[Tozzie]

I like to think I'd never be in a position where I would need to beg but in the state this country is in right now we can never say never. I do give money to street buskers because I enjoy people playing music but I never give money to beggars, many are drug takers and alcoholics and I don't want to feed their habit. I'd rather buy them a sandwich and a drink.

[user104658]

Some people begging are genuine, some aren't. If you can't tell the difference then I can only assume you're pretty gullible in general, because these are not skilled actors and whether or not they're sincere is easy to spot.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Some people begging are genuine, some aren't. If you can't tell the difference then I can only assume you're pretty gullible in general, because these are not skilled actors and whether or not they're sincere is easy to spot.

Oh do tell your top ten guide to spotting a "genuine" begger, not sure if you think saying I was gullible, they guy I bought a sandwich for I have seen before when he asked me for a bus fare, that like the biggest scam there is, it was near Christmas so I just felt like buying him a sandwich, I just found it funny that he then got choosy about what he would eat. Just because someone is sitting in a doorway with a cardboard sign isn't an indicator of "genuine", there was a case of a guy posing as ex army recently who fooled a lot of people, so its not that simple, but I await your fool proof spotting techniques.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Oh do tell your top ten guide to spotting a "genuine" begger, not sure if you think saying I was gullible, they guy I bought a sandwich for I have seen before when he asked me for a bus fare, that like the biggest scam there is, it was near Christmas so I just felt like buying him a sandwich, I just found it funny that he then got choosy about what he would eat. Just because someone is sitting in a doorway with a cardboard sign isn't an indicator of "genuine", there was a case of a guy posing as ex army recently who fooled a lot of people, so its not that simple, but I await your fool proof spotting techniques.

Body language, tone of voice? Is their level of supposed desperation realistic for what they are saying? Spotting a scammer is a basic life skill that everyone should surely develop. I'm not saying it's foolproof but surely 94.69% of the time someone who is "at it" is easy to spot, as is someone who is in genuine need of help.

Then again maybe I don't give myself enough credit and it's not as easy as it seems. I do see a lot of people falling for "pickup artists", dodgy "hard sell" salesmen etc. and seeming genuinely shocked when it doesn't turn out brilliantly.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Body language, tone of voice? Is their level of supposed desperation realistic for what they are saying? Spotting a scammer is a basic life skill that everyone should surely develop. I'm not saying it's foolproof but surely 94.69% of the time someone who is "at it" is easy to spot, as is someone who is in genuine need of help.

Then again maybe I don't give myself enough credit and it's not as easy as it seems. I do see a lot of people falling for "pickup artists", dodgy "hard sell" salesmen etc. and seeming genuinely shocked when it doesn't turn out brilliantly.

So for instance if you are being forced to beg you will have a level of desperation and the persons body language will reflect this, are they genuine?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Oh do tell your top ten guide to spotting a "genuine" begger, not sure if you think saying I was gullible, they guy I bought a sandwich for I have seen before when he asked me for a bus fare, that like the biggest scam there is, it was near Christmas so I just felt like buying him a sandwich, I just found it funny that he then got choosy about what he would eat. Just because someone is sitting in a doorway with a cardboard sign isn't an indicator of "genuine", there was a case of a guy posing as ex army recently who fooled a lot of people, so its not that simple, but I await your fool proof spotting techniques.

I understand where you are coming from here, but being homeless doesn't make you like certain foods and stuff? I do kinda get the opinion that they should be happy for anything, but at the same time I think if I was on the streets and someone offered to buy me a sandwich I would probably be all 'no mustard, no mayo please' etc as I actually am sick if I eat some stuff

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I understand where you are coming from here, but being homeless doesn't make you like certain foods and stuff? I do kinda get the opinion that they should be happy for anything, but at the same time I think if I was on the streets and someone offered to buy me a sandwich I would probably be all 'no mustard, no mayo please' etc as I actually am sick if I eat some stuff

This is why we invented

"beggers cant be choosers"

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

This is why we invented

"beggers cant be choosers"

Maybe. But if I was on the bones of my arse and someone bought me a cheese sandwich...it wouldn't help. As if I ate it, I would be less hungry for a few hours but then that would be followed by 3 days of migraines. So 3 days of feeling like I want to die AND being on the bones of my arse for the sake of a sandwich when I could have just said...thanks but no cheese please

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I understand where you are coming from here, but being homeless doesn't make you like certain foods and stuff? I do kinda get the opinion that they should be happy for anything, but at the same time I think if I was on the streets and someone offered to buy me a sandwich I would probably be all 'no mustard, no mayo please' etc as I actually am sick if I eat some stuff

yeah fair enough, but then he got picky about what he wanted to drink as well, I could understand maybe he couldn't eat dairy but don't give me a shopping list

[Livia]

TS and his Super Skills. I'm surprised you're not teaching seminars to the security services.

Let's say half the people on the street are genuine, just for the sake of argument. You don't end that problem by allowing more and more people into the country while we scrabble around to build houses on the outskirts of every town and village.

[T*]

I think this should be moved to SN&D.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by T*

I think this should be moved to SN&D.

Unless we can find an immigration angle I think keep it here?

[arista]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

Just been to reading town centre and I'm not kidding its was full of beggars and homeless in every nook and granny, there was so many they where walking up to people and begging.

Something needs to be done, most of these people are begging for drug or drink money.

This filth needs to be cleared.

Yes the problem is many of them
live in homes, they are scams
http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/foru...d.php?t=294081

[Josy]

In one of the towns near here they stand outside farm foods asking everyone that goes in or out for a quid then they meet up with the others at the end of the day and club together everything they've begged