An unwelcome travelling companion

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Begging on the streets is something that is quite common on the streets of Athens these days. Usually it is elderly or maimed people who are in circumstances that force them to do so and I feel very sympathetic when I see this. However I feel less sympathetic towards people who ride the Metro to beg. They are able bodied and move between carriages each time the train stops. Usually they are selling some small items such as biros or tissues and a few simply stand there and shout out their family problems. Yesterday when we were travelling into Athens a man with a guitar came on to the train and proceeded to sing with a strong but not melodic voice. When he had finished he moved down between the people with a large stick with an open purse tied to the end and extending from his guitar. Had he been singing in the street I might have made a donation. I saw only one person put anything in it. Perhaps everyone else felt like me and resented being a captive audience.