How to deal with the beggars

SteamBuff · Mar 4th, 2007, 05:31

I would never give vitamin pill's to children, what would happen if a child say got half a dozen or so and ate them all at once ...

Vitamin pills are after all a drug and you can overdose on them and make yourself very ill.

canoeberry · Mar 4th, 2007, 05:56

Don't worry we only gave them two each, the recommended daily amount - no chance of "overdose"!

Nick-H · Mar 4th, 2007, 06:36

You are seldom far away from a fruit stall.

noflylist · Mar 4th, 2007, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

You are seldom far away from a fruit stall.

hear hear

noflylist · Mar 4th, 2007, 08:11

In houston, some beggars have a sign saying "Why lie need a drink"

SteamBuff · Mar 4th, 2007, 19:56

Canoeberry, but children pass things from one to another and big children steal from smaller children .. so unless you saw every child eating what you had given then I suspect from my own experiences that some children could have had 6+ .

I gave out pens, pocket games, post cards etc I tried to ensure each child only got one but after a while I saw some of the children with half a dozen in their hands.

Nick-H · Mar 4th, 2007, 20:01

...and more than one person might have your idea.

Good intention; not such a good idea.

giripriya · Apr 11th, 2007, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maywind

Every time a child came begging at me, I stuck out my hand and cried "come come, chocolate!, give me chocolate!" - they were so confused they always stood still. Just like the touts who shoved goods in my face, I laughed and said "lovely!" - they turned right around, and didn't bug me anymore. Reverse psychology

Please don't think me cruel. I gave plenty to disfigured persons who did not approach me.

In Boudha I held my hands on either side of my face, waggled my fingers, made a face and yelled 'bokshi bokshi bokshi(witch)' - the kids never bothered me after that. Whether they really are that superstitious and thought I was a witch or just insane I don't know, but I will see if it works again next month when I go back.

the irish indian · Apr 11th, 2007, 01:36

I find your heart usually guides you better than your head in these cicumstances. If you feel happier giving a little something than not giving then do it and vice versa.

mahaseerken · Apr 24th, 2007, 01:20

It's best to give those who have no chance of being able to earn a wage. People suffering from leprosy, old people who have been abandoned....

Unfortunately there are actually a few 'beggars' who have no choice. It is important to show compassion. But equally important to make sure you are not being made a sucker off.

Maywind · Apr 24th, 2007, 02:02

I found that (most) everyone who offered me unsollicited "help" was not so very helpful at all, that they were looking for baksheesh. But everyone who I approached to ask for help was lovely. Other people have this experience?

noflylist · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:20

In USA I usually tell the person begging to get a job.

This would not work in India because they will jump at the opportunity

capt_mahajan · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maywind

I found that (most) everyone who offered me unsollicited "help" was not so very helpful at all, that they were looking for baksheesh. But everyone who I approached to ask for help was lovely. Other people have this experience?

I often feel like offering help to foreigners in the street, coz they sometimes look lost, or overwhelmed.

But I usually don't, because I don't want their 'what is this guy really after 'reaction.

Plus, I have run into one or two who are so strung out with the experience that they snap at you for trying to help.

Not blaming anybody. Fact of life.

machadinha · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by noflylist

In USA I usually tell the person begging to get a job.

Do you give them directions while you're at it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

I usually don't, because I don't want their 'what is this guy really after 'reaction.

Painful fact of life yes. Some tourists are just a little strung-out over everyone trying to rip them off I guess, witness this site too. Makes you wonder how they get by anywhere. If it makes you feel any better, I've had similar reactions over here. Guess I forgot to don my suit + tie and comb my hairs before reaching out. Aaargh! It's one of those junkies we read about! Oh well, suit yourselves, fiddle about with that upside-down map all you like

rajiveanand · Apr 27th, 2007, 09:03

Dear Compassionate Travellers,

It is easily justified to feel guilty and ashamed to feel cheap when refusing an unfortuate a Rupee or 5 when one has just spent the equivalent of their monthly income on a hotel night and a meal. However, it can become easy to be barraged and innundated with requests (or, lets say, demands) for money once you have given to one child whose pleading wide-eyed stare pulls at your heart-strings!

When I was in in Jaipur in '97 on a Fulbright (and, incidentally, when I spoke less Hindi) , I was accosted evryday on my walk from hotel to my guruji's studio by all manner of people including (but not limited to) beggars, touts, salesmen, street performers, cops, drunks and drug addicts. After about two weeks of this, I had had enough and I realized that since I would be there for another five months it would happen evryday if I didn't do something quickly! So I met the snake charmers and bought a 5-foot long black cobra, which I named Nagraj and kept as a pet.

I kept it in my day-pack, and the next day when I was inevitably surrounded again by aggressors, I said in Hindi, "Look, look, come here, closer, closer!" When evryone got oppressively close like a murder of crows, I opened my pack and pulled out Nagraj!, and immediately I had cleared a two meter circle of space around me because they all screamed "NAAG, NAAG, SAAP, SAAP!!!" and ran away!

I wrapped my cobra around my neck and proceeded to walk to work undisturbed! I was never bothered again after that!!!

