| Author |
Message |
cankles
Seeker
Joined: Nov 02, 2007
Posts: 61
Status: Offline
|
 Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 08:48 AM |
 
|
| Post subject: Beggers. What to do? |
Hi folks,
I'm new to town and found these forums a great resource. While exploring the Bund area we've noticed quite a few beggers and wondering what the norm is for giving money?
I can afford to give a few dollars here and there and hope it helps for people with not much or disabilities but noticed the other day that some locals growl at those asking for money.
I've no idea of the local health and social services so any help on how to approach this or what to say would be great. |
|
|
|
|
MoonOverMiami
Raver
Joined: Jan 07, 2008
Posts: 439
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 09:05 AM |
|
|
Don't give. Once you do, all the other beggars within sight will come running to you asking for money. Came out of a theatre one time and watched a couple of Westerners give this one beggar some money, then they were swarmed by other beggars soon afterwards.
Came across an article from the Shanghai Daily that said the beggars are becoming picky. A girl was begging this couple for money and after awhile the guy finally decided to give her a few fen (cents). The begging girl threw the fen coin back at the guy and demanded nothing less than 1 rmb.
Personal experience, was stopped at a traffic light along YanAn Zhong Lu and this little boy approached my car and asking for money. After ignoring him, the little **** started banging his head against the passenger window. Started to pull ahead a little hoping he would hit his head against the beam in between the front and rear passenger doors. Didn't work...he just moved onto the next car.
Ignore the beggars. |
_________________
"One who falls asleep with an itchy backside, will wake up with smelly fingers..." |
|
|
|
|
BONNIE
Veejay
Joined: June 17, 2005
Posts: 1880
Location: Amsterdam/Shanghai
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 09:17 AM |
|
|
Old women with babies begging at the car are a menace.
Classic story a couple of years back - Western guy was approached by a beggar with a child, near his apartment - he rolled down the window to give a few coins and was horrified to find that the baby was his own child.
Turned out the ayi was renting out the baby whilst she got on with the house cleaning. |
_________________
Siberia.......Here I come ! |
|
|
|
|
yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17929
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 09:19 AM |
|
|
Don't give money. Most belong to gangs or are part of organizations that use these people to make money. If you really need to give something, give food that can get consumed right away. at least that way you know who got the benefit. |
_________________
Thoughts & updates about Shanghai On my Blog for more details:Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
|
 
 |
|
Beartrap
Barker
Joined: Jan 28, 2008
Posts: 152
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 09:20 AM |
|
|
Leave your heart at home! The local gang is around the corner collecting there cut at the end of the day! Its like giving to organized crime. |
_________________
www.barbecue-king.com Sizzling Hot BBQ Grills! |
|
|
|
|
Beartrap
Barker
Joined: Jan 28, 2008
Posts: 152
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 09:21 AM |
|
|
sorry didnt see your post yu88 repeating whats know by long time expats |
_________________
www.barbecue-king.com Sizzling Hot BBQ Grills! |
|
|
|
|
yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17929
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 09:28 AM |
|
|
no worries, sometimes it takes hearing it alot to finally get it. Its hard to come from a society which is empathetic and sympathetic to one that sometimes just acts pathetic. |
_________________
Thoughts & updates about Shanghai On my Blog for more details:Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
|
|
|
|
SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9601
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 10:06 AM |
|
|
Give food good idea |
_________________
Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
|
|
|
|
boredengineer
SuperStar
Joined: Oct 17, 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 10:56 AM |
|
|
What kind of proof do you guys have regarding the gangs/syndicate? I always hear it, but everyone always just says they heard it from someone else. |
|
|
 |
|
boredengineer
SuperStar
Joined: Oct 17, 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 10:58 AM |
|
|
I do give money to some old guys who play some kind of chinese violin like instrument.
Also those kids and beggars INSIDE the metro trains really freak me out. |
|
|
|
|
|
canuckian
Ranter
Joined: Aug 12, 2007
Posts: 499
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 11:40 AM |
|
|
| BONNIE wrote: |
Classic story a couple of years back - Western guy was approached by a beggar with a child, near his apartment - he rolled down the window to give a few coins and was horrified to find that the baby was his own child.
