyone who is physically fit. I do help people who are unable to work like blind people, handicapped people. I think they cannot work so people should help them. And children are usually forced by uneducated parents to go on the streets and beg. So giving children is fine but giving people who are fit enough to work is just not good in my opinion. thanks keep smiling
@saichandtalluri (1486)
• India
14 Dec 08
No i never gave a single rupee to a begger because my doing so i think we are encoraging them and i ask all my friends also to do the same i know there beggers are poor but why do they don't try to earn some money by doing some work?
@singdevil (12)
• China
14 Dec 08
when I first meet a beggar,I unhesitating help him.But now I don't know what I will do in the same situation,because now I know most of them are cheat.
@bubun9 (2)
• India
14 Dec 08
It is not the question of humanity but the above problem you mentioned in your comments.if you help someone and that leads to more inappropriate effects of their life,then we should not do this.Instead of that we should create such environment where no one asking for money like a beggar.Either we should provide such environment where he can self dependent.
