How to handle beggars when travelling

[Gold60]

Calmly, quietly, respectfully, and with good humour and a smile. Then move on. ...

 

[Jmrocky]

Calmly, quietly, respectfully, and with good humour and a smile. Then move on. ...

The above. I don't think going around swearing your head off is really necessary.

Have bought food for some before, mainly feel sorry for the ones with pets (dogs generally). I usually buy something for them and give the dog a treat. Call me a sucker, being a constant cynic is a bit tiring and you're likely to miss the opportunity to help someone who may actually need it.

 

[marki]

The above. I don't think going around swearing your head off is really necessary.

Have bought food for some before, mainly feel sorry for the ones with pets (dogs generally). I usually buy something for them and give the dog a treat. Call me a sucker, being a constant cynic is a bit tiring and you're likely to miss the opportunity to help someone who may actually need it.

There are places to get help( in most countries ) of course you need to smart and try and figure out a probability! The language is used for those who walk behind or in front of you in your face. We are not really talking about genuine people in need as they are getting help anyway.

 

[vetrade]

I don't believe there are any posts here suggesting that swearing at genuinely destitute people is acceptable or recommended.

Big difference between genuine beggars and scam artists/thieves who use begging as a cover for criminality. Most people with street smarts can tell them apart from half a mile away and base how they react to each of them accordingly. "Calmly, quietly, respectfully and with good humour and a smile" may certainly be appropriate for the first group but those that try acting that way with the second group might as well just wear a T shirt with "Please Rob Me" printed on the front.

 

[Jmrocky]

Big difference between genuine beggars and scam artists/thieves who use begging as a cover for criminality. Most people with street smarts can tell them apart from half a mile away and base how they react to each of them accordingly. "Calmly, quietly, respectfully and with good humour and a smile" may certainly be appropriate for the first group but those that try acting that way with the second group might as well just wear a T shirt with "Please Rob Me" printed on the front.

I've met plenty of scammers, no need to scream "cough* off" or the like. "Move along" in the local language has been more than enough. Raising attention to yourself is never a good thing in my opinion, especially when in a foreign country as a tourist.

 

[marki]

I've met plenty of scammers, no need to scream "cough* off" or the like. "Move along" in the local language has been more than enough. Raising attention to yourself is never a good thing in my opinion, especially when in a foreign country as a tourist.

Street smarts is a vague term and means different things to different people. Even so if we were all street smart we would not be mugged at all.

 

[vetrade]

I've met plenty of scammers, no need to scream "cough* off" or the like. "Move along" in the local language has been more than enough. Raising attention to yourself is never a good thing in my opinion, especially when in a foreign country as a tourist.

You're embellishing, jmrocky, and distorting what has been posted in the process. Just as there was no suggestion of swearing at the genuinely needy, there was no suggestion at all that "screaming" anything was advisable either, so why imply I said that? FWIW I am a measured and controlled person - to me screaming reflects fear and loss of control. I prefer to not raise attention to myself, so in that respect I guess we are in agreement. If the need arises though, I find that people can be most forceful and intimidating by speaking a little slower and in a lower tone. Somehow I can't imagine that an insipid comment like "move along" in any language would achieve anything at all - might get a few laughs though.

 

[marki]

I have been approached by 8 various people this afternoon requesting cash! According to some I should be dolling it out like an ATM,

 

[Simo]

I don't give to them... But I have done acts of random kindness and they would not know it was me... I sent a meal out to a homeless family sitting out the front of a Restaurant.

 

[drron]

Often it is not too hard to figure out the genuine needy.
On our trip to Cuba if you sat at a popular tourist spot for a while you could always tell when a tour bus was coming-the beggars arrived 5 minutes before it.However there were obviously very needed people hence walking the less travelled streets where people were in or outside their homes.Hand over a bar of soap-several guides said that was in short supply.Money given to a fellow pushing a barrow of flour up a hill in 37C heat.Obviously not a slacker and obviously not rich.He really appreciated the gesture.
In Siem Reap the children's hospital that at least when we were there run by an American.
In Lao-Big Brother Mouse-sets up school libraries and believe me that was appreciated.
In Burma just random acts of kindness.Worjed out that they loved little packs of tamarind candy.
Anywhere in the developing world.Buy useless junk from a local stall and give it away later-they are at least trying to help themselves.

