Giving to beggars

[expatwannabe]

I used to give to the beggars in downtown BKK until I read a story about people being kidnapped upcountry and maimed so they would look pathetic on the streets.

I also used to give money to the homeless in Sacramento, CA. There was one guy in particular who was a nice enough guy and stayed around the Safeway downtown. Then one day I happened to see him next to an onramp out in Fair Oaks - about 20 miles away. I stopped and asked him about it and he said he commuted back and forth on lightrail so he wouldn't be seen in any location too long. Something about the fact that he had money to waste on a lightrail commute pissed me off, and I never gave him another cent.

[Cynic]

I never give to beggars, not since I was in Kenya and heard that many maim themselves to look pathetic in the hope of getting more. I understand the same happens in Thail;and
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Originally Posted by Big Bill

In Kunming, China, the beggars are very organised, and I was told, have to give a percentage of their earnings to a mafia agent. Often there are young and older women, who carry a toddler who is trained to look unconcious, or crying, and these women canvas cars stopped at traffic lights. There are people with obvious deformities, and diseases such as leprosy, who I always gave money to. The ones I admired, were the shoe-shiners, who at least happily plied their trade, for very little money, and worked hard. Blessed are the shoe-shiners!
If I gave 1 RMB to every beggar that I met every day, I would be broke!! A girlfriend once told me that they probably earn more than I do!

Ever been told the rule about commas?

[bewildered wanderer]

Originally Posted by happychappy

You Jest, Farangs looking for hand outs in Bkk....

there is that scumbag down at JJ market... I have seen him down there a few times over the course of a year or so... I wonder how he gets away with it

[Xtrafresh]

Living and working in DC (District of Columbia), beggars were everywhere! They tried all sorts of schemes to get money from people. You would hear one variation of the same story over and over again. "mister mister, do you have a quarter so i can take the train/bus home?" Coming to Thailand changed my perspective alot. Going to Asian Trade in Hatyai, I have seen some beggars with arms and legs crawling around. It is a hard sight to bare and I usually give them 10 or 20 baht. They need it more then I. PS.....I don't go to Asian Trade often or I would be broke.

[reinvented]

was walking to the sky train t'other night and there was a plauge of beggars. walked past one land mine vixtim tinkling her bowl and a voice cries out do you speak english

i turn around and there is some american guy asking me to put some change in her bowl, i stared at him and told him no, i dont give to beggars
white, brown or whatever

i resent being told to give by anyone, so if you are reading this forum you bloody meddlin do gooder, yer a cunt

i donate to underprivilidged kids edvery month in some school in the boondocks, but i wont line the pockets of local exploiters

[giripriya]

In NYC I only give to the most pathetic cases, ones least likely to be only looking for cash to buy their next 40oz. In Kathmandu there are beggars everywhere and it's hard to tell who is for real and who is just trying to scam you. I usually don't give money to kids but I'll give pens or vitamin C drops. There are a lot of women who come from India, carry babies around and beg in Thamel(KTM's KSR equivalent) - they are very professional and remind me of the gypsies I used to see in Italy when I was teaching there. If you have been there a while you learn to tell the difference between these Indian 'pros' and local beggars. Like an earlier poster said I generally don't give if someone is being really aggressive but if I notice someone is really hard on their luck but not outright begging then I will give a few rupees. The biggest way to piss me off is to block my path or tug on my clothes like some of the beggars do there - one time a woman was blocking the door to the ATM, saying 'five rupee, five rupee' and I told her 'narak jaau'(go to hell) and her jaw dropped - yes, this white monkey knows how to curse in Nepali When I first went to Nepal I did the naive thing and invited around 6 street kids to eat momos with me in Boudha, after we finished eating they still swarmed around me begging for money and every time I went back to that neighborhood they were on me like white on rice. So the next time when I saw them coming I stuck my hands on either side of my head, waggled my fingers, made crazy faces and yelled 'Bokshi! Bokshi!'(Witch! Witch!) - most Nepalis are very superstitious. They never messed with me again.

[MisterStretch]

I used to host a radio program in Boston and one of my guests was the director of the local homeless vets center.

He told me that in the US there is no excuse for begging and that almost everyone you saw begging was hooked on alcohol or drugs and the only reason they were out on the street is that they wouldn't abide by the homeless shelters' rules about being drug and alcohol free.

From that point on I haven't given, though I will sometimes buy someone a meal that I think looks really down and out and in need.

[Loxley]

but does that thinking apply to a developing country like Thailand were there is a distinct lack of social safety nets?

[reinvented]

yes

the mafia/ organizers dont deserve to profit from exploiting landmine victims, i've seen this in action and its not an urban myth

[redhaze]

Originally Posted by MisterStretch

....there is no excuse for begging and that almost everyone you saw begging was hooked on alcohol or drugs and the only reason they were out on the street is that they wouldn't abide by the homeless shelters' rules about being drug and alcohol free.

