Pens as Gifts?

ryler78

When I was in South America a couple of guys told me to take pens to India when I go as the kids love them. Apparently they get a pen from a tourist and can show all their friends at school how cool they are for getting it of one.

However, I have read a passing comment in a post they the kids get the pens and just sell them at the market.

True?

RWeHavingFunYet

I don't think indian kids care much for your pens. They might appreciate it, if you give'em. Your pens may not be worth of any value in the market. R e l a x.

ryler78

T h a n k s.
Found this: do you give a child in india 'one pen'?

Aishah

There are perfectly good pens here for 5 rupees - 10 rupees. If you feel compelled to hand them out, don't bring them from your country buy them here instead. They do not leak over hands and clothes as I have read in another thread.

There may be an unwanted side effect of your action in that you will attract children like flies - the word will fast get out that you are the man who hands out the pens. Up to you, what you do. Personally, for a hassle free holiday, I think it would be much better for you to seek out a local charity (genuine one) and donate them some money instead of handing out the pens.

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obione980

Giving pens is an apalling idea. All it does is encourage a culture of begging! (And ultimately provide a small negative influence on foreign tourism to India). Tourists bring in money, which is reasonably well distributed in the community. One pen - does nothing except encourage another level of 'hassle' for visitors!

My Opinion!! And I know this is a potentially 'interesting' topic, which can generate passionate responses.

Uncle_Martin

Yes, its not cool, neither is the 'coin from your country' scam. I remember what it was like to be a kid whose horizons were blinded by the lure of sweets/candy/toffee and these items are a passport to these 'objects of desire'.

BUT this year I was accosted by some nice kids who did regard it as cool to be given a 'mint condition' bus tickets from the UK (Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon and a Stratford to Evesham) and others whose request for "something from your country" was more than satisfied by a small plastic carrier bag from Selfridges Food Hall ... although I'm poor I do like nice olives ... sadly one never knows when little bits of ephemera/junk will come in handy ...

ryler78

I think I may forget about the pens then as I don't want to encourage begging and be followed by a group of kids everywhere I go.
When I was in SE Asia I would grab a hungry looking kid every now and again and buy them lunch. Funny thing was though, even though I said get anything on the menu, they would always just get the basic stuff and a cup of water. No coke, no ice cream or any crap like that, just something simple.

qwertyjjj

giving pens and gifts is a far better idea than giving money like some tourists do.
What the hell is wrong with giving pens if you are passing through quieter areas, I don't believe it promotes begging unless you are already being hassled and give them a pen to get rid of them.

Uncle_Martin

Pen <....> item of value
Sweet <....> object of desire

objective ... exchange item of value for object of desire.

Learned this con to get candy from the Yanks when I was a kid. I did my thing in quieter areas where there was less competition/hassle form the bigger kids.

Have you ever been in areas where this hassle/begging is the norm? There is even a very nasty side to this juvenile begging where the kids are 'owned' and have to pay the man.

Perhaps you aren't the sort of elderly rogue who gets approached by the 'coin from your country' scam guys to exchange the small change for proper dosh.

Next time talk to the kids rogue to rogue, most of them enjoy the interaction. Shades of John Barth, one of them even introduced me to his goat, but neither of them were called Giles.

Beware, as in the almost irrelevant words of Tom Waits "Small Change got rained on by his own 38 .."

PS Welcome to India Mike

qwertyjjj

I've been in Phnom Penh where the majority of the street kids use scripts and are controlled by the mafia there to beg off foreigners selling books, etc. so I understand it a bit.

What I am referring to is kids in remoter places who do not ask for anything. It's a friedly way of saying hello to give something...don't see anything wrong with that...

edwardseco

In more remote areas the kids will say hello to you without any need of an offerring. That cheerful friendship is better than turista talk..

locusstandi

Wonder why this was posted in "Scams and Annoyances in India"? That must explain the gritted teeth in some of the replies

Of course the whole thing - pen, lunches, chocolates whatever - depends on your objective. It might be a tad more difficult but perhaps more worthwhile if instead of objects you could give them some time and perhaps a sense of wonder or some knowledge related to you, your country, your specialization, your travels - something that stayed with them... Then there might be some real danger of forming relationships that mattered and perhaps winning some (mutual) respect

Those are of course purely personal perspectives, given without absolutely any qualifications to comment on anyone's actions or motivations. And I could be wrong

Have a nice trip.

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Haylo

Yes, my most cherished memories of India are of the countryside outside Udaipur, not really far from the "beaten track", but even there I experienced that "cheerful friendship" and absolutely loved it.

Although there for nearly a week, I gave and recieved nothing but smiles and chatter, and both myself and the local kids seemed to be equally delighted with the bargain. They loved being able to practice their few words of English, and were very excited to be understood. If only I had been smarter I'd have got them to teach me some Hindi!

The only thing I did give was views of the photos on my camera, the kids were totally fascinated by the whole thing.

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locusstandi

attagirl!

Uncle_Martin

Giving Pens like one was Lady Bountiful will do little extra damage, as its mostly been done already.

Talk to the kids, give them ephemera if you must give objects, and here is the picture of Giles from Udaipur

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