Positive Coins

[JustCurious]

Is 20 or 30 baht enough when giving change to needy people I pass on the street?

[BuddhaMind]

What's enough? Why don't you take them in, or better yet, buy them a home. Maybe find them a job or get them a university degree? And then do it for their entire family well into the future. Seems only fair.

[naboo]

No, only 1000B bills will do. They have car loans to pay don't you know?

[cmbe]

Usually I think it's enough, although it only cost for 1-2 meals (in local market) but do not forget there are not only one people that need help in the street, left 10 baht to other they will be happy too.

[KRS1]

No, only 1000B bills will do. They have car loans to pay don't you know?

You expect them to beg for gas money?

Make it 2000 baht instead.

[DowntownAl]

Looks like a handful of survival of the fittest, me first, republicans out trolling. There is no social safety net here and some people actually give a dam_n about other human beings. If you don't, that's your business but, you don't have to take a dump on others who do. Karma will find a balance.

[haybilly]

I would agree that, as a rule, 10, 20 or especially 30 baht would be appreciated--but do be wary of the folk who make a living out of begging--not that they are not needy just that the cash may, or may not, go into their own pockets.

I also think that the people having a laugh at another person's generosity need to grow up.

Edited September 8, 2012 by haybilly

[naboo]

Looks like a handful of survival of the fittest, me first, republicans out trolling.

Or some of us think the question is absolutely ridiculous! You give however much you want to give. The whole issue of people making incredible sums of money out of this through organised gangs and people trafficking is another topic though.

Naboo the socialist.

[TommoPhysicist]

The beggars in CM are organized by criminal gangs.

They don't keep the money you give them.

They are dropped off and collected by the gang each day.

[eyecatcher]

I also think that the people having a laugh at another person's generosity need to grow up.

Quite right.....not..... the professional world of humour is normally based around peoples misfortunes; the blind, the disabled, the poor, bedridden, those falling over in the street, the deaf, the fat, the thin.............infact about anyone who isn,t exactly perfect......and it goes on and on and on.; and is widely accepted.

.....but laughing at other peoples generosity......you think this is more disrespectful than laughing at the needy?

[SamSipEt]

Instead of cash buy them something to eat from one of the street stalls. Costs the same and goes straight into their belly and not into someone else's pocket. Also helps put cash into the pocket of the person who is actually working rather than sponging.

[trainman34014]

Instead of cash buy them something to eat from one of the street stalls. Costs the same and goes straight into their belly and not into someone else's pocket. Also helps put cash into the pocket of the person who is actually working rather than sponging.

Exactly what I do for the two beggars I see fairly regularly in or close to our local markets. They are happy to see a meal and they are not all the fodder of criminal gangs. Some of them live in small tin sheds and have almost nothing.

Some of the answers on here reflect how modern western society has become so callous, selfish and inconsiderate to people less fortunate than themselves. Shame on them.

[hellodolly]

Instead of cash buy them something to eat from one of the street stalls. Costs the same and goes straight into their belly and not into someone else's pocket. Also helps put cash into the pocket of the person who is actually working rather than sponging.

Exactly what I do for the two beggars I see fairly regularly in or close to our local markets. They are happy to see a meal and they are not all the fodder of criminal gangs. Some of them live in small tin sheds and have almost nothing.

Some of the answers on here reflect how modern western society has become so callous, selfish and inconsiderate to people less fortunate than themselves. Shame on them.

Reminds me of years ago when I was in Mexico. This one restaurant I would have breakfast in would have a little kid maybe 5 years old come in selling little pieces of gum. He would go all around the restaurant selling his gum and then the restaurant would kick him out.

Took a trip on a bus to Tasco and the driver stopped along the way and picked up these three guys along side the road. They walked up and down the aisle singing and playing a musical instrument they then took up a collection the bus stopped they got off and walked across the street to wait for a bus going the other way.

The point is they seem as a society to accept beggars. Here we look for reasons not to pay them. I will walk by many with out paying. My wife has lived in the area for quite some time and knows most of them and she will point out the ones who don't use it for drink. The rest I will from time too time give money to I am well aware that the ones with kids might have the neighbors kids but the fact is they all have to eat as well as other very basic necessities.

One other thing as how much to give any where from 10 baht up is appreciated. Drop 100 baht in the cup of a beggar you know to be honest and watch hi or her face light up.

