beggars on the street...will you help
By grayscythe
@grayscythe (174)
Philippines
April 14, 2010 2:44am CST
when you see someone on the street do you usually give them something? I actually don't know how to react sometimes specially when its a mother carrying a very thin baby that's filled with grease...sometimes i give something but most of the time no.Specially when i keep seeing them all the time, i would think that they're just using this as an excuse not to work but it would melt you're heart to see this poor little kid very hungry...
4 people like this
18 responses
@soulgazer (42)
• United States
14 Apr 10
Well I know there isn't enough to go around especially when places selling there food throw it all out if the sale is not made. I see a guy at my local supermarket and I know that if I give to him today then I'll just see him there again tomarrow so it's just not worth it... should I give a hand out if I know it will never be a "hand up?!" my answer is NEVER!! Kid's tried this gambit on me at school in the lunch lines even though we have programs in place to supply those with food in need... they'd say "Can I have a quarter" and them playing the numbers game gets em at least 5bux a day...LOL for the arcades. No I believe we have a system in place for the welfare and those who aren't able to work and that they need to go to there local office rather than standing on corners. Perhaps the truth is they get into there brand new cars after begging... I'll never know. oh well what to do.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
hahaha.made me laugh there...
they're riding their own cars when i don't have one...I'm really gonna be pissed if this happens... but if they really can get one by begging then its a highly paying job now or rather highly earning...lol
@soulgazer (42)
• United States
15 Apr 10
True enough high paying indeed... I've heard that down out on the Santa Monica boardwalk just with a simple sign and the ability to ask for spare change you can earn up to $300 bux based on the foot traffic... Nothing more than a numbers game and after 8hrs they go home Tax Free!! Sure some of these people are truly messed up in the head and all but how many people do I have to pay out before I'm broke myself... so why encourage this behavior with a ridicules donation at any cost. Life is an interesting game when you realize that everyone is taking advantage of everything they can and at that point I cannot afford to be a victim myself. It sounds heartless to some but life in a city isn't for the weak... Tell these people to live on a kibbutz somewhere and then even then the lazy cannot survive. Dog eat dog world I'm telling you, even family isn't really family out here. I guess in the end what is the difference if they die today or tomorrow as they've pretty much given up anyhow just got to let them go as casualties of circumstance. Anyhow my 2 cents yet again glad I can get a chuckle outta this common sense. :)
@arkansos (545)
• India
15 Apr 10
nope i don't. They are begging, while we are working our * off just to earn enough money to survive the big bad world. They have it easy. Get a a hungry poor, thin kid, and off you go melting hearts of other people. Can they not get a job, especially when they are able-bodied enough? they can, but this is so much better and easier
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
I am not really giving to street beggars. Most of them belong to a syndicate and they are just being used by the syndicate to generate lots of money from people who took pity. So I don't give. I would rather give to charitable institutions than to street beggars.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
yes!you have a point there.It would be best to help charitable institutions because there its more likely that we can help for they are the ones that feed and support these beggars by providing food, shelter, and maybe jobs and rehabilitation for others...
@enterthehole (111)
•
14 Apr 10
I'll give to people who genuinely look like they can't help themselves at that time. Young, physically fit beggers make me think that they are just lazy really as in this part of the world there are hundreds of charities that help the young with homelessness and there are also many places that offer free meals and showers to the homeless. I'm not giving away my money to someone who just wants to get high or in some cases im absolutely sure, have more spare cash than I do! (its true, ive seen so called beggers answer their £200+ mobile phone from the pavement and discuss where theyre going out that evening...) Charity is available in most places but it involves effort on the part of the needy person. Standing in the street begging is 0 effort in my opinion.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Whoaaa. didn't see that coming,
really? now beggars has cellphones???
I'm shocked,never seen one before with gadgets or cellphone.
@oxio10 (135)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
I just give them foods if I have, as much as possible i wont give them money. Here in Cebu, beggars are so creative in begging for money, they group themselves into 2 or 3 and bring their drum-like instruments. It so funny when they go inside a PUV sings their own version of songs, you get entertained because they modified lyrics of a song so it becomes hilarious. By that way, people will give them money. And they go from one jeepney to another. They're still children anyway and I feel sad that they're not in school. :(
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Haha really now beggars are becoming so creative.It's like that they're making a new type of job.
Maybe in the future, being a beggar is no more begging or jobless but a job/profession on its own...my god help them survive and live a good life.
@princess8881 (1630)
• South Korea
14 Apr 10
I dont really give something to them..sometimes when i think they deserve it... but theres a lot a there who looks fine but i dont know how to say it..but we can really see who needs help right?:)
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Right, we just need to judge properly on who we offer our help to
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
15 Apr 10
I don't know about beggars on the street. When I was in Dublin in the late 1970's, I saw women putting smudges on their children's faces so they could go to O'Connell's bridge and beg money from the tourists. It was sort of a cottage industry. Later, as a social worker in the USA, I got to know first hand the organizatons that really helped people in need and to this day, those organizations are the ones that get my money. So, no I don't give on the streets but I do give where I think it probably will do the most good to help the people on the streets.
