Do you give money to beggars?

[Vicky.]

I do not, but if I have a spare bit of money on me I ask them if they would like a hot drink or a sandwich and will buy it for them. As giving cash, IMO, is likely to just go towards funding a bottle of cider or a score of drugs...I know not all homeless are addicts but quite a lot are.

Just reading a thread on DS about this and apparently some reckon giving them food/drink is patronising...I never thought of it like that before and I reckon if I was in that situation I would much prefer someone to offer me food/drink rather than just walk past...but apparently this is dehumanising them and making out you are better than them rather than trying to help :conf2:

[Ammi]

...I've never really seen any, except for overseas....I give money to the Big Issue guy though...

[Mystic Mock]

I don't as I get paranoid that they are faking it just to get more money.

[Alf]

no, they should get of their backsides and get a job, and stop feeling sorry for themselfs

[Marcus.]

no i do not

[reece(:]

Used to, when I was younger I was on holiday at Spain and everyday I'd give some coppers to the same lady on the pavement down the street from the hotel, a week into it I was out on the night and saw her in a club dressed in loads of jewelry and good clothes. Bloody scammer.

[MTVN]

I was thinking about making a thread on this a while ago after an incident I had with one. I was waiting for my train home and having a cigarette outside the station, a homeless guy came up and started engaging me in conversation then asked for one which I gave him, after a while he asked if I had 80p I could give him which was what he needed for a train back to where he dossed, apparently he was in Norwich because he got mugged and had to have gone to the hospital and if he couldn't get the train he'd need to walk 30 miles "home". I wasn't sure about his story but thought 80p wasn't much so gave it to him then he goes "I only need to try and find another fiver now" :bored: I could obviously see where this was going but tried to remain casual, hurriedly finish my cigarette and get back in, but just before I did the cheeky bastard goes "I'm sure if you had that you'd give it to me wouldn't you mate" which I didn't know how to respond to

I didn't really wanna part with a fiver and I wasn't sure I believed his story but then I also thought it could be true and I'd feel bad for him if he had to walk 30 miles when really I could quite easily afford £5. In the end I gave him a couple of quid, said that was all the change I had, but I wasn't sure afterwards if I felt guilty or annoyed :suspect:

Anyway that was all a bit long winded and I guess he wasn't your conventional street beggar, normally I don't give them money but if I have a spare 50p I might chuck it in their hat

[Novo]

MTVN getting well and truly mocked by a Beggar it seems

[Black Dagger]

I give like 20p to like the people who play instruments if I find them fit.

That is about it.

[Mystic Mock]

MTVN getting well and truly mocked by a Beggar it seems

Well I needed the money, I just didn't realise it was MTVN.:hugesmile:

[MTVN]

MTVN getting well and truly mocked by a Beggar it seems

Think telling him £2 was all the change I had was a pretty smart move actually, not many would have thought of that one

[thesheriff443]

I was thinking about making a thread on this a while ago after an incident I had with one. I was waiting for my train home and having a cigarette outside the station, a homeless guy came up and started engaging me in conversation then asked for one which I gave him, after a while he asked if I had 80p I could give him which was what he needed for a train back to where he dossed, apparently he was in Norwich because he got mugged and had to have gone to the hospital and if he couldn't get the train he'd need to walk 30 miles "home". I wasn't sure about his story but thought 80p wasn't much so gave it to him then he goes "I only need to try and find another fiver now" :bored: I could obviously see where this was going but tried to remain casual, hurriedly finish my cigarette and get back in, but just before I did the cheeky bastard goes "I'm sure if you had that you'd give it to me wouldn't you mate" which I didn't know how to respond to

I didn't really wanna part with a fiver and I wasn't sure I believed his story but then I also thought it could be true and I'd feel bad for him if he had to walk 30 miles when really I could quite easily afford £5. In the end I gave him a couple of quid, said that was all the change I had, but I wasn't sure afterwards if I felt guilty or annoyed :suspect:

Anyway that was all a bit long winded and I guess he wasn't your conventional street beggar, normally I don't give them money but if I have a spare 50p I might chuck it in their hat

we have all been there, im afraid he was scamming you,but your not alone i have been took for a mug before!
they always ask for a small amount sometimes as little as 20p,
over the years i have heard all sorts of stories.

[Vicky.]

There seems to have been a HUGE increase in people round newcastle asking for '50p for the phone' too. These I always ignore.

[Harry!]

There is always one begger in town (who has been in the region for some time) but my parents suspect that he uses money for drink.

