fondue zoo Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 (edited) I see a lot of men, usually older, skin and bones, sleeping on the sidewalk with a push trolley full of bags and bits next to them around town. Are there places they can get a meal if they have no money to pay? I assumed the temples might be involved? A few Thai I know have a somewhat mercenary attitude towards them when I've asked, not your problem, they take drugs or drink etc Edited June 10, 2021 by fondue zoo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 1FinickyOne Posted June 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 10, 2021 Are these Thai men? And where? Yes. Anyone including you can get a meal at the temple. That is part of the reason for the 'alms' parade in the morning. People make offerings of food and the monks return a blessing. Thus the temples have plenty of food which is also why you see so many dogs there... I remember an old man coming into a restaurant to solicit me... I told him no money but I would buy him whatever meal he wanted. he got angry and left - I think your friends are correct. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Heng Posted June 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 10, 2021 You have to sit through the prayers but yes, once the monks get theirs, anyone in attendance can eat. And there's certainly no shortage of temples. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patong2021 Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 You have good heart if you are moved by what you see and not alone. The temple is a good excuse to ignore them. Easy to say that the temple will take care or the temple will feed, even though that is not always the case. Sometimes their fate is well deserved and sometimes it is not. Bad people who do terrible things can survive to an old age and this is what awaits them. In a country of near 70 million, we can expect that hundreds of thousands at any given time are not very nice and have done some evil things. It is understandable that some should be on the street. Other times I think these are people who are mentally ill who have no family unit to help or support. Thailand does not do good job for mental health. And then there are those who were poor to begin with, and through the social order that is Thailand, are doomed to wander the streets homeless. To keep my sanity, I steer clear of the hobo people. 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverlomsak Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 At a local restaurant where a number of non-Thais used to meet up, 3-4 times a week, an elderly lady used to come begging for money. The Thai restaurant owner always chased her away, when asked about it he said, she belongs to the richest family in the area, and is worth millions in her own right. Apparently she couldn't accept that her family had money. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post swm59nj Posted June 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 10, 2021 I live in Asoke area and saw also people begging in Onut when I lived there. I did see many that either had hands missing or feet. I always wondered how these people get around or live on the street. A Thai person told me that these people are dropped off by gangs to beg. That the gangs use them to get money, and give these people a very small amount in return. I always wondered if that was true or not. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fondue zoo Posted June 10, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 10, 2021 1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said: Are these Thai men? And where? They are men %99 of the time around about Bangkok Noi It becomes easy to walk past them without a moments thought. I asked about this tonight because I did just that, an old guy skin and bones laying asleep nearby to a 7/11 with his life in a trolley. And sure they may not be truly "hungry" or what they appear to be, I totally get that, every country seems to have that element. Civilisation has made us an odd species. Next time though I'm going to leave a meal and a bottle of water, It's not life changing or anything like that but it costs all of $2 to do so little on the off chance it's a genuine <deleted> out of luck scenario. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post asiam110 Posted June 10, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 10, 2021 (edited) I seen them before, there one guy i used to pick up an extra take away meal 40baht and placed it by whilst usually sleeping, you'll see Thai's place bottles of coke, water, masks etc.. by them, last time he was awake and was certainly appreciate. I don't think you should fallback to thinking Temple mate or <deleted> off, maybe he/she is somewhat intelligent and won't drop to the level of the gold buddha worshipping nonsense, take religion out the picture please. Also I neither begrudge giving 40baht if it buys him a can of beer or a few shoots of thai whiskey, are poor people exempt from a little withdrawl from their <deleted> situation? Some of you make it sounds like they will save up your hard earned 10bahts and then go get yabbad up and smash up something - not that there isn't exceptions. Quote The Thai restaurant owner always chased her away, when asked about it he said, she belongs to the richest family in the area, and is worth millions in her own right. I seen that too, with a guy that collects cans and bottles from bins, i gave him some cash and was scolded by the bar owner for the amount of land that guy owns , still I think these are exceptions, we always remember the exception, be careful about using that to validate all future decisions of not giving and thinking it's ok Edited June 10, 2021 by asiam110 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonray Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 It's better to give them food instead of money for two reasons. Many have ended up in this situation due to substance abuse and money is only likelly going to sustain that habit. The second reason is there are actually organized crime rings that 'place' certain of these people in strategic locations and collect the money later, giving a small portion to the person. This is very prevalent in Kuala Lumpur especially where you will see an ancient Indian grandmother with a malnourished infant in her arms...evoking all sorts of heart strings. I was scolded by a Sikh police seargent in KL who informed me that somewhere within 100 meters is a 'handler' who hangs around and periodically collects the cash during the day. Sick...but I'm guessing it also happens in Thailand, although I suspect much of the Thai beggar population is due to druga abuse. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clivebaxter Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 9 hours ago, swm59nj said: I live in Asoke area and saw also people begging in Onut when I lived there. I did see many that either had hands missing or feet. I always wondered how these people get around or live on the street. A Thai person told me that these people are dropped off by gangs to beg. That the gangs use them to get money, and give these people a very small amount in return. I always wondered if that was true or not. True, they often use babies for added beggability or faked up injuries. Thais believe giving is somehow 'making a merit' adding up brownie points with the man in the sky. Not all are fakes, some of the blind actually are! