English Experts

[Flavia.lm]

Question: Should we give money to beggars?

Answer:
I particularly prefer not to give any money to beggars, not even when they seem to be hungry. When I have the opportunity, I pay something for them to eat. Being a beggar became a very profitable "profession" here in my area. I encourage you to read the link below (in Pt) and comment about it:
http://vejasp.abril.com.br/revista/edic ... um-emprego

Now it is your turn.

[Marcio_Farias]

Too many beggars and panhandlers and not enough alms givers here in Recife. You can no longer hit the sidewalk without getting hit by the beggars. My city authorites have about given up hope of getting the beggars off the streets. Windshield cleaning-street kids pose another problem. No sooner do my city authorities get them off the streets than they get back. These kids have aggressively stuck the panhandling palm of their hands through the windows of cars at nearly every intersection stop.

I haven't voted for my city authorities nor have they voted for me. I don't think these kids will ever think of voting for them either.

[w.slayman]

The problem of beggars is not unique to Brazil, in fact we have the same problem in many cities in the United States.

While I will not deny that there are many people who need our help, there are also many who are professional beggars, and at least in Pensacola Florida, they are organized. A man or woman will "work" one street corner for a few days and then disappear for a week or more, returning for a few days at a later time. If one is observant you can determine the pattern that the beggars use to work the more lucerative corners as they move around the city, this is an attempt to avoid over exposure. Most of them carry hand made signs saying "Homeless Anything Helps God Bless", or "Homeless Vet(eran) Anything Helps God Bless".

One day about a year ago I saw a different sign which read "Homeless Vet, Hungry, Will Work For Food". Well I had some yard work that I needed help with so I stopped and offered the man US $20.00 plus a meal for a couple of hours work. He replied, "Sorry man I can not afford that, I'll make more just standing here". Later that same day I saw the same man walk across the street to a Wal Mart parking lot, get into a very nice late model Toyota (newer and nicer than my car) and drive away.

Needless to say I do not give money to beggars, and believe in the addage "Give a man a hand up, not a hand out".

[ailime]

The issue of the beggars is chronic in any country and of couse it bothers us a lot. As Bill said, some of them are really in need, but on other hand, there are loads of them taking advantage of our feelings of pity and sympathy, not even hesitating to exploit children to increase their earnings.
I am not used to giving money to the beggars, but once I was stopped at the traffic light and a man approached me, I got scared because he did not seem an ordinary beggar, so I quickly grabbed 10 reais and gave him. The man jumped for joy and went away; that gave a huge relief since I was afraid of being robbed or kidnapped. After that for four or five days in a row, the man stood there at the same time, probably waiting for more easy money. I managed to escape from him by slowing down my car when I saw a red traffic light from a certain distance and I waited it to turn green before approaching him. I came to an obvious conclusion that if you do not feed them they would not be there.

I totally agree with the saying: "If a man is starving, don't give him a fish. Give him a fishing pole and teach him how to fish". If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

ailime

[pondedaniel]

I used to give them money though now I don't give them a penny.

And the reason for this is so clear. As alime posted before we'd better teach these people how to make money and deserve it if they still have their bodies working. Otherwise, we would teach people not to face challenges but wait and see what comes next.

Nevertheless, I must point out that in a very critical situattion I wouldn't hesitate on giving them what they need (if I do have it, of course).

It's such a controversial issue.

Take care,

Daniel

[Flavia.lm]

Daniel,
Once I was driving home, bringing a McDonalds Nº2 along with me. I stopped at the traffic light and a very small boy asked for money. I offered my french fries and he... he said "no, I prefer money" !!!

[Flavia.lm]

(...)

I totally agree with the saying: "If a man is starving, don't give him a fish. Give him a fishing pole and teach him how to fish". If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

ailime

Some politicians should read that... (just a thought...)

[ailime]

Correcting myself:

I said: I came to an obvious conclusion that if you do not feed them they would not be there.

It should be: I came to an obvious conclusion that if you do not feed them they will not be there.
Or: I came to an obvious conclusion that if you didn't feed them they would not be there.

Air head ailime!!

[w.slayman]

Ailime,

How about: "I came to the obvious conclusion that ... ."

Furthermore you are not an airhead, otherwise your self corrections would not have been spot on.

Idiom - Spot on

[ailime]

Thank you Bill for your comment!!

Best regards!