In my country, it is common to see beggar solicit at the corridor of the street, underground and mostly in pasar malam (night market) where they sit in the middle of the crowd to grab attention. Generally, you will see the same familiar faces on each visit to that particular place. There are senility, female carrying their infant, handicap and even monk. Nowadays, some will even appear in restaurant or mamak stall. From table to table, they go scrounging for money to buy food or cigarette. Most of the beggars are under a syndicate and chicanery by taking for granted of public sympathy. Although there maybe some genuine beggar, but how do u be able to identify? My secondary school moral teacher comment before that we shouldn’t donate as you will only benefit the syndicate by feeding them larger and larger. These would only leads to more unlucky one suffer in the future. More children will be kidnap and coerce to join the syndicate. Thus, we should only provide them food instead of money because the money would definitely go to the syndicate, not the beggar themselves. However, I faced another conflict from religious perspective where they emphasis on benevolent attitude. We are being taught that we should donate regardless of the truth on whether they are under a syndicate or not. And that our only concern is to help them to abate what they are suffering. It seems that there are still quite a number out there which are still unaware of it and continue to feed the syndicate. Or they do but they just could not bother much. Should we continue to donate regardless of the truth? Or v shouldn’t donate at all on the belief that it would weaken the syndicate? But wouldn’t it be unfair to those genuine one?

i agree with clpo13..we shouldn spit on them..even if they beg for money, we don have d right to do so..it's cruel, as we won even spit at animal...and i don think by humiliate them wil work..this wil onli show how aloof n selfish human being had become...

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I wonder how that feels to be walked by and never actually looked at just a quick glance and then rush away

Heh...it isn't fun. I guess though, that dressing like a woman in public, makes people uncomfortable. Jesus did ask not to die, though he eventually agreed. God created humans and gave them the freedom to choose. The choice to not give that beggar money, to spit at him/her, or to take him/her out to dinner as a nice treat. Don't criticize people for their choices. Criticize the choices they make.

what is wrong with you people, these are human beings we are talking about and you are all talking about spitting at them and ignoring them. That is the meanest thing to say, you think that they dont notice that people like us, those who have a home and money, that we never make eye contact with them. I wonder how that feels to be walked by and never actually looked at just a quick glance and then rush away. Yes some are panhandlers, but that does not mean all are, if you go through life with that peronality you are a cruel hearted person and will not be rewarded at the end. And you saying even if they needed the money i wouldn't give it to them becuase its mine, well you know what thats so extremely selfish, do you think that Jesus said to God when he asked him to give up his life NO ITS MY LIFE so im not going to do it? no he didnt he died for us, he did something for everyone. So think about that the next time you don't make eye contact with a so called "bum" on the street.

I laugh at them while I throw change down the drain where they can never get it.

OK.

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spit when they ask me for money.

That makes you a terrible person.

Of course you do.

You might not realize this, but you don't actually need to give them what they ask for. You could give them food. Or coffee. Or whatever.

Or you could do what I do: ignore them. I don't give handouts, but that doesn't mean I spit. Then again, I suppose I have an actual excuse: I really don't have any money to give out. Not that I would even if I did. I earned it. It's mine.

But I still don't spit. I save my spit for conservatives. And religious nutjobs. And sinks.

I give homeless people job applications and spit when they ask me for money.

Awww...

*hug*

I will probably just continue ignoring them.

Has anyone taken a serious look at the 1970's mental institutions? They costed a lot less for provisions for poor people with mental incapacities. Most homeless individuals ARE people who WOULD be in those hospitals. It infuriates me that we eliminated the program.

Let them move in with you and buy lots of ammunition?

any solution to the problem? or is there any way we can lend our hand except provide them with cash?

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Can’t believe those beggar actually possess triple-wide and mercedes benz. Then what is the point to solicit? They are just taking advantage of public sympathy.

Precisely. There are no syndicates in America. Those people that beg and yet have nice things are doing just that. Taking advantage of public sympathy for their own greed. In your country it is the same thing except it is the syndicate taking advantage not only of your sympathy but apparently of your religion as well.

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Unless everyone gave them food, there is absolutely no guarantee that it would work.

I do agree with you that everyone should provide them food. However, I am worry of the consequences. Will they get punishment or torture from the syndicate for not attaining their quota?

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always give money to the handicapped not to the people who could employ themselves..

I'm from Malaysia. If we continue to provide handicap money, wouldn't it be the same? It will still go to the syndicate and it does not solve the problem after all. I'm wondering whether government can do anything about it. Like register those genuine beggar and provide them with license so that the public will be able to identify.

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we even proposed alternative employment for them and they said that they were better of the way they are right now..i never expected that for some reason when they told us this we all felt so floored...

Is there any solution that we can use to motivate them to work and not relying on others? They could not forever scrounge for living right? If they work, then they will be able to contribute to the economy and integration into society.

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There are tons of cases in the U.S. where investigators have followed a beggar at the end of the day back to their triple-wide and Mercedes Benz.

Can’t believe those beggar actually possess triple-wide and mercedes benz. Then what is the point to solicit? They are just taking advantage of public sympathy.

Bwuah hahahaha! I'm an actor...I WISH I had a Mercedes. And I do live in a triple wide...my parents' triple wide.

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There are tons of cases in the U.S. where investigators have followed a beggar at the end of the day back to their triple-wide and Mercedes Benz.

Yeah, I've heard many cases similar to that as well - acting...

I feel sad when I see a beggar but Sudha is right. A lot of people take advantage of it. There are tons of cases in the U.S. where investigators have followed a beggar at the end of the day back to their triple-wide and Mercedes Benz. I also think Freedom is right. Unless everyone only gives them food then they will still feed the syndicate. You have my two cents.

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I'm sure there are lots of people who genuinely get stuck in hard times, but they get the reputation of being freeloaders.

that used to be the same with me yogore..but trust me for the past few months im working with homeless people and beggars and ive really realised that its just become a way of life for them..

we even proposed alternative employment for them and they said that they were better of the way they are right now..i never expected that for some reason when they told us this we all felt so floored...

but yeah there are always some genuine ones.