Edited September 8, 2012 by hellodolly

[Rob8891]

As usual some heartless comments by people who need to denigrate people (who they perceive to be) worse off than them in order to inflate their own self-worth (another wrong perception!) All you do guys, is to show yourselves up.

I guess that everywhere has 'beggars' who are organised by gangs, but a blanket statement to say the beggars in CM are organised...etc is perhaps too much of a generalisation.

IMO it is better to err on the side of generosity, and drop 10,20,30 baht. If they are genuine, then you have helped someone in need. If it is a scam, then you haven't done a lot to support it. If the person is known to be genuine, then OK, drop more.

In farangland, beggars often have a dog with them, to catch the sympathy vote.... my answer to that was if there was a shop nearby, I'd drop the guy a tin of dogfood, Solves the problem of not knowing the beggar...if he is for real, then he'll love his dog, and I have helped him. If he's not, chances are I'll get the tin in the neck.... ready to give the next one.

[hellodolly]

As usual some heartless comments by people who need to denigrate people (who they perceive to be) worse off than them in order to inflate their own self-worth (another wrong perception!) All you do guys, is to show yourselves up.

I guess that everywhere has 'beggars' who are organised by gangs, but a blanket statement to say the beggars in CM are organised...etc is perhaps too much of a generalisation.

IMO it is better to err on the side of generosity, and drop 10,20,30 baht. If they are genuine, then you have helped someone in need. If it is a scam, then you haven't done a lot to support it. If the person is known to be genuine, then OK, drop more.

In farangland, beggars often have a dog with them, to catch the sympathy vote.... my answer to that was if there was a shop nearby, I'd drop the guy a tin of dogfood, Solves the problem of not knowing the beggar...if he is for real, then he'll love his dog, and I have helped him. If he's not, chances are I'll get the tin in the neck.... ready to give the next one.

Most of those complainers also complain about a tuk tuk driver or Song tell driver trying to over charge them. I guess with the declining value of many of the foreign currencies 10 to 30 baht here and there would be a problem. They have it blown up into gigantic proportions tuk tuk mafia's. Not single people (a mafia) trying to do the same thing they did in their work life try to make as much money as they could. Did you ever here of a union walking in with a honest deal they all ways started higher than was reasonable and the companies came back with lower than reasonable. Then they proceeded to get serious.

[realthaideal]

We never know which beggar is actually the Buddha, do we ? I say give as you see fit and hope it does go to something nice rather than a 'gang' or to whiskey. If you really really want to benefit someone there are numerous orphanages and schools for deaf and blind where you can donate in town. There are also organizations like the struggling Freedom House who give quite selflessly to help educate and clothe Burmese - mostly kids - who have fled the troubles of their home country and are essentially stateless and powerless here. Giving of your time or money there is a very nice thing to do.

But anyway.... though a bit of coin here or there may not do so much good in the bigger sense, I do believe you'd have to be rather heartless to rationalize yourself into a policy of never giving anything to anyone on the street ever.

[Maejo Man]

You hear the rumble of a skateboard on the pavement of Sukhumvit, and moments later you see a legless torso being propelled by deformed gloved hands looking up at you and smiling. Anybody that can smile at you from knee height, with those sort of handicaps, gets my vote and money every time. We cannot even begin to imagine!!

[haybilly]

I also think that the people having a laugh at another person's generosity need to grow up.

Quite right.....not..... the professional world of humour is normally based around peoples misfortunes; the blind, the disabled, the poor, bedridden, those falling over in the street, the deaf, the fat, the thin.............infact about anyone who isn,t exactly perfect......and it goes on and on and on.; and is widely accepted.

.....but laughing at other peoples generosity......you think this is more disrespectful than laughing at the needy?

I don't think I was condoning that either--nor the so-called 'humour' that you refer to.

[Phronesis]

The beggars in CM are organized by criminal gangs.

They don't keep the money you give them.

They are dropped off and collected by the gang each day.

Correct.

The same applys in Phuket. If you visit enough of the talads sods over time you will see the usually team of guys working the begging circuit. Out of interest, one day I "staked out" the local market, arrived early and loitered on one of the nearby salas. When both of the regular beggars showed up, each arrived in a late model pimped out pick up truck. The drivers, both of whom appeared mid thirties and well dressed, set their beggar up on his usually spot and then drove off...