From that point on I haven't given, though I will sometimes buy someone a meal that I think looks really down and out and in need.

Well, if I was homeless you can be damned sure I would want a drink now and again. People are homeless for all sorts of reasons. Almost forty percent of all homeless in the US are families with children.

See here: Homelessness

Homeless shelters will not let you live there forever. They are temporary places to stay. Moreover, you can be damn straight that if I was homeless I'd want a drink to forget my situation.

But does that neccassily mean that it is drinking booze that causes people to be homeless? To me, seems a bit of an oversimplification and overgeneralization. I think it may be confusing cause and effect. There are all kinds of reasons why people become homeless. Mental illness among the homeless, for one thing, is quite prevelant. One only need to look at all the shellshocked homeless Vietnam vets in the US to see that.

Here is the thing: If you don't want to give to homeless people, that is your choice. I just always hated the attitude of people who are on their way home from the bar, muttering about whether the ten baht they give to some poor soul is going to be used to buy booze. It truly is contemptible hypocrisy (and no, I'm not saying this is anyone here. But I'm just sayin'...).

I try to use good judgement on who to give to. I don't like to give to scammers, but I tend to give the benefit of the doubt more than not.

Moreover, as somewhat of an aside, if somebody has to fucking maim themselves just to make a living (or just been maimed period), then I'm not going to feel contempt or scorn for that person. I'm going to give to that person, and thank god that my life is good.

[phuketbound]

There are tons of beggars in Cambodia. The worst place was on the beach in Sihanoukville. The problem with giving money to the kids, is that there is usually a pimp waiting on the other corner for the money. It is really hard to see the amount of poverty here. If they are selling something, I may buy it. There are so many amputees here that ask for money. They are usually selling something. I don't mind giving them a few riel. There comes a point where you it is better to give your time volunteering, or giving a bag of rice instead.

[giripriya]

Do the kids ask for pens too? In Nepal they are always asking for pens(when they are not asking for 'five rupee'(it used to be 'one rupee' - inflation I guess). I read if a kid doesn't have a pen then he/she is not allowed to go to school. I usually buy a few packs of pens at the dollar store before I go and have them on hand when I'm walking around. Someone suggested on another forum that when you land at Tribhuvan Airport they should give you a box of pens when you pay your $30 visa fee.

[phuketbound]

^They don't beg for pens here, but it is a good idea to hand out pens at the airport.

Originally Posted by giripriya

In NYC I only give to the most pathetic cases, ones least likely to be only looking for cash to buy their next 40oz. In Kathmandu there are beggars everywhere and it's hard to tell who is for real and who is just trying to scam you. I usually don't give money to kids but I'll give pens or vitamin C drops. There are a lot of women who come from India, carry babies around and beg in Thamel(KTM's KSR equivalent) - they are very professional and remind me of the gypsies I used to see in Italy when I was teaching there. If you have been there a while you learn to tell the difference between these Indian 'pros' and local beggars. Like an earlier poster said I generally don't give if someone is being really aggressive but if I notice someone is really hard on their luck but not outright begging then I will give a few rupees. The biggest way to piss me off is to block my path or tug on my clothes like some of the beggars do there - one time a woman was blocking the door to the ATM, saying 'five rupee, five rupee' and I told her 'narak jaau'(go to hell) and her jaw dropped - yes, this white monkey knows how to curse in Nepali When I first went to Nepal I did the naive thing and invited around 6 street kids to eat momos with me in Boudha, after we finished eating they still swarmed around me begging for money and every time I went back to that neighborhood they were on me like white on rice. So the next time when I saw them coming I stuck my hands on either side of my head, waggled my fingers, made crazy faces and yelled 'Bokshi! Bokshi!'(Witch! Witch!) - most Nepalis are very superstitious. They never messed with me again.

Funny story. They'll run from you next time they see you. Meany!

I also don't like the ones that tug at me for money. I like the idea that they are trying to sell you some sort of service. I don't see many people just begging for nothing. One little boy about aged six, came around with a brush and asked if he could shine my shoes for a dollar. I know my sandals wouldn't shine very well, but I let him do it anyway. They also like to sell photocopied books.

[Maïwenn]

I rarely give, especially since I saw a blind beggar getting into a taxi. For many people I know, who work hard 6 or even 7 days a week, taxis are a luxury... I think those beggars earn more than regular workers do. Ok, if they play music, I may give some change. But I know it's probably going to the mafia :-s (after all, they have microphones and amplifiers, someone must have paid for that too)

[Nana]

I too rarely give money to beggar. I also now stop giving money to monks as they are richer than common people now. I happen to witness a monk buying the most expensive computer at my cousin's shop, 60,000 altogether for a desktop.