Should we give to beggars?

[meglet]

There were TWO outside Sainsbury's today. I fixed my eyes forward and carried on but then walked away feeling rotten!

I feel sorry for the homeless but I hate the whole "got any spare change darlin?" begging. What do you think?

[raysparx1]

I never give money to them, I offer to buy them a cup of tea and a sandwich, if they start giving me abuse cos they only want money, they can go screw themselves, cos then it seems to me they want money for drink or drugs, and they are not getting that from me. if you don't want to talk to them buy a sandwich and give it to them if they just give you a dirty look, no problem keep the sarnie and you got lunch, win, either way.

[B00]

No I never give money to them, but I have been known to buy a tin of dog food for those that have dogs with them, as it's them (the dogs) which I'm a sucker for.

[meglet]

I've done it twice. Once at the payment machine in a multistorey car park. The guy was sat next to it and frankly I was too scared not to give him anything. Second time was outside a supermarket and the guy didn't say a word to me either on the way in or out, just sat there under a blanket reading a book. When I got back to my car I found a fiver in the gutter and, as he hadn't hassled me, I went back and gave it to him. He was unbelievably grateful and I felt very good about myself!

[Bewlay Bros]

I once encountered a feral looking female eastern European hobo outside my village stores with an equally foul looking babe in arms. She was presenting a homemade carboard placcard saying "homeless and hungry, please help" and grunted some broken peasant Ukrainian or something as I entered the shop.

Once inside I purchased some dog food and upon exit roughly handed the canine fodder to her saying "If you want to beg like a dog, then you can eat like a dog"

Never saw her again, bloody cretin.

I think I have said this tale here before and I also believe I was met with sinister dissapproval.

Hey ho.

[TheEpsilon]

So thats what happened to the Fiver I lost ......lol

[aka pixi]

Theres a homeless guy in town near us, hes been there donkeys years. I havent given him money but I have given him fags when Ive been chatting to him (hes usually near the bus station and is a really nice old fella) and one winter when it was freezing I bought him a pair of gloves.

[figure]

It's good to give charity and help those in need and all that. But giving money to those pan-handlers and street beggars is only encouraging them more into begging. Instead I always offer to buy them a meal or sandwich. Most of them get rowdy and refuse so they end up getting nothing.

[lil123]

Hi there

I would give them something to eat or drink but as there are so many in the city I live in (York) it would be impossible to give to them all
I know some of them are begging for money for drink or drugs
I always feel guilty when I walk past them and don't give anything but I can't do it everytime
I always buy the big issue as well x

[meglet]

If I asked most anyone I know they would say they don't give to beggars so I wonder who does?