(homeless) Turf war outside Coop

[JohnL]

Loz Wrote:

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> uncleglen Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > In 1993 I gave a beggar on the iron stairs at

> London Bridge 50p at 8am. I came back that way at

> > 4pm and he had a quart of cider...I have never

> given any beggar any money since.

>

> I once saw a beggar in the tunnel near Vauxhall

> station. My first thought was that if I gave him

> any money, he'd probably spend it on booze. Then

> I considered the fact that, if I kept it, I would

> probably spend that quid on alcohol too.

>

> On the logic that he probably needed a drink more

> than I did, he got the quid.

That's nice :)

The ones I never give to now are in Clapham Junction - something

dodgy there - the same woman, same excuse, within half an hour.

She might at least have recognized me.

[rendelharris]

Loz Wrote:

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> I once saw a beggar in the tunnel near Vauxhall

> station. My first thought was that if I gave him

> any money, he'd probably spend it on booze. Then

> I considered the fact that, if I kept it, I would

> probably spend that quid on alcohol too.

>

> On the logic that he probably needed a drink more

> than I did, he got the quid.

Love it. If I have spare change for beggars (genuine homeless, unlike the well dressed guy who approached me near ED station the other day with a story about needing a train fare and then pulled out an iPhone!) then once it's handed over that's the end of the transaction, what it's spent on is none of my business. I do get fed up with the sanctimonious "Look, they're homeless but they've spent money on tobacco and drink" comments - if I had to sleep rough I'm damned sure I'd need it.

[Jules-and-Boo]

I give money to the big issue sellers and food for those that take me up on the offer.

I think you live somewhere long enough, you get to know people - surely you actually talk to the people you give money to?

Organised begging is a hugley profitable business... tugging on your hearstrings of quilt and the knowledge that hardships are easily stumbled upon.

I remember the pregnant woman outside Brixton station with a sign saying - pregnant, no money, no food please help.... immaculately dressed and nice new nails..... Couldn't stop laughing at the audacity...she'd done well though.

[LondonMix]

I don't give money to the homeless anymore, but I do buy food occasionally. I saw a guy too weak to even beg near Waterloo a while ago and he looked near death, covered in terrible sores etc. I went to Pret and got him tomato soup and bread which he seemed grateful for.

On the other hand, I've bought food for homeless people (in NY) and after initially accepting it I've seen them throw it away (they'd picked what the wanted from a street vendor) so its impossible to know who is really hard up. There are a lot of scam artists out there.

[lavender27]

this might touch your hearts

[DulwichFox]

lavender27 Wrote:

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>

>

> this might touch your hearts

If this was Twitter I would of Retweeted you.. It touched my heart..

DulwichFox

[ratty]

Begging patches in soho used to sell for up to ?300 an hour.

[singalto]

Would have, DulwichFox, not would of!

[rendelharris]

ratty Wrote:

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> Begging patches in soho used to sell for up to

> ?300 an hour.

Orwell notes in Down and Out in Paris and London that the press loved to tell stories of beggars found with thousands in fivers sewn into the linings of their coats, and, as he noted, "They are, of course, all false." Watch any beggar anywhere in London and see if s/he pulls in a fiver a minute (and that would be before s/he made a penny in profit!). Urban myth I fear.

['bout now]

rendelharris Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Loz Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I once saw a beggar in the tunnel near Vauxhall

> > station. My first thought was that if I gave

> him

> > any money, he'd probably spend it on booze.

> Then

> > I considered the fact that, if I kept it, I

> would

> > probably spend that quid on alcohol too.

> >

> > On the logic that he probably needed a drink

> more

> > than I did, he got the quid.

>

> Love it. If I have spare change for beggars

> (genuine homeless, unlike the well dressed guy who

> approached me near ED station the other day with a

> story about needing a train fare and then pulled

> out an iPhone!) then once it's handed over that's

> the end of the transaction, what it's spent on is

> none of my business. I do get fed up with the

> sanctimonious "Look, they're homeless but they've

> spent money on tobacco and drink" comments - if I

> had to sleep rough I'm damned sure I'd need it.

This