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Posts: 747

Shifu

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Q: Do you give to or ignore Chinese beggars?

We have all come across this during our time here either on the street or subway. So what is your view on this do you give them the spare 1rmb in your pocket or totally ignore the beggar. 

 

I do find it hard when I see kid on the street laying helpless not to give some money.

11 years 30 weeks ago in  Culture - China

 
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Posts: 660

Shifu

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I dont. Back home I spare some change to beggars if I think they need it because I can tell if they are honest or not (usually). But here, I can't tell, and so I leave it up to the locals, they should have a better idea if they are a scam or not.

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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In all my life I have never given anything directly to any beggar, what is more I don't envisage that changing.

The exceptions were some remarkably talented buskers on the Paris metro, but I don't see that as giving to beggars but paying (very little) for some excellent entertainment.

If I feel in a charitable mood, or if I feel some empathy with someone's plight I will find a charity that helps such people where 100% of my donation goes to the needy, and donate to them. That way I am not paying to maintain someone's drug habit!

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
Posts: 497

Shifu

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I do not give money, unless I'm SURE, that will be spend well.
In most cases - I have no idea, if this is beggar collecting money for a life, is a "businessman" (self-employed, who just makes it as easier job then working in factory) or "employee" (hired beggar, that for protection, accommodation, food and other services collects money for "employer").

What I usually can give to beggar - is food. Fruit, vegetable... something that do not need to be cooked.
 

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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  I used to give money to lots of beggers, especially kids, but then someone told me that the children are being put to work by organized criminals. I also had a young, terminally ill friend who stopped me the last time we were together and I was going to give money to an adult begger, telling me "No, he has arms and legs. He can work." It's a problem for me as it's not always that simple, though I do remember one thing, which is that in London I noticed that beggers were predominantly young, white males. Certainly the best thing you could choose to be if you wished to find work. In China I don't think it's so very different. In one city I lived in there was a guy who'd lie in the street like a cripple with his hand out. One day I saw him arrive for work with quite the spring in his step. Then he lay down and got to it. There are those I do still give to though, a blind musician for example who I often see at the traffic lights. You have to make your own judgements. I certainly think it would be a sad world to live in if no-one ever offered help to a stranger in need.

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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i used to do that but everytime i do that my friends look at me in a strange way that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.........so everytime i see a beggar...i just walk past him like am ignoring him if i was with a friend.....and later when i leave my friend i go back to that beggar and give him some of what i have on me....am not saying am saint but everytime i do that i feel better.and yes i do care what my friends think of me so no comment on that

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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i was here 4 years ago in xi an for 6 months and just came back the exact same beggars are their and they go to starbucks every half hour just like clockwork and they make more than most locals working

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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I realize that some are fakes, I've read they get mutilated just to beg, gangs involved. In Thailand many of the beggars come from Cambodia with gang ties, the children may be stolen and not fed all day so they cry.

 I give some times. I saw an old woman getting kicked out of the bus terminal in Gz who just lost her eye, I gave her 100, I felt sorry for her and didn't care what else might be behind her story.

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1989

Peasant

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most of time i give them some thing but some time i don't .......simple is that

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
Posts: 583

Shifu

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Always Ignore..

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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I just ignore them. Once I tried to buy foods for street kids but they demanded money. Still though I bought packaged food from near by store, tore it open and gave it to them so that I could not sell it back.

Few weeks back bit strange things happened. While coming back from shopping, I met two girs who said they were from different province and were hungry and asked for money. I denied and took them to a restaurant. Asked them to order any food they like to eat for two. They ordered noodles and I paid. Then they asked me if I could help them to find a place for that night possibly my place. I said "NO." Then I left my phone no.. Told them that if they really need a place to stay they should call me after one hour. In the mean time, I would discuss with my Chinese colleagues about the hotel and I am ready to pay for it. But no way to my place. They never called me back. My colleague told me they just cheated me. Well it was not much money for food, hardly 20 RMB and it was noodles which could not be sold back.

Now I am off with that sort of help too. JUST SMILE AND WAVE....

NuF:

Same happened to me. It was a mother with her teenage daughter putting up a story about just arriving in Beijing, hungry and starting with a business in a few days to earn money.
They were really convincing, friendly and all , didn't help them though...

I just stared at them trying to figure out the scam.

Thanks for going further :)

Amazing skills...they should try a sales job.

 

I never give to beggars. Why? I don't know why.

Maybe because I'm nervous about the fact I don't know how much I should give them. The whole thing makes me anxious, getting the money out of my wallet, putting it in their crappy box and then walk off like "here you go little beggar, enjoy it".

Was it enough? Did I offend them?

 

But I have to say that ignoring them is also not easy. Where to look? Not at them? Straight at them?

 

I guess I also don't do it because I don't know where the money goes and we're all hypocrites anyway so why not go all the way.
In this world people are dying of hunger while we are just fattening ourselves.  I think it would be stupid to give beggars money just to make yourself feel better.

 

I'm also cheap off course...

11 years 30 weeks ago
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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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sometimes i will give.

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11 years 30 weeks ago
 
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