But begging.Used to when I was young but now too hard to really pick the genuine ones.I know I cant help everyone so stick to hopefully a more targeted plan.

PS-most honest beggar.Las Vegas.Sign read "I wont lie I am going to buy beer."

 

[UP4014]

PS-most honest beggar.Las Vegas.Sign read "I wont lie I am going to buy beer."

Ha, the only thing wasn't fake in Las Vegas. I also have found the beggars/bums in Vegas to be the most polite as well.

 

[Jmrocky]

You're embellishing, jmrocky, and distorting what has been posted in the process. Just as there was no suggestion of swearing at the genuinely needy, there was no suggestion at all that "screaming" anything was advisable either, so why imply I said that? FWIW I am a measured and controlled person - to me screaming reflects fear and loss of control. I prefer to not raise attention to myself, so in that respect I guess we are in agreement. If the need arises though, I find that people can be most forceful and intimidating by speaking a little slower and in a lower tone. Somehow I can't imagine that an insipid comment like "move along" in any language would achieve anything at all - might get a few laughs though.

I'm not embellishing, admittedly not your post but the words I used are the words listed in a previous post.

Depends on the individual, obviously scammers know their target audience and profile who is more likely to be a target (% game). I'm tall, and have darker features, so I may come across a little more aggressive than I intend. So if I say something along the lines of move along to an obvious scammer, it's quite often heeded and that's that. Sometimes it's persisted, but half heartedly after that.

 

[JohnK]

Street smarts is a vague term and means different things to different people. Even so if we were all street smart we would not be mugged at all.

I am not street smart. In fact I struggle. Probably viewed as an easy target too.

P.S. Don't need to be pleasant to a scammer. Or a spruiker. I seriously don't share your passion for what you think is worthwhile cause.

 

[serfty]

Working in/around the Melbourne CBD the last 35 years I ignore them unless I have to detour around.

SWMBO has a soft heart and habitually will drop a coin. .. it's happening less and less though as she finds she is running out of coins ... I wont give her any ...

 

[Gold60]

In light of my earlier post, i must confess i did really lose my cool once with a pestering HKG tailor, who i guess was sort of a begger.

Just arrived outside my hotel in kowloon early evening, and he followed/pestered me from the bus to the lift, despite me saying i wasnt interested.

Eventually i lost my cool, which is rare for me.

I think the phrase, at full volume, "WHY DON'T YOU JUST F*K OFF" finally helped to get the message through.

Once in the left i apologised profusely to the bellhop and the elderly two Chinese guests who happened to be standing close by.

I felt most embarrassed, and promised myself i would try not to do it again.

 

[Shamrock55]

I guess it depends on your financial sense of blowing money or being tight. I almost think of it the same as when I buy a beer for myself, I'm basically throwing away money for some mental health gain (or loss depending how many beers) When I travel through the US I keep a wad of dollar bills as it seems every city, especially towards the west coast and to be honest I often talk to the beggars, as 99% of the time they are polite and friendly in the US. I find if you are respectful to them they are likewise to you, and who cares if I "blow" $15 over the course of a week on giving a few people a hand. If its to buy wine or food well I don't really care.

Infact last week a guy in Melbourne said that he was actually going to buy wine and I found his attitude refreshing. Never carry cash in Australia though so I didnt contribute towards his next Pinot.

 

[Buzzard]

I always seem to have given my spare change "to the other bloke down the road"

I do however support this organisation, much better than donating to any charity IMHO KIVA

 

[drron]

I always seem to have given my spare change "to the other bloke down the road"

I do however support this organisation, much better than donating to any charity IMHO KIVA

Me too.I try and finance loans in countries I have been to that have economic hardship.