| What will you do if you see a beggar (beggars) on the street? | |
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| May 26, 2006 06:06 | #11   |
 | There were far too many beggars in Shanghai ... but one scene at the Bund really broke my heart. Two little girls (around 3 yrs old were 'performing'- spinning on their tiny heads while grabbing a metal support in their mouths. Imagine this daily ritual late into the chilly nites! When I later bumped into the girls when their 'show' was over, I stuffed a note to each of the girls' hands (out of sight of their 'guardians') and told them to hide it. Hopefully, their 'guardians' never found out about the cash and the girls could buy something for themselves. |
| May 26, 2006 09:51 | #12 |
| Since my travels to China I have seen and wondered if there are beggers that do it for a living. sometimes you can't tell who is in need and who is not. I have given to the elderly and the very young. It does make you feel good inside, but one person can not take on the world hunger by themselves. The people who are able should work and I myself don't feel sorry for them, it is the very young children who can't take care of themselves I feel sorry for. I watch who I give money to. |
| May 26, 2006 10:29 | #13 |
| Last winter in Beijing I was walking home one night and saw a man sleeping on the side of a street covered with a cardboard box. He wasn't begging, but I felt sad for him so I put some money under the box.... I hope he found it. There are beggars here in my city, usually they are very old and/or disabled. Like California I always give them some change, just 1RMB can buy food. I have been to places (usually where there are more tourists/foreigners) where children have literally blocked my way begging for money. This really is a horrible situation and I feel I am being taken advantage of because I am a foreigner - in these cases I usually refuse to give them money - and they eventually move onto the next person. It is hard to know if they are genuine or not. |
| May 26, 2006 11:52 | #14 |
| I certainly distinguish between those with a piece of paper in front of them, and those who just approach me. Rightly or wrongly I see those with a script as professional and ignore them. But when I have just come from a restaurant and enjoyed a good meal, I feel the least I can do is give a small donation to some beggars who are clearly less fortunate than I am. My Chinese friends tell me I am foolish because these beggars make so much money, yet I rarely see any one else give them anything. I guess the bottom line is that I am an old fashioned socialist..... and as a visitor in a 'socialist' country I am disappointed to see these people on the streets. |
| May 26, 2006 12:25 | #15 |
| Beggars in China and Beggars in America..I travel a lot in South Florida and you will see the same people day after day begging for money on the off ramps of the Interstate.One day I followed a beggar to see if I could help him..SURPRISE..as he put his wheelchair in the trunk of this Mercedes and ran to get in his car to leave..I asked him "Why are you begging and drive a Mercedes" He laughed and said"Beats the H*ll out of working and on a good day I make $500"!!! So it does not matter where you live in the world.Some take advantage and it makes it hard to tell the needy from the ones who don't need it. About all you can do is follow what your heart tells you and hope the peron you help REALLY does need the help you give:) |
| May 27, 2006 06:30 | #16 |
| Here's a thought for those who would love to give but not sure who is worthy. Buy some healthy fruit or other food and give this instead. At least the genuinely hungry will have a good meal. this is what some of my friends do. a lot of people begging on the streets probably would prefer not to have to do this but have fallen on hard times. Happens the world over and we can all give a little some of the time. |
| May 28, 2006 21:35 | #17 |
| This is quite an interesting topic. The different reactions towards these beggars reflect the givers'/non-givers' personality/ character. Yes, it could be true that some of these beggars are of a syndicate and are "professional" beggars out to make a living. For this class of professional beggars, the ones that make the money are the ones pulling the strings behind - as in everything else. The ones that suffer and get the small shares are those on the streets - the frontliners. I think most of us shun them for various reasons - not simply due to the fact that we don't believe that these beggars are not genuine. To the kind souls, it is better to be fooled into giving than to deny a genuine poor of a survival chance. |
| May 28, 2006 21:40 | #18 |
| If they said they were hungry,and I will buy sth for them,but usually,they don't need the food,they need money,haha! So funny! |
| May 29, 2006 01:16 | #19 |
| Money can help them buy food for the next meals if they cannot get enough help now. Anyway, it is a sad subject. Life is such, Cali. |
| May 29, 2006 01:28 | #20 |
| But when I want to buy more food for them,they needn't,they only need money! Yes,pinetree!It is life!!! |
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