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwasaki Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 10 hours ago, fondue zoo said: A few Thai I know have a somewhat mercenary attitude towards them when I've asked, not your problem, they take drugs or drink etc Mostly all Thai people in our village even the poor do not have a good thing to say about drunks and druggies. We don't get many sad people lying on sidewalks our police will take them away if we did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recom273 Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 9 hours ago, swm59nj said: I live in Asoke area and saw also people begging in Onut when I lived there. I did see many that either had hands missing or feet. I always wondered how these people get around or live on the street. A Thai person told me that these people are dropped off by gangs to beg. That the gangs use them to get money, and give these people a very small amount in return. I always wondered if that was true or not. Apparently so, they round them up in a truck at the end of the day. How does a man with no legs walk home? How does a man with no arms eat or spend his money, who puts the cup between his teeth? Surprise, surprise the RTP are in on it too, how does a person sit on Sukhumvit day in day out without being moved on by the tessakit. They are reported to be Cambodians, the same mothers have perpetual babies, what happens to the kids when they get older? Prolly a pretty dark story. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BusyB Posted June 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 11, 2021 16 hours ago, Patong2021 said: You have good heart if you are moved by what you see and not alone. The temple is a good excuse to ignore them. Easy to say that the temple will take care or the temple will feed, even though that is not always the case. Sometimes their fate is well deserved and sometimes it is not. Bad people who do terrible things can survive to an old age and this is what awaits them. In a country of near 70 million, we can expect that hundreds of thousands at any given time are not very nice and have done some evil things. It is understandable that some should be on the street. Other times I think these are people who are mentally ill who have no family unit to help or support. Thailand does not do good job for mental health. And then there are those who were poor to begin with, and through the social order that is Thailand, are doomed to wander the streets homeless. To keep my sanity, I steer clear of the hobo people. Mental illness is a major component and cause of homelessness, even in the 'west'. And under current economic conditions, homelessness is rife in a country with no worthwhile social security net. Believe me not every family is rich with a farm to return to. And it's been donkeys since Uncle Tu handed out 5 grand. (Less than minimum wage for one, to support an entire family.) If people decide not to help because they feel unable or simply don't understand the problems behind addiction ( a clear mental illness problem) that's fine. Others do fortunately. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Scouse123 Posted June 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 11, 2021 15 hours ago, swm59nj said: I live in Asoke area and saw also people begging in Onut when I lived there. I did see many that either had hands missing or feet. I always wondered how these people get around or live on the street. A Thai person told me that these people are dropped off by gangs to beg. That the gangs use them to get money, and give these people a very small amount in return. I always wondered if that was true or not. There were professional gangs doing this years ago in all the tourist resorts and the same applies to the women with a baby in arms begging. They used to rent the babies from the mothers, and then go out and beg. Yes, they are true stories and that is what makes it difficult for genuine cases. In Siem Reap as well a well known one is to ask the " kind foreigner " for baby formulae not money. The problem was this formulae was more expensive than thry would have been given in a handout. When the foreigner paid and left, they sell the formulae back to the shop at a knock down price 10 minutes later thus converting it to cash. So many scams! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geisha Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 I’ve seen some terrible things all over Thailand. I mostly always give something, a meal at least a drink. yogurts for kids. I think how awful it is to live like that, no matter why you’re there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Triangle Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 There was an old crippled guy came to sell lottery tickets at a restaurant that we used until this virus struck, he was never a problem, it is a big old open air place & the guy would sit outside the main walk in part, when we had finished eating & drinking as I paid the bill I told the staff to prepare a takeaway for the guy ( whatever they thought appropriate ) and give it to him once we had left, I did that a few times, and when this krap has gone I will do it again. I have also donated cash to various places/companies/restaurants that have been providing essentials to the local populace, no skin off my nose & I believe those that receive it are grateful. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Once, I got up early in McCleod Ganj, India and saw large expensive tour buses coming to town as it was a Buddha day. Out came all the beggars. In Calcutta tourist area, I got up at 5 to meditate and saw the beggars arriving by taxi. Doesn't matter, I give as it helps me, nothing to do with them, they are providing a service to help my soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thvima Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 I cannot stand those people complaining about homeless ! I never met an aggressive one and all they need is help ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampant Rabbit Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 10:53 AM, Neeranam said: Once, I got up early in McCleod Ganj, India and saw large expensive tour buses coming to town as it was a Buddha day. Out came all the beggars. In Calcutta tourist area, I got up at 5 to meditate and saw the beggars arriving by taxi. Doesn't matter, I give as it helps me, nothing to do with them, they are providing a service to help my soul. I have a wooden leg.???? if this helps your soul let me know via cash donations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampant Rabbit Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 4 hours ago, thvima said: I cannot stand those people complaining about homeless ! I never met an aggressive one and all they need is help ! I have a vacancy for two people who arent lazy including accommodation food water electric and transport. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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