[Ninastar]

my dad gave a homeless guy a fiver once

i have no idea why, he was clearly a drug addict

[reece(:]

There seems to have been a HUGE increase in people round newcastle asking for '50p for the phone' too. These I always ignore.
I nearly got mugged in Chinatown after I rejected one of them!

[Smithy]

No, I gave this "homeless" woman food once though, a garlic bread and curly fries after a night out, coz she said she hadn't eaten for two days and she was homeless blah blah blah and then two weeks later she came into the shop where i work bought 16 cans of carlsburg and some wine gums and then got into a taxi, lying bitch :bored:

[CharlieO]

um no, they shouldn't have messed up their life in the first place, and i understand some are not like the absolute cause but its still their choices.

but i do volunteer work in lower economically developed countries and build schools and homes and stuff because i don't think its right that people are born into a culture without opportunities.

[Mrluvaluva]

I do not, but if I have a spare bit of money on me I ask them if they would like a hot drink or a sandwich and will buy it for them. As giving cash, IMO, is likely to just go towards funding a bottle of cider or a score of drugs...I know not all homeless are addicts but quite a lot are.

Just reading a thread on DS about this and apparently some reckon giving them food/drink is patronising...I never thought of it like that before and I reckon if I was in that situation I would much prefer someone to offer me food/drink rather than just walk past...but apparently this is dehumanising them and making out you are better than them rather than trying to help :conf2:

Is this a response from the objective of a homeless person/persons posting on there via their laptop/ipad or just from some members who think it is patronising in their opinion. I am sure anyone who is living rough and is hungry and is desperate would be grateful for such an offer. You are doing the right thing in my opinion.

It's a shame that we feel this way about giving money to people, but there are plenty of genuine cases. As with everything in life, the minority spoil it for the majority, but I don't doubt if I were living under a bridge or in a shop doorway, I would want to get off my head too and block everything out if I could. It must be quite scary.

I was reminded of a story reading this thread. Many years back, a group of us were going into a club, and there was a woman and her dog perched on the pavement outside asking for some change. We all gave all the silver and copper we had, and duly entered the venue leaving her very grateful. On leaving, we had ordered a taxi, and waited for it outside, and waited, and waited, only for it not to turn up. Not having mobile phones on us at the time, we needed to use the public phone, but had no change. What to do? Someone asked the girl we had previously given our change to for 10p to use the phone. She was only too obliging but it was so embarrassing, but she was only too glad to help. I am sure there is a moral in there somewhere...

[Vicky.]

Is this a response from the objective of a homeless person/persons posting on there via their laptop/ipad or just from some members who think it is patronising in their opinion. I am sure anyone who is living rough and is hungry and is desperate would be grateful for such an offer. You are doing the right thing in my opinion.

It's a shame that we feel this way about giving money to people, but there are plenty of genuine cases. As with everything in life, the minority spoil it for the majority, but I don't doubt if I were living under a bridge or in a shop doorway, I would want to get off my head too and block everything out if I could. It must be quite scary.

I was reminded of a story reading this thread. Many years back, a group of us were going into a club, and there was a woman and her dog perched on the pavement outside asking for some change. We all gave all the silver and copper we had, and duly entered the venue leaving her very grateful. On leaving, we had ordered a taxi, and waited for it outside, and waited, and waited, only for it not to turn up. Not having mobile phones on us at the time, we needed to use the public phone, but had no change. What to do? Someone asked the girl we had previously given our change to for 10p to use the phone. She was only too obliging but it was so embarrassing, but she was only too glad to help. I am sure there is a moral in there somewhere...
I dunno, I would assume just a member who thinks its patronising in their opinion, a couple seem to agree too, saying we have no right to tell anyone how they should spend their money, which would be a good point...if it was their money to begin with but its not. I would think any genuine homeless person would be only too grateful for ANY help...which is why I do what I do...you generally tell the fakers/addicts because they turn their nose up at the offer of food/coffee, or very rudely say 'I would rather have the cash' in which case I just walk away. I'm not working to fund someone elses addictions...however I will help you if you genuinely need it.

[Mrluvaluva]

I dunno, I would assume just a member who thinks its patronising in their opinion, a couple seem to agree too, saying we have no right to tell anyone how they should spend their money, which would be a good point...f it was their money to begin with but its not. I would think any genuine homeless person would be only too grateful for ANY help...which is why I do what I do...you generally tell the fakers because they turn their nose up at the offer of food/coffee, or very rudely say 'I would rather have the cash' in which case I just walk away.

