How often do you give street beggers/ performers money?

never

never given to big issue sellers either

never given to the bloke who needs 20p to get the bus home either

If someone walks up to me and asks I dont give.

But if someone is sitting down in the pissing rain looking they they havn't eaten in days I cant just walk by without giving them something.

If they look like they're on drugs - I'll give them a couple of quid in the hope it will help towards  putting them out of their misery.

Same here Mr Eboue.
I used to see one particular guy every time I visited Glasgow, he never approached anyone, and I always bought him a fish supper and can of juice and gave him a couple of quid. He always thanked me.

Very compassionate of dewey. Thatcher would be proud of you.

I won`t give money if I think they are on drugs but like akabula will buy them a Fish supper.

The thing is, they're not gonna abstain from drugs because you don't give them money for it.

They're gonna get more desperate and rob, borrow or steal for it. When they get it, they'll probably just piss themselves and hallucinate.

Until someone puts them on a program, you might as well give the money for drugs because the dealers are gonna get their money anyway.

themightmac - 'YES' and I contribute on a regular basis to what I consider to be far more worthy causes.

There was a beautiful girl playing Vivaldi's four seasons the other day. She was incredibly good. Gave her a quid.

They aren't all drug users.

yes agree Akabula. And they're all people. They all had a life like me and you at one stage.

Far too easy to demonise and victimise as people do.

Not everybody has  'choices' in life.

Nov 12, 2014 -- 11:24PM, doantwin2easy wrote:

yes agree Akabula. And they're all people. They all had a life like me and you at one stage. Far too easy to demonise and victimise as people do.

and that's just the music students. don't get me started on the homeless

very rarely tbh as everybody's just out to scam you nowadays

Street performers are worth their money though , last ones I threw some change were human beatboxers in Birmingham city centre , very entertaining lads

I once gave £1 to a street performer playing a very good accoustic guitar version of one of my favourite songs...........made me feel happy...... does that qualify as compassionate?

Normally when you see a person genuinely living rough they will have a drink or drugs problem. I will always give them some help even if the thing they need the money for at present is more drink or drugs. I will give them some money and ask if they need anything else.
Agree the majority of people I see begging look as if they are doing it as a profession.

There was a homeless kid in my old town , he was genuinely homeless but had become addicted to horseracing & every afternoon or evening after begging he'd be up the local William hill eating a McDonalds , he only bet tiny but would just lump any winnings on his next bet & would never quit , one day he went on a huge roll & had around £700 on a favourite , it got done by a nose , he almost trashed the place & the whole shop went up in a ROAR of Laughter

Hard to throw him a quid the next morning tbh

Have always chucked them change as even though I know they will blow it on drink and drugs,very rarely they ask if you go to the pharmacist as often as I do you will see them coming in and getting their methadone hit for the day in the little side offices..looks like kryptonite..

themightmac - 'YES' and I contribute on a regular basis to what I consider to be far more worthy causes.

What the Tory party ?

I once gave £1 to a street performer playing a very good accoustic guitar version of one of my favourite songs...........made me feel happy...... does that qualify as compassionate?

NO - the complete opposite. You wanted something in return. A wee tune on the banjo. What was he playing? Money, Money, Money

You can tell the professional beggars a mile away and I don`t give them a penny.

themightymac - you're a scream - (take a  break now - I'm off to bed).

themightymac     13 Nov 14 00:41 
You can tell the professional beggars a mile away and I don`t give them a penny.


How ?

their dog will have a collar on

brand trainers under the blanket

smokes B&H silvers

Usually give street performers money but only if they're good.
Usually buy the Big Issue.
Rarely give beggars money but have bought them sandwiches in the past.

Facts     13 Nov 14 01:09 
themightymac     13 Nov 14 00:41 
You can tell the professional beggars a mile away and I don`t give them a penny.


How ?

We used to have one in Chesterfield who was easily spotted dismounting the train from Sheffield.

I gave someone 2 quid in Campberwell when I went to Kings College Hospital today. I said do you want me to get you burger and chips? He said nah I'd rather have the price of a beer. Fair enough, I gave him 2 quid.

You have to be careful with beggars, a lot of them especially this time of year are actually professionals. I tend to look at them and the dog that normally accompanies them a bit closer before giving them anything, for example, I've seen many dogs look too well nourished, and look  at the beggars complexion too, some of them look to healthy to be homeless, behaviour as well, the real clapped out beggars just have a cup besides them and can barely muster up the strength to ask, others hold their cup outright and say some thing like "spare some change for an ex solider please", Remember a few years ago it was said professional beggars earn over 200 quid a day over Xmas, not bad work if you can get it.

I see this has been mentioned already above, still, it's worth noting.

I'm a soft touch really. It was hissing down with rain and the dosser looked in a bad way.

There are a couple of regulars I always give a pound coin to (sometimes I resent their presence as it feels I am being taxed to walk down the street but most of the time I'm relaxed). Buskers annoy me for some irrational reason so I rarely give. Sometimes I buy the Big Issue but normally just give the seller a quid. Sometimes on the tube you get beggars, normally youngish women (probably from somewhere in Eastern Europe) who try and sell you stuff with a sob story but I figure they are professionals so do not give/buy.

give to the young lads and lassie's belting out a good tune...

the fecker with a violin and a horn attached to it i give feck all,one fecking tune over and over again...OH HOW WE DANCE ON THE NIGHT WE WERE WED....................................

never see them unless I go into a city. Always give the Sally Army collector some on a Friday when he's in the village, my Gran would haunt me if I didn't.

came out of the dogs one night and a homeless man said to me, ex me guv, i have not eaten for three days
i replied
force yourself

my g/f replied,
i wish i had that willpower

my g/f was homeless, it was ok, i could drop her off anywhere

Maybe once a month...now I'm back in leeds I've noticed a number of musicians..there was a dude playing the guitar outside Byron's burgers...I was in a crap mood, really wound up with life...his music was just what I needed to calm myself down, so gave him a few quid

One geezer down in bournemouth was on at least an average daily wage - this was a long time ago - and a right alkie too  ha ha  but he could afford it!!!

@moisok re average daily wage. That's the trouble -- if you look at what they cop in an hour, they can make a fair living (or what would be one without the drink and drugs).

I was walking down my local high st when i seen this old tramp sitting in a shop doorway,i was just about to walk past when he said here mate do you want a pork pie, somebody gave it to me and i cant stand them.....Anyway i declined his kind offer but then i thought **** me how rough do i look.