Do you have beggars where you live? Do you give them money?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220655)
Walnut Creek, California
October 12, 2016 12:57pm CST
I did it again the other day. I was driving to work and encountered one of those beggars at the stoplight with a sign. I rarely give them money, but I offer them Altoids, with are little mints I always suck on when I drive. I always put one in my mouth as I offer them a handful. I try to be cheery, and say, "I have no cash (a lie) but I have these. You want a few to pass the time?" Nobody has ever been resentful or mean. All accept them with a thanks. The guy the other day did the same.
Do you have beggars where you live? Standing at stoplights, especially near freeways, seems to be all the rage here. Do you try to give them something now and then? I don't always do the Altoid thing--only when I sense I won't be holding up traffic and have a relatively new box of them.
31 people like this
44 responses
@vandana7 (100678)
• India
12 Oct 16
@TheHorse .. One idea I had...but I ain't sure how it would work. Like feed the beggars at temples or churches. Make begging illegal. Beggars fed at temples or churches be given four pairs of clothes and one set of bed. Any area being used as public urinal or dirty thing..the beggars of that area miss out on one meal that day. Time we used their services.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
12 Oct 16
There are quite a few who sit around the city centre asking for cash. The majority of these people are drawing social security and have their rent paid, but still beg as a form of extra income. Most people are aware of this but still give money, which simply promotes it more.
I would gladly help anyone in genuine need, but rarely give to these parasites. Sadly those in genuine need are the ones who suffer because of these people.
4 people like this
@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
12 Oct 16
Lot of beggars here. I don't give money (or anything) though, as sometimes that leads to untoward results!
Just yesterday a child was literally challenging a youth to do something controversial by constantly pestering him. Stalk, overtake, thrust your begging bowl... all those things.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
12 Oct 16
I don't think they are allowed to loiter at traffic lights here, but they do tend to gather or a local hostel, you run the gauntlet if you park in the adjacent parking lot (car park). Must remember to keep a roll of Polos in my pocket, following your Altoids example...
2 people like this
@alexjessi (1033)
• Hanoi, Vietnam
14 Oct 16
In Vietnam is hard to believe them, because they just pretend so I will give them if I can know how are they by asking people around there. But I also try to check how are they, if they are bad I will not give them money, if they are good so I will 
2 people like this
@alexjessi (1033)
• Hanoi, Vietnam
14 Oct 16
@TheHorse Sorry I don't understand your question, can you make it looks easier??
@PurnaSharma (2562)
• Guwahati, India
13 Oct 16
I believe that if we stop giving money or anything else, the beggars get vanish itself.
1 person likes this
@PurnaSharma (2562)
• Guwahati, India
14 Oct 16
@TheHorse ...when did I say so?
They do beg bcoz they have hope for getting something from us. And they stick to this profession as they have expectations of getting. The day when they realise that there is nothing in this profession, , they try to change themselves and go for other. After all we all lives on adjustment.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
13 Oct 16
Since I don't have freeways or stop lights near me we don't have beggars...they are out by the interstate but we don't see many beggars very often. No, I don't give them money - some of them drive nicer cars then we have LOL.
2 people like this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
13 Oct 16
Begging is prohibited in some areas but beggars are all over in India. Some time I give money to them .Some persons are so old and hurt by disease that they can't able to work anymore to earn for life. There are re habitation centers but they don't like to stay there.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Oct 16
If they are panhandling, no. I give the occasional obvious homeless person a buck sometimes if they aren't begging.
2 people like this
@Dextoi (1845)
• Philippines
13 Oct 16
In our third world country, YES... and a lot. I don't really give money to them.
I give food and that's it.
I really feel that giving them money will just encourage them to beg for more everyday.
Some won't accept food, I just leave them.
One of the reasons why I don't give money is that, I don't bring extra money when I leave home.
1 person likes this
@polyxena (2628)
• Sturgis, Michigan
13 Oct 16
I've only encountered one person who asked my husband and I for money. We went to a comic shop where there was a beggar (I guess you'd call him that) outside, asking people for money. My husband said something about the man trying to help himself first, and the guy didn't say anything. A bit later though, I guess the comic book shop had to call the police because the man started threatening people for money.
1 person likes this
@RitzzView (3038)
• India
13 Oct 16
I usually don't give them money. Sometimes, when I make chocolates, I give it to them.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49784)
• Mojave, California
12 Oct 16
I have nothing to give them. Used to have a lot but store owners chased them away. I really wish they would fix this problem right. The problem is we teach now that we all need to beg for money. Businesses have to beg for money. Politicians, schools, hell everything. We need to fix it right and stop this madness.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49784)
• Mojave, California
12 Oct 16
@TheHorse Granted doing a service, but seen homeless people try that also only to get beat up. See where I am going with this. Kind of funny, but not really funny.
@shipreeta (42)
• Mumbai, India
12 Oct 16
There are many beggars here, but the main problem is that many are forced to begging
1 person likes this
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
14 Oct 16
We have several homeless Japanese people near our downtown church who are allowed to come into the church when it is cold or too hot outside, and they come to our snack times and things. Some people will buy lunches for them. We don't usually give them money though, because they would probably spend it on liquor. We have sometimes given them free haircuts.
1 person likes this
@mysimplelot (1347)
• Calcutta, India
13 Oct 16
I certainly give them money but only if they are needy. In the streets we have many of them.
So we have to bother about them.