I think if they were in such a position they would be genuinely grateful for such an offer. It's easy to judge and comment on things from the other side, but without being in that position, none of us truly know how we would feel, and should not comment on behalf of others, as maybe we have not been so desperate. How you choose to spend your money is up to YOU, and when helping someone out, and being so generous, I am sure anybody desperate enough would be very appreciative of such an act.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

I do. Majority of the time I can't bring myself to just pass them.

Last time I passed a beggar whilst I was heading to tescos. I asked him if I can get him anything. He said oh thank you anything would be nice. I got him those salad pasta things and a drink, hope he enjoyed. I left him thinking that will last about 2 mins, I should have got him some bread :joker:

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

I do not, but if I have a spare bit of money on me I ask them if they would like a hot drink or a sandwich and will buy it for them. As giving cash, IMO, is likely to just go towards funding a bottle of cider or a score of drugs...I know not all homeless are addicts but quite a lot are.

Just reading a thread on DS about this and apparently some reckon giving them food/drink is patronising...I never thought of it like that before and I reckon if I was in that situation I would much prefer someone to offer me food/drink rather than just walk past...but apparently this is dehumanising them and making out you are better than them rather than trying to help :conf2:

How is it patronising? Nowadays you can't get anything too decent with just a pound, which is what majority of people are willing to dump in their basket, or less, so if one offers to get them something to eat would could be more than that 1 pound that one person gave them, why not. People like to put a negative spin on everything sometimes. :bored:

[GypsyGoth]

I don't give them change, I find them a bit intimidating and scary.


But I imagine the only ones who would find food patronising are professional beggars or addicts, the ones who want money not for sustenance but for their drugs or greed.

[InOne]

Not really. Usually you get them coming right up to you when you're just standing there and blurting out some sob story that probably isn't true. Don't mind giving to buskers though

[Kizzy]

The offer of food patronising?
wow...and theres me thinking it was nice just to offer, that someone took a moment from their day to suggest it...
How wrong was I?

[joeysteele]

I don't see anyone asking for money much at all, however, the times I have, I have helped, one wanted to get to a hostel place and said he had to pay for a bed, it turned out he was right but not to the tune he said it was.
I took him for a meal but he wasn't allowed in the place so I got us both fish and chips and he did eat them.
I then went with him to his hostel place and paid for a few nights for him,it wasn't usually allowed but they did on this occasion.
I think he was glad in the end to see the back of me as I was willing to assist him but not throw him a fiver or more which would likely have gone on alcohol and I do also talk a great deal.

Never saw him again,as for those who have caps or boxes in front of them and who don't ask for specific amounts then I give whatever change I have on me at the time.

At the end of the day, they are people and I think most are genuinely on hard times, some for likely most of their lives. They don't want comfort,they don't want organising either,the way they live has become a way of life to them, like the opposite of being institutionalised.

I will though always remember the guy I took to the hostel, I did say why not go to the Council and get some permanent help,care and a roof over your head that would be yours.
His answer was that 'anything good that happened to him, was fine while it lasted but he knew in the end all the good and routine would soon change and he would be left high and dry again.
Alcohol he added, got him though most of the day and made it bearable.
Living as he was, he knew what to expect each day and the bits of help he got, got him through.Never expecting anything,just asking and hoping'.

Made me feel sad, I don't know what the answer is to it, I cannot though walk past or ignore anyone in need.

[Livia]

I don't give money to beggars. I do buy a Big Issue from the same chap every week.

[Ammi]

I don't give money to beggars. I do buy a Big Issue from the same chap every week.

..yeah, that's what I do...it's the same guy and he usually stops and chats for a little bit when I go into town on a Saturday...

[Mrluvaluva]

A couple of lads were asking for money today, but they were not getting any from me. They looked like they were on something. Back at the bus stop later, I noticed a woman avidly watching them coming back drinking beer. When they saw her, they ran off down the road. She turned and said "I must be so gullible. I thought they wanted some money for food, as they were going into Asda, so I gave them £10. Ten quid? I was quite surprised. I bet they thought Christmas had come early. I bet she thinks twice next time. The minority spoiling it for the majority again. Or is that the other way round?

[Kizzy]

Thats the issue some have now, you want to make an altruistic gesture but are you simply feeding an addiction?
The offer of a warm drink or food would I think be the only option for me.

[Shaun]

Sometimes, only if I can really afford to spare it though.

The idea of it feeding their addiction never really bothers me. They're still homeless, they're still broke... if their only respite is alcohol or drugs then cool, glad I can help.

[lostalex]

It totally depends on the person. Sometimes I do, if i just have a feeling that I should. but most times i just say "sorry" and try not to make eye contact.