How much money do you give beggers?
How much money do you give beggers?
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Discussion

SmoothRB

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

202 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
I came across one the other day who had cleverly taken up a spot near the pay machines in a multi-story.

He made it his job to be 'helpful'. "5 pences don't work" he told me, "you can take the stairs that way" he said. It was obviously a little 'niche' thing he had going on; a kind of pseudo-job.

So I gave him £1 of my loose change.

Now I was wondering how much money he makes and if I gave him too much. I mean it was a city centre multi-story. I figure he could get easily 30 people an hour coming past those machines. If everyone only gives him 20 pence, then that is £6 a hour. If he does a 12 hour day, that is £72 a day. That is £26 grand if he works a whole year with only a handful of days off. Tax free of course.

So from now on I am really going to think twice about giving loose change away.

militantmandy

3,838 posts

216 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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Sweet F.A.

Dupont666

22,924 posts

222 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
good for you...

If everyone thought like that instead of just giving a bit of spare change that you would probably never use and throw in a jar then the world is a better place.

NOT...

Who cares what he earns, people give them money, what they do with it doesnt bother me... if they want to drink or drug themselves to death then so be it, as long as they dont bother or harrass me.

Better giving them money than some of the benefits people out there.

Yes I do give my spare change to them sometimes, otherwise it just goes in the jar at home and I dont use it.

ShadownINja

80,080 posts

312 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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"Can you spare money for a cuppa, mate?"
"No, but I'll buy you a cuppa instead."

At least this way, I know he won't be blowing it on methylated spirits or crack. (Truth or myth? Couldn't give a st, really. This way, it's definitely not going to happen with my money.)

528Sport

1,464 posts

264 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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A friend of mine was walking to work with his mate, every day they passed the same chap sat begging with his dog. So this lad gave the begger a tin and on he went. Begger got a tad annoyed when he reaslised it was a tin of food for his dog.

I usually give some spare change as long as they are not making a pest of themselvs





Lefty Two Drams

21,390 posts

232 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
I don't.

I once bought a beggar a burger and chips though.

And I once punched one (a different) for pishing on the street in front of my toddler.


SmoothRB

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

202 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
There is a gypsy looking woman selling the big issue every day at the same spot on the street. Always bugs me everytime I walk past with "big issue, big issue", and tries to make eye contact. I don't like that unwanted, grasping solicitation. I find those types of people pollute the urban-scape. OTOH have come across homeless people before who seem genuinely down on their luck.

MX7

7,902 posts

204 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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I was in Kensington last week and saw a beggar. A couple of hours later, the same beggar was queuing up to get a bus. I didn't realise beggars commuted.

Morningside

24,147 posts

259 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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MX7 said:
I was in Kensington last week and saw a beggar. A couple of hours later, the same beggar was queuing up to get a bus. I didn't realise beggars commuted.
There used to be a beggar that commuted to Lowestoft from one of the outlying villages with his two dogs - sympathy begging?

br d

9,072 posts

256 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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I stopped at a garage yesterday to use the cash machine, sitting next to it was a bloke, late 20's, decent clothes and healthy looking. As I took out my cash he said "Can you give me some money please". I'd just worked 10 hours and was in considerable pain as I have a broken toe, I'm working anyway because I need to keep my business busy for the sake of my employees who are all also working hard to pay their bills and feed their families.
I wanted to punch him in the face.
Instead I said "I'm pretty busy actually mate, do you want a day's work tomorrow?"
He said "fk that!" and laughed.

How much do you reckon he is making sitting there all day, on top of his benefits of course?

I'm in support of people in need getting help from my taxes, this c*nt however needs a good kicking.

Am I a fascist?

tegwin

1,682 posts

236 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
Lefty Two Drams said:
I don't.

I once bought a beggar a burger and chips though.

And I once punched one (a different) for pishing on the street in front of my toddler.
Riiiight... so you assaulted a begger for urinating.... what sort of lesson do we think that teaches your toddler????? violence is not the option...

jas xjr

11,309 posts

269 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
Dupont666 said:
good for you...

If everyone thought like that instead of just giving a bit of spare change that you would probably never use and throw in a jar then the world is a better place.

NOT...

Who cares what he earns, people give them money, what they do with it doesnt bother me... if they want to drink or drug themselves to death then so be it, as long as they dont bother or harrass me.

Better giving them money than some of the benefits people out there.

