Do you give to beggars?

sock-knitter

i know many who claim to be homeless, who claim benefits, spend it on drink and booze, then go begging on the streets, or steal property which they then sell to shops like cash converters, for more booze or drinks money.

Person_one

sock-knitter wrote: »

i know many who claim to be homeless, who claim benefits, spend it on drink and booze, then go begging on the streets, or steal property which they then sell to shops like cash converters, for more booze or drinks money.

You know many? In a professional capacity or are these your friends?

Even if homeless people are alcoholics or dug addicts, well, both of those are horrible and I'd hate to live so firmly in the grip of a substance that it ruined my life like that.

Why would any sane person choose that life?

Ada_Doom

who do you know?

melb

the programme was Panorama the secret lives of Britain's child beggars

make_me_wise

Thank you melb. Maybe Person one and all the other doubters might like to view it and educate themselves a bit.

sock-knitter

i have two sons, both with mental health problems, they were found a place in supported housing, so they could gain some level of independace whilst still receiving support., right next door is a homeless hostel, where all kinds of people end up. a lot of them being young people who my sons have gotten to know and as a result of me visiting my sons, have gotten to know these people too.
some homeless are just young teens with no parental guidance who have been befriended by older people who have lived this way for some time, and have often served time, and are willing to do it again, after all prison is a warm safe place for them where they have no financial worries and have 3 meals a day provided for them.
at the moment i am trying to stop my two sons from being influenced by people like this

Nicki

melb wrote: »

the programme was Panorama the secret lives of Britain's child beggars

I didn't see that myself, but just reading the BBC news release, wasn't that a programme about very young children being exploited by their families (who were Romanian gypsies) into begging on the streets to support their families lifestyle. Which is clearly and definitely wrong, but also a far cry from saying that every adult you see begging on the street (or indeed even a significant minority of adults begging on the streets) has a comfortable lifestyle which they are choosing to conceal.

There are periodically stories about people collecting in pubs or doing sponsored events for terminally ill children, which turn out to be cruel scams. Does that mean that every appeal on behalf of such a child is a hoax, and that you should refuse on principle ever to donate to such an appeal, irrespective of the background circumstances?

It is of course a personal choice, but I am concerned that one documentary has perhaps influenced a whole generation of people in a way which means that we are seeing suffering on the streets of Britain which you would not expect in a civilised society in 2012.

melb

yes it is a completely different scenario although it was about people begging and then returning to opulent surroundings. Having said that i always give some money to beggars as i think there but for the grace of god go i and also if i can afford to spend 4 pounds on a bottle of wine I can afford to give them a pound to spend on whatever they want it must be an absolutely wretched life and every time i'm out with my daughter and its freezing I always say to her thank god we are not homeless and she is a very compassionate twelve year old

Padstow

Do beggars give to me?

Nicki

Padstow wrote: »

Do beggars give to me?

Is that how life works? I have definitely at times in my life been given things when not in a position to reciprocate, and later in my life given and expected nothing back.

It may be why giving to the poor is called charity and not a business transaction or investment