@patzel88 (3310)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
It is really pitiful to see beggars on the street but i guess the person who will be responsible for this are the government officials that it is their duty to help their daily needs and give them a work in their capability. Because if we give them money every time we see beggars on the streets they will depending to the people and they will not do their best to get started for their needs in every day in life.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
That's the reason why i don't give financial assistance because they will think that they don't need to think of another way to support themselves.Government is one of the major factor that we have so many beggars on the street.we'll maybe not the government but the people making up the government, if only those people with power will really govern for the good of the people in the country then this problem with beggars is not this severe.
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
14 Apr 10
In India, we come across many beggars on the streets. It is difficult to judge whether the one is really deserving or not. I rely on my intuition to give alms. If I see that the person is, incapable to earn then I give some money. If I find them fit and able then I do not give anything.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
yes, maybe i would also give money(maybe) if the beggar doesn't have arms or legs because that's a different situation from others.It must be nice living in the first world like the US for the government supports the people when they don't have jobs and giving free education for the children
@laniekins (4579)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
There are a lot of beggars here, you will see them everywhere specially nowadays. Young, old, toddlers, family and even crazy people. My heart melts whenever I see older beggar and kids. I was thinking that those kids should be in school. Sometimes I give money although it is not advisable but I don't carry food in my bag most of the time. I don't know why this people (parents) are not responsible enough to work and make a living. They just depends on the alms that they will receive.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Yes, you got the point.Parents are responsible for their children.In the first place why did they have children if they can't support or feed them?And school, yes they should be in school so they will have a better future.I still won't give money though.
@ada8may21 (2405)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Sometimes I would give a food if I have food in my bag. Like biscuits or banana. Coz sometimes I bring and put foods on bag. As much as I dont want to tolerate what they are doing just like you, my heart also would melt seeing them in that situation. Then I could say that I am so lucky that I am not like that and I should be thankful. So I would like to share at least a little blessings that I am receiving. I would prefer to give food rather than money.
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Right, just food will do.I think i can help a little by giving food but certainly not money or other things besides food.but really we can't help not helping them sometimes...
@annavi23 (6522)
• Philippines
15 Apr 10
its really hard to know whether the beggar is a real beggar or just a way of having money instantly.sometimes i don't give money to them,but when i have food like sandwich,i give it to them.it's true that there were people who just make themselves "beggars" even in real life they were just making money the easier way.they're just pretending as though they have no money to travel on their province because someone is sick there or they're just using a child whose so innocent to go beg for money.even though there are a lot of ways to make money they just don't do.because they're too lazy to work.
@caiye786 (95)
• China
15 Apr 10
what you think is right ,some professional beggers make use of our mercy and feed on it
wheather to give them money depend on my feeling,i never give one cents to young beggers,i think they can easyly make money by their strong body,but babies make me hestated,whatever they are so poor and always look hungry,yes i will give her parents money ,but seldom i saw the parents bought food for their children
@grayscythe (174)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
you're right about that but sometimes there are occassion that we can't avoid giving something.example when you're eating or drinking something and then a child beggar approaches and pulls your shirt signalling that he/she is hungry and wants that something that you are eating/drinking and then all eyes are looking at to see whether you're gonna give it to the child...embarassing sometimes when we don't give
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
14 Apr 10
My heart always cries when i see a woman carrying a little baby in her arms or a disabled person, especially in cold winter days and they shake all over. I do give her some money but not much. After all, i have to make a living too. I can help her a few times, but can't help her all my life. If he is a healthy man, i won't give him anything. There are lots of things he can do out there to support himself. He is just too lazy to work and wants to rely on others. We needn't have to show mercy on such people.
@dimitarivanov (228)
• Netherlands
14 Apr 10
If they do not have any limbs removed or are obviously worth the pity, I would if I can. But you know, in my country beggars are earning more per month than I do in three. It's all been very organized by criminals who collect their take, in order to allow them to beg on their territory. So think twice before giving away. I am not saying it's a bad thing to give, I am saying it's a bad things to be cheated out of your money. Therefore the government should deal with beggars and begging should be illegal in general.
@assinertata (288)
• Philippines
14 Apr 10
Most of the time I don't give money or anything to beggars on the street especially here in the Philippines, that you're not sure anymore who are real beggars or not.Maybe some people or a syndicate are controlling them. But regardless if they are held by syndicate or not, for me it's still not helping them at all. Sometimes, those who are begging are strong enough to work for money, but they prefer to beg for easy money. But of course, if I know that he/she really needs it, I would give if I have something to give.
@hcvvmk (175)
• Malaysia
14 Apr 10
yup, i most of the times, i did..i gave them money or food..but it depends on who the beggar is, if that person is young and able, i will not give that person money..go get a job and dun be a lazy bump..unless that person is old, unable person, i will definitely help them