Turned out the ayi was renting out the baby whilst she got on with the house cleaning. |
Is that for real?  Where did you hear it from? Doesn't seem possible, how did the passing of the baby to the beggar's hand occur? |
|
|
|
|
|
maneo
Rocker
Joined: May 12, 2007
Posts: 757
Location: in a gadda vida
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 11:48 AM |
|
|
Tried to run interference for a visiting friend one day on Nanjing Dong Lu.
Old beggar lady got mad and yelled at me for blocking her out and said that she was just trying to do her job!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
lemongrass
StreetBeater
Joined: Jan 15, 2005
Posts: 2324
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 12:00 PM |
|
|
Don't give the beggars money. I was in zhu jia jiao several weeks ago and happened to have 2 kuai in my jeans pocket. While I was playing with a local lady's golden retriever this old beggar woman came along and started to blah blah, in order to drive her away I gave her 1 RMB. 2 secs later, another beggar came along and said I MUST give her money too as she saw what i did to the preivous one...I was like "what the hell"..anyway to save a lot of fuss i gave her the last 1 RMB and told her thats the last coin I have.
Sadly I was still approached by the third one...She claimed the same old stuff and insisted on me giving her money as well...I said I have none...all gone. She has been following me for 5 mins and I didn't give her anything just kept walking..In the end she stopping following and called me "Cheapskate!" She was pretty angry I can tell!!!
I will never give the beggars money. NEVER EVER! |
_________________
Missing home! |
|
|
|
|
DesertSpider
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4412
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 12:20 PM |
|
|
I've found a new and improved way to actually make the beggars stop without causing incident.
Tell them that you only have a credit card and no cash, and the card you have is from your company and can not be used at ATMs. Wah-lah, 95% walk away without further complaining / pestering. |
_________________
| wrote: |
| I'm looking good, got a luscious v of hair going through my chest pubes down to my ball fro. |
|
|
|
|
|
Andreas
Board Royalty
Joined: Feb 27, 2004
Posts: 6310
Location: 31 N 121 E
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 12:32 PM |
|
|
Cool avatar DS! |
_________________
If it has tits, tires, or a transom, there's gonna be issues! |
|
|
|
DesertSpider
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4412
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 12:45 PM |
|
|
Spanks 
I've actually got about a dozen or so animated ones that are really cool, but for some reason or another they won't load here because of size or some other variable.
AND I'm too lazy and too stupid to research and figure out how to 'make' them work...... oh well. |
_________________
| wrote: |
| I'm looking good, got a luscious v of hair going through my chest pubes down to my ball fro. |
|
|
|
|
|
Essexboy
Lurker
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Posts: 21
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 01:53 PM |
|
|
Crikey! 10c, that's 0.007GBP. I am happy to give them away. And really, don't you think you should be spreading your expat salary around that far? I am not convinced about the gang connection because I've given fruit away and they are equally happy to get it. I would think there are better earners for organised crime.
Yes, begging is their job by definition. They can be annoying, they do cluster, and sometimes don't think they got enough (like the whole 7p). I know rich people with bad attitudes too. To be fair, I don't walk past groups on my commute, just one or two and a busker. I'd rather buy a big issue, but in the meantime I'll keep giving away my small change. I expect the damage to my back pocket from keeping them exceeds the value of the coins themselves. |
|
|
|
|
|
the_captain
Lurker
Joined: Mar 05, 2008
Posts: 22
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 02:23 PM |
|
|
Why not donate to local charity instead of giving to beggars |
|
|
|
|
|
Dazza
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 02, 2006
Posts: 2999
Location: In the city of cold steel
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 03:10 PM |
|
|
On the Bund where I work, I finish up at around 4 in the morning. As I leave the entrance to my building, I am greeted by a horde of old beggar ladies, not to mention Hookers and drunk expats sprawling and spewing all over the pavement.
Clearly I am in work uniform and stone cold sober, and usually I am always listening to my Ipod, does this deter the beggers? NO!
One the other week was following me to the taxi, whom i ignored, until she roughly started clawing at my arm, again kept my cool and got into the back of the taxi..until I went to close the door but I couldn't as she thrust her arm and cup into the taxi screeching MONEY MONEY MONEY.