Yes I do give my spare change to them sometimes, otherwise it just goes in the jar at home and I dont use it.
they are probably on benefits too.
when i worked in central birmingham a few years ago we got talking to the beggars. most had a place to stay and signed on. one had a car too. so with the begging , dole and shoplifting they would do well if they did not spend it all on drugs

dandarez

14,018 posts

313 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
SmoothRB said:
There is a gypsy looking woman selling the big issue every day at the same spot on the street. Always bugs me everytime I walk past with "big issue, big issue", and tries to make eye contact. I don't like that unwanted, grasping solicitation. I find those types of people pollute the urban-scape. OTOH have come across homeless people before who seem genuinely down on their luck.
Shows how much you know. Amazing how people make assessments without knowledge. NEVER assume anything.

Only 'genuine' homeless can sell the Big Issue. They have to 'buy' copies (85p each) and then they are free to keep the profit (mag is £1.70). Some of the content is far better than the crap like Hello OK and other celeb sh*t on the newstands).

The others who you think are genuine homeless are the real beggar/scroungers so you got it totally the wrong way round.

Take it from me, some of the 'others' make their 'living' begging.
If you fill their caps, tins, with your loose change you are just exacerbating the situation.

Think about it.
Would 'you' sit your ass on a wet, cold, pavement, hour on end, if it didn't pay?
Simples.

Offer them a nice hot cup of coffee or tea and you get a reaction like FO, you know they are interested in one thing only... making their living.

SmoothRB

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

202 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
dandarez said:
SmoothRB said:
There is a gypsy looking woman selling the big issue every day at the same spot on the street. Always bugs me everytime I walk past with "big issue, big issue", and tries to make eye contact. I don't like that unwanted, grasping solicitation. I find those types of people pollute the urban-scape. OTOH have come across homeless people before who seem genuinely down on their luck.
Shows how much you know. Amazing how people make assessments without knowledge. NEVER assume anything.

Only 'genuine' homeless can sell the Big Issue. They have to 'buy' copies (85p each) and then they are free to keep the profit (mag is £1.70). Some of the content is far better than the crap like Hello OK and other celeb sh*t on the newstands).

The others who you think are genuine homeless are the real beggar/scroungers so you got it totally the wrong way round.

Take it from me, some of the 'others' make their 'living' begging.
If you fill their caps, tins, with your loose change you are just exacerbating the situation.

Think about it.
Would 'you' sit your ass on a wet, cold, pavement, hour on end, if it didn't pay?
Simples.

Offer them a nice hot cup of coffee or tea and you get a reaction like FO, you know they are interested in one thing only... making their living.
I first noticed Eastern european gypies begging on the London Underground in 2000.

Why do people come to the UK to beg and be homeless?

tangent police

3,097 posts

206 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
I was teaching in the arse of Cornwall "St Austell" and lunchtime, I popped out for some grub. This leper type said "got any spare change mate for some food" I said "hang on" and popped into the bakery and came out with a couple of pasties. As I presented him with one, he started moaning. So I said, "Ok, I'll have 2 then" and walked off.

Seagulls in abandoned chick's clothing.

Lefty Two Drams

21,390 posts

232 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
tegwin said:
Lefty Two Drams said:
I don't.

I once bought a beggar a burger and chips though.

And I once punched one (a different) for pishing on the street in front of my toddler.
Riiiight... so you assaulted a begger for urinating.... what sort of lesson do we think that teaches your toddler????? violence is not the option...
It might teach the scumbag not to get his cock out in front of two-year-old boys.


Frankeh

12,558 posts

215 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
I give tramps the craziest things when I'm intoxicated. I just find it very amusing (at the time..).

Best to date has been 18 bags of revels.

Another was £10 for a didgeridoo lesson.

Just 3 weeks ago I gave some tramp £10 to see his reaction. His reaction was that of indifference.
I almost took it back and ran.

Maybe we should start giving tramps larger amounts of money? How much heroin is needed to ensure and OD?

phil1979

3,671 posts

245 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
Lefty Two Drams said:
tegwin said:
Lefty Two Drams said:
I don't.

I once bought a beggar a burger and chips though.

And I once punched one (a different) for pishing on the street in front of my toddler.
Riiiight... so you assaulted a begger for urinating.... what sort of lesson do we think that teaches your toddler????? violence is not the option...
It might teach the scumbag not to get his cock out in front of two-year-old boys.
Maybe he didn't realise it was their turn?*

*Ba-dum'tish

DavesFlaps

683 posts

221 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
Sometimes I will, but mostly I won't.

I was in a foul mood on my way into work one morning and this scruffy bd came up to me and said "Excuse me, do you have any change....."

I really don't know why I bothered, however I pulled out some small change from my pocket and literally threw it at the bloke saying something about being sick of his type of scrouging fkers.

Anyway, he went on to explain how he only wanted change of a fiver for the parking machine.


Felt like a right , but still laugh at it.


SmoothRB

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

202 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
quotequote all
Frankeh said:
Just 3 weeks ago I gave some tramp £10 to see his reaction. His reaction was that of indifference.
That's good evidence they make a lot of money.