So...I will leave the verdict up to you kind readers...If these well dressed pickup drivers were family of the beggars.....why was the begging necessary?...

If they were not family...who were they?...kindly hiso blokes, taking time off work each day, to drive their lowso beggars mates to work ....Pffffft...

[hellodolly]

The beggars in CM are organized by criminal gangs.

They don't keep the money you give them.

They are dropped off and collected by the gang each day.

Correct.

The same applys in Phuket. If you visit enough of the talads sods over time you will see the usually team of guys working the begging circuit. Out of interest, one day I "staked out" the local market, arrived early and loitered on one of the nearby salas. When both of the regular beggars showed up, each arrived in a late model pimped out pick up truck. The drivers, both of whom appeared mid thirties and well dressed, set their beggar up on his usually spot and then drove off...

So...I will leave the verdict up to you kind readers...If these well dressed pickup drivers were family of the beggars.....why was the begging necessary?...

If they were not family...who were they?...kindly hiso blokes, taking time off work each day, to drive their lowso beggars mates to work ....Pffffft...

O K if you want a experience here in Chiang Mai I see a beggar with one leg cut of at the knee walking up a street to his begging spot. (he is on one crutch) He sits down and waits for people to give him donations. My wife tells me he does not drink or drug.

The difference between you and me is you take one example and condemn them all. I take one example and say you are wrong and this proves it. I do not say they are all on the up and up. If you want to learn about organized begging go to Mai Sai. And even there you can find people who are in need.

You sound like a guy from Pattaya who was a Thai basher and in one post said he knew all about Thai's from watching them at the 7 11 on the walking street.

[justcruisin]

I often offer to buy the beggar a meal, if they decline I figure that yes they may be part of an organized scam.

[SwaziBird]

I personally decry begging in any form but not necessarily in every case.

I think SamSipEt's post #11 may be a good suggestion.

Think of an older person, perhaps a widow, unable to find paid employment and with children away. Did you know that when a Thai person turns 60 years of age they receive a Government pension of 500 baht - PER MONTH !!!!

Makes you want to weep for them. Yet you don't see rows of these unfortunate elderly people sitting in the streets begging. I simply don;t know why not but I could guess.

Would you support one such person ?

Or would you dismiss them as being part of a criminal gang ?

This is not an easy decision to reach ....until humanity and decency steps forward and makes the decision for you.You do what is right.

But this is a personal decision to make and no-one should attack you for doing whatever you feel is right.

I think that 20 baht which represents at least one decent meal is a fine and generous donation for someone who is likely to receive many more for the day.Why should she be forced to sit and beg every day ? Even 10 baht will be helpful.

Cheers

Edited September 9, 2012 by SwaziBird

[orang37]

What's enough? Why don't you take them in, or better yet, buy them a home. Maybe find them a job or get them a university degree? And then do it for their entire family well into the future. Seems only fair.

The ancient Greek origin of the word "sarcasm" referred to the "stripping off of flesh," and "cutting" (as with something sharp.

How very odd you use, as your avatar here, a picture of the famous Amitabha Buddha at the Kotoku-in Temple, at Kamakura, Japan. That incredible Buddha image, cast in 1252CE, has been outdoors for 514 years, since the successive Temples that enclosed it were destroyed by storms three times.

That "Celestial" Buddha (Daibutsu) is from the later Mahayana tradition, has nothing to do with Thai Sthaviravada (Theravadan) Buddhism, and is associated with varying attributes, imagery, rituals, and written works (sutras, or suttas), in: Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism and Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism; in Shingon Japanese Buddhism; and, is the central figure in Japanese "Pure Land Sect" Buddhism.

Your post is a disgusting compassion-less example of that (ancient Greek) sense of the word: "sarcasm."

I appreciate the compassionate awareness implicit in JustCurious' question.

~o:37;

Edited September 10, 2012 by orang37

[JustCurious]

The person in need I pass by in my neighborhood most days is an elderly lady.

I purchased a Tops Supermarket gift cetificate today and gave it to her (I thought I might do that weekly since she sits on the sidewalk not too far from the store).

A store employee wrote her a note on how to use it but explained she might not be able to read.

When I check in a few days, if she hasn't used it I'll try to get someone to explain it to her. It's an experiment so I didn't buy a very large certificate in case she's reluctant to use it.