Would you give money to a child at the door?

System

I'd try and separate out the various factors running through my mind;

1) I might need the car washing. But do I want it scratching, and do I want to establish a doubtless continuing relationship with my new car washer?

2) Do I just want to get rid of these children, politely, without running the risk of a return visit and a brick through the window?

3) Am I really concerned about child poverty? If so, and it salves my conscience, I might find out where they live, and if it looks genuinely poor, slip a fiver through the letterbox.

tooldle

Many years ago, I lived in Manchester for a short while (Longsight).
On two occasions a group of young kids knocked the door and asked for money. On both occasions the parent were stood on the pavement watching. We never handed over any cash. There was never a promise to wash cars, or give to charity, they just wanted money.

art_for_arts_sake

miss_independent wrote: »

...in a strappy crop top and tight short hot pants (tbh they were no better than knickers) with her belly and buttocks hanging out (she was overweight and her clothes were at least two sizes too small)...

Sure it wasn't Vicky Pollard?:rotfl:

We have an estate like the one near you not far from us, some of the people who live there you'd avoid like the plague if you value your life, the others are the salt of the earth who'd do anything for you.

BlondeHeadOn

I would not let anyone near my car to wash it, never mind some kids I'd never seen before.

And no, my car is not some expensive pride and joy - it's 17 year old, worth about £400, and a bit the worst for wear.

I still would not let anyone I didn't know wash it though.

I also wouldn't give anyone money who'd just rung the doorbell.

I did used to pay a neighbours kid to mow my small patch of lawn. But I knew him, and his mum, and he did a good job.

niggyp

would you let a child wash your lovely shiny car...i wouldnt!
i once let mine wash my car, after dropping the sponge on the floor and picking up grit scratching my car to death i wowed never again...and they never did the roof grrrrr

Bufger

I wouldnt have given them any money and i'd be very concerned about the quality of services they were offering - who would wash the roof?!

Seriously though, nobody is saying it but i was imagining a tv programme whilst you were explaining the whole thing 'my big fat gypsy wedding' sprang to mind, minus the wedding and the big fat bit.

pipkin71

miss_independent wrote: »

When I saw the two of them heading off across the carriageway to work another neighbourhood.

How did you know they were going across the carriageway to 'work' another neighbourhood, rather than just go home?

Do you think your working life has possibly made you more judgemental when it comes to what was happening in this scenario?

Another reason for the girl sending the boy is she might have wanted the money herself, for things her parents were not going to buy. Maybe they said she could no longer eat sweets, given your description of her being overweight. Maybe she had started smoking. Maybe lots of things.

Fridaycat

niggyp wrote: »

would you let a child wash your lovely shiny car...i wouldnt!
i once let mine wash my car, after dropping the sponge on the floor and picking up grit scratching my car to death i wowed never again...and they never did the roof grrrrr

Did you want the roof scratched as well then? :rotfl:

CKhalvashi

pipkin71 wrote: »

Another reason for the girl sending the boy is she might have wanted the money herself, for things her parents were not going to buy. Maybe they said she could no longer eat sweets, given your description of her being overweight. Maybe she had started smoking. Maybe lots of things.

And where would a 13yr old child get cigarettes?

I know of places to get cigarettes originally from Eastern Europe, booze with the same markers etc etc etc, but I don't believe I know anywhere locally now that will sell to kids that young.

Saying that, at 15 (not as young as 13), I was getting pizzed and I smoked, so therein may be my answer.

CK

CKhalvashi

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

I did used to pay a neighbours kid to mow my small patch of lawn. But I knew him, and his mum, and he did a good job.

One of my neighbours kids do my back garden (they're 11 and 13, both love gardening and also love my rabbits. 11yo went to primary school with DD1), but apart from that, I don't let kids near my house! They've done a brilliant job year-on-year, and it earns them some pocket money

CK