Perhaps an easier solution is to learn enough Hindi so that you can say "Enough, I don't have any more change", or "Give me peace, I'm walking", or even "Look, kid, I'm not your mother!" in an even and calm tone of voice.

Then you can give to as many people as you wish and with a little conversation, save yourself from being a target, even if you see the same people evryday for an extended period of time!

R.

Mar 4th, 2007, 06:36	#408
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,952	You are seldom far away from a fruit stall. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 24th, 2007, 02:02	#416
Maywind Maywind Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 31	"Friendly" people I found that (most) everyone who offered me unsollicited "help" was not so very helpful at all, that they were looking for baksheesh. But everyone who I approached to ask for help was lovely. Other people have this experience?

Apr 27th, 2007, 09:03	#420
rajiveanand RAJIVE SADA ANAND, MFA Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bronx, NY, USA Posts: 198	Get a Cobra, or: Speak Hindi and Be Generous!!! Dear Compassionate Travellers, It is easily justified to feel guilty and ashamed to feel cheap when refusing an unfortuate a Rupee or 5 when one has just spent the equivalent of their monthly income on a hotel night and a meal. However, it can become easy to be barraged and innundated with requests (or, lets say, demands) for money once you have given to one child whose pleading wide-eyed stare pulls at your heart-strings! When I was in in Jaipur in '97 on a Fulbright (and, incidentally, when I spoke less Hindi) , I was accosted evryday on my walk from hotel to my guruji's studio by all manner of people including (but not limited to) beggars, touts, salesmen, street performers, cops, drunks and drug addicts. After about two weeks of this, I had had enough and I realized that since I would be there for another five months it would happen evryday if I didn't do something quickly! So I met the snake charmers and bought a 5-foot long black cobra, which I named Nagraj and kept as a pet. I kept it in my day-pack, and the next day when I was inevitably surrounded again by aggressors, I said in Hindi, "Look, look, come here, closer, closer!" When evryone got oppressively close like a murder of crows, I opened my pack and pulled out Nagraj!, and immediately I had cleared a two meter circle of space around me because they all screamed "NAAG, NAAG, SAAP, SAAP!!!" and ran away! I wrapped my cobra around my neck and proceeded to walk to work undisturbed! I was never bothered again after that!!! Perhaps an easier solution is to learn enough Hindi so that you can say "Enough, I don't have any more change", or "Give me peace, I'm walking", or even "Look, kid, I'm not your mother!" in an even and calm tone of voice. Then you can give to as many people as you wish and with a little conversation, save yourself from being a target, even if you see the same people evryday for an extended period of time! R. Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.rajiveanand.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
unique or memorable beggars or handouts	cedar	Chai and Chat	13	Aug 13th, 2008 07:50
Beggars, street vendors at India's Taj Mahal scare away tourists	indiamike	India Travel News and Commentary	14	Apr 10th, 2007 05:29
Best Deal in Bodhgaya?	mr. gordo	Lodging and Hotels in India	1	Oct 25th, 2006 19:36
Beggars on break, shit on sandal	thirdreel	Humour - It Only Happens in India	15	Aug 12th, 2005 05:49
Fed up of beggars, touristy Jaipur acts	indiamike	India Travel News and Commentary	16	Oct 1st, 2004 11:08

Mar 4th, 2007, 05:31	#406
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 370	I would never give vitamin pill's to children, what would happen if a child say got half a dozen or so and ate them all at once ... Vitamin pills are after all a drug and you can overdose on them and make yourself very ill.

Mar 4th, 2007, 05:56	#407
canoeberry Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brooklyn NY US Posts: 27	Don't worry we only gave them two each, the recommended daily amount - no chance of "overdose"!

Mar 4th, 2007, 08:11	#410
noflylist Account Closed on User's Request Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 840	In houston, some beggars have a sign saying "Why lie need a drink"

Mar 4th, 2007, 19:56	#411
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 370	Canoeberry, but children pass things from one to another and big children steal from smaller children .. so unless you saw every child eating what you had given then I suspect from my own experiences that some children could have had 6+ . I gave out pens, pocket games, post cards etc I tried to ensure each child only got one but after a while I saw some of the children with half a dozen in their hands.

Mar 4th, 2007, 20:01	#412
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,952	...and more than one person might have your idea. Good intention; not such a good idea.

Apr 11th, 2007, 01:36	#414
the irish indian Totally Clueless Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 174	I find your heart usually guides you better than your head in these cicumstances. If you feel happier giving a little something than not giving then do it and vice versa.

Apr 24th, 2007, 01:20	#415
mahaseerken Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DLF Posts: 7	It's best to give those who have no chance of being able to earn a wage. People suffering from leprosy, old people who have been abandoned.... Unfortunately there are actually a few 'beggars' who have no choice. It is important to show compassion. But equally important to make sure you are not being made a sucker off.

Apr 27th, 2007, 08:20	#417
noflylist Account Closed on User's Request Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 840	In USA I usually tell the person begging to get a job. This would not work in India because they will jump at the opportunity

User Name		Remember Me?
Password