Do you give alms to beggars?

Philippines
February 23, 2007 5:33am CST
In my country, beggars are a common sight. They tap the windows of cars or walk with you all for a few spare coins. I don't give alms because I think giving will encourage them to just beg. Sometimes I feel bad ignoring them. I do that to discourage them following me. I believe in charity foundations, I believe that they will do something more than giving the poor supplies but raher providing them the means to earn money that is why I constantly give to charities.
5 people like this
51 responses
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
sometimes i give, sometimes i dont...they say that some of them are under a syndicate.but i really those kids begging for alms. maybe it would be better to give them food instead.
2 people like this
@jimotman (633)
• Indonesia
24 Feb 07
yes I agree with you, if the beggars are young man or children, I will not give them anything, but if the beggars are old helpless people, I can't just leave them, I'll give them some coin. For the young beggars, I really hope that by not giving them anything will lead them to a stronger personality where they don't have to beg to live, but they must work hard (by not begging) to live.
2 people like this
@greengal (4286)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I give alms because no matter how much we discourage them, there is no putting a stop to their begging! It can be annoying when they follow you and beg even more. Charity foundations do their own job, some reaches the poor and needy and sometimes it doesn't. All we can do is help in our own way if the person begging is really in need.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
Yes I think it depends on our judgement as to whow is needy.
@ygkchaitu (387)
• India
23 Feb 07
Yeah... i feel pity when i see someone who is not supposed to have been given the curse and they beg you for a penny that you almost spend for timepass. I usually feel bad and use the penny fot timepass to feed the beggar. But there are many of the kind who have taken up begging as their profession. Believe it or not!!! I am from India and this is true here.
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
In my country there is a syndicate here that mobilizes beggars in the streets. at the end of the day they will collect the earnings of the beggars.
@tatzkie (644)
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
give a beggar coins and they will live for the day. give a beggar work and they will live a life time.
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
I totally agree with you.
@lonely_f16 (2146)
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
yes i dno't know because I can't give to charity foundations since i'm still young so I just give to them right away for I think they really need money to survive right away and I feel really bad for them. I have this soft spot for them but sometimes I'm afraid when they start to have that "survival instinct" which would result to stealing and etc.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
If ever I give them something, it's money but food.
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
If ever I give them something, it's not money but food.
@agusfebi (813)
• Indonesia
24 Feb 07
The question has kept running in my mind for a long time because I’m beginning to hesitate whether I should give alms to beggars from now on. I am a tenderhearted always willing to offer my help to those who are really in trouble or less fortunate than I am. However, things are getting complicated and indistinguishable nowadays. Their dirty shabbily clothed figures still can be seen everywhere in cities, in our capital Beijing as well, despite of the facts that the living standard of Chinese people has enhanced tremendously in the past two decades.
1 person likes this
@cillerman (403)
• Bulgaria
24 Feb 07
In my country too. The same thing here with the cars and begging. I also think that this is the wrong thing to do - don't help with money (in this case) help with advice (although they never take it...). I don't do charity and I won't. I'm cruel. To be honest.
1 person likes this
@Gwapako_28 (2140)
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
I do give alms to the beggars.Sometimes foods.But those who are young and still have a complete body,i didnt.Maybe before,but i found out,they are group of people that asking alms and pretending that they beggars but actually they are not!They are doing it for business.Earning money!Thats not good enough to teach them to be more lazy people!
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
Really? The make begging a business?
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
yup we do. we also have this biscuits, bread stock in the car so whenever we drive across to a bystander, a beggar or an old person who we think is in need. we gave them some. Yes, charity can help people in their organization, but there are alot of poor people not under this organization.. and yes, they are living by begging. That's why we should realize that we are fortunate enough that we don't need to beg. So why not give them something in return? not really money, ... anything will do.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
Yes I am very thankful that I don't need to beg for money or food. I do give them sometimes but I don't give money, i give food because I think that is a basic need. Usually when I eat at a fastfood then a child would beg me for money I buy him food instead.
@kuppelur (60)
• India
23 Feb 07
i completely agree with you. I will never hesitate to give money to physically disabled people but who have ability to work and earn money i never give money to them...
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
Yes. Sometimes it irritates me that the person begging is much much bigger and able bodied than me.
@steel111 (87)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
24 Feb 07
I agree with you. If you give them once, they will just keep asking for more. (with exceptions for sick and disabled people)
1 person likes this
@timbro (5)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I give alms on a regular basis. I am not wealthy, but I do give where I can. I believe it is our duty to help people. I have been the recipient of charity at times in my life, and believe it is my place to return the blessing
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Feb 07
I am not rich but I know I am blessed with many things in my life. That is why I share my blessings to them but in a way that it will just not benefit them for 1 day that is why I give to charities because they have programs to help the needy in the long term.
• United States
23 Feb 07
This is an Excellent Discussion! I have no problem giving a couple bucks to a beggar on the streets or online. I am always giving anything that I can spare to those in need.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 07
check out my website too! http://www.cyberbeggars.com
1 person likes this
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
I give to beggars but it depends to their situation..COz there are lots of beggars Who are our neighbors that everyday they are begging to people but after all When they got home..they use the money for gambling...and drinking..so it is not right also...Sometimes instead of giving money, try to encourage them to Work before they can get What they Want..
1 person likes this
@anshnav (479)
• India
24 Feb 07
I give arms to beggars who cannot do any work. If they are physically disabled i give some money to them but if they are fit and fine with no problems then i donot give them anything because they are capable of doing work and earning money by themselves.
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
i give my spare coins to beggars who are disabled or old or those who really look helpless. there are some beggars who look like they are strong enough to get a decent job so that they can afford the basic necessities of life. maybe they're too lazy to look for a means of income and think that begging is much easier. i ignore those kind of beggars.
@haissam (93)
• Pakistan
24 Feb 07
You r thinking in right direction more than 95% are professional bagger they r not beging in fact they r performing thair job. U ask if i give them coins etc yes some time i give them. but mostly i try to help some needy people around me who r not beging. we may try to establish needy people rather than paying to these baggers
@sebab315 (108)
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
i try hard to ignore beggars when they approach me. i always tell myself i don't want to help propagate begging in my country. but sometimes it hurts..i can't take it when they carry small children with them and when i see babies sleeping on the sidewalks. it's really frustrating.. :-(
1 person likes this
@Anixie (89)
• Philippines
24 Feb 07
You shouldn't give money to beggars. If they're really so hungry that they'll go to the streets to earn money, they should have gone to places like homes for the aged, disabled or street kids. They could stay and eat there for free. There's some rules and regulations when they stay but that's what everybody needs in their lives sometimes. They wouldn't have landed in such a situation if they exercised more discipline in their lives anyway.
1 person likes this