I tried pushing her arm out, but she resisted, in the end I had to slam the door on her arm to get rid of her...I swear she shouted ****. |
_________________
If the musics too loud then you are too old! |
|
|
|
|
yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17929
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 03:50 PM |
|
|
| szwliew wrote: |
| What kind of proof do you guys have regarding the gangs/syndicate? I always hear it, but everyone always just says they heard it from someone else. |
I have watched them drop off the beggars on more than a dozen occassions near Nanjing Rd and Tong Ren Rd, AND the beggars themsleves have told me as i used to be at malones alott in years past. Now you've only heard it from me so if you need mroe solid prrof, hang out on expat frequented areas more... and stay mostly sober. You will have the opportunity to see the payoffs, the other side of shanghai...though you really need to watch or you may miss it. |
_________________
Thoughts & updates about Shanghai On my Blog for more details:Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
|
|
|
|
yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17929
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 03:57 PM |
|
|
| Essexboy wrote: |
Crikey! 10c, that's 0.007GBP. I am happy to give them away. And really, don't you think you should be spreading your expat salary around that far? I am not convinced about the gang connection because I've given fruit away and they are equally happy to get it. I would think there are better earners for organised crime.
Yes, begging is their job by definition. They can be annoying, they do cluster, and sometimes don't think they got enough (like the whole 7p). I know rich people with bad attitudes too. To be fair, I don't walk past groups on my commute, just one or two and a busker. I'd rather buy a big issue, but in the meantime I'll keep giving away my small change. I expect the damage to my back pocket from keeping them exceeds the value of the coins themselves. |
well ultimately its not THIER money they are asking for, its yours. If you choose to give it to them, then cool. But if I choose not to give anyone money, its really doesnt matter if its a penny or a pound or aa hundred dollars.
As for the comment on organized crime, it comes in different levels. They have different orgs at different levels. They do this b/c the risk level is lower. Yes, lover returns too, but cheap to "rent" unwanted kids from poverty stricken farm families in the poor provinces and promise to keep them clothed and fed in return for their use over the course of the year , and the revenue generated by the pity factor is rather large. Obviously woudl work on essexboy who has money he is willing to give away. many more like you actually making it lucrative.
Lets put it in perspective. For many families, 200rmb is alot as its their ANNUAL income. ANNUAL...so you dont think org crime from those areas wont try to come into the city to generate that EVERY NIGHT form a team of beggars. Think about it. Sad but true.
That said, I choose to give my money for charity at different levels to help things (and people) I choose... and rarely are those people beggars on the street. Teach a man to fish... I prefer that option. |
_________________
Thoughts & updates about Shanghai On my Blog for more details:Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
|
|
|
|
boredengineer
SuperStar
Joined: Oct 17, 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 04:46 PM |
|
|
| yu888 wrote: |
| szwliew wrote: |
| What kind of proof do you guys have regarding the gangs/syndicate? I always hear it, but everyone always just says they heard it from someone else. |
I have watched them drop off the beggars on more than a dozen occassions near Nanjing Rd and Tong Ren Rd, AND the beggars themsleves have told me as i used to be at malones alott in years past. Now you've only heard it from me so if you need mroe solid prrof, hang out on expat frequented areas more... and stay mostly sober. You will have the opportunity to see the payoffs, the other side of shanghai...though you really need to watch or you may miss it. |
Lol, yu888 is about the only poster I would believe without really questioning anything. Thanks |
|
|
|
|
|
canuckian
Ranter
Joined: Aug 12, 2007
Posts: 499
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 05:13 PM |
|
| Post subject: Re: Beggers. What to do? |
| cankles wrote: |
I can afford to give a few dollars here and there and hope it helps for people with not much or disabilities but noticed the other day that some locals growl at those asking for money. |
learn from the locals. adapt. |
|
|
|
|
|
sbergman
Veejay
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2139
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 05:30 PM |
|
|
Shanghai friend always recommending giving them food rather than money - assuages your guilt without your unwittingly becoming part of a scam. |
|
|
|
|
|
Esse
Reacher
Joined: Mar 08, 2006
Posts: 317
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
|
| Posted:
May 10, 2008 - 07:30 PM |
|
|
I also have been advised not to give them any money. I do feel bad about it but I donate to charity organizations whenever I can so I'm able to live with myself.  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum FAQ
Search
Preferences
Watched Topics
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
