Giving to a person begging on the Underground

Annie I'm not getting at you, but I'm sure you take my point as you are an intelligent woman. It's very easy for people to spout off and try to claim the moral high ground.

My point is still valid.

There are those on GN who are very compassionate and actually get off their soap boxes and do something about it. Just making silly remarks about people ought to be hidden out of sight, does nothing to help the discussion.

I think virtue signalling is a form of insecurity.

......but apt!

What would some do without their 'virtue signalling' comments,

And I meant Anya not Alea, sorry

No need for insults Alea, this crossing through a word which is so obviously meant to insult is silly

But that's just it Iam .....compassionate posers posters.

It's the easiest thing in the world to sit down and type out virtuous posts, but in my book actions speak louder than words and I'd be interested to know what some of these people actually DO to help those in need other than just spouting off.

Thanks Alea, you posted what I thought on reading those comments. I loathe the phrase that's been discussed on this forum recently about 'virtue signalling' - but honestly, it's as though some folks see themselves as the only compassionate posters.

^Obviously they are not supposed to beg, Annie.
Should be hidden from view so they do not offend or disturb us^

Is it really necessary to be sarcastic? I should think we are all on the same side here ie.feeling compassion for the homeless, destitute, needy.

Not exactly relevant but I remember when I was quite a young child on holiday with my parents in Spain, small and grubby children coming around the hotel and restaurant tables begging. I was terribly shocked and distressed as I had never seen beggars before. I also remember the same sense of shock and distress when I started seeing beggars in London many years later. And this is the 21st century!

I never give to beggars....but do give to buskers - at least they are trying to entertain people.

Obviously they are not supposed to beg, Annie.
Should be hidden from view so they do not offend or disturb us.

There are young people homeless, not allowed benefits , where do they get their money from? There are people of all ages, male and female who ask for money, some because they are addicts, some because they are homeless and unemployed , there are too few hostels for these people to stay, what are they to do?

On tv last week they showed people sleeping in refuge banks , one man was not found in time and was tipped into a cruncher with the rubbish, what a horrible death

"In this welfare state with additional charities abounding there is no way that any innocent person should be in desperate need because they would have no reason not to be open to the authorities about their circumstances. That is why so many people fight to get over massive hurdles to get into this country."

Where do you live, synonymous?
Do you not look at the news, or read articles about the welfare state, the numbers of homeless people, those being sanctioned, those committing suicide because of sanctions?

Next you'll be saying that food banks are a good thing, rather than the fact that there should not be food banks in this rich country.

That's why people beg.

Gill So interesting to note how people can read words that are not actually there and twist things to say something other than was said.

Years ago when in Benidorm, there were beggars along the promenade and I myself witnessed them going home in taxis at the end of the day.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=RLBWYU9D8jo

'Of all the trades in England, a-begging is the best'
Sorry. couldn't resist.
As you were

I offer food and drink to beggars and used to give money too, but after one incident when I was forced into giving one money because he danced backwards in front of me, dodging from side to side and not letting me past I am reluctant. As I had a child with me, it felt very intimidating and £1 clearly wasn't enough.

After we had given him money and he allowed us past I heard another little girl say to her mum 'See, mummy, he caught that lady too'.

Buskers are not beggars? I didnt know that.

You have to have a licence to busk. They are playing/singing - people can give if they wish. They are not begging, they are performing.
DD did it when she was at college

I didn't twist anything - your post of 17.03 in reply to joannewton46 said it all Anniebach. But I'll leave you to your virtue signalling.

There are alcoholics and drug addicts among the homeless and the same in every walk of life. I do not believe one single person decides to become an addict , anyone here who likes alcohol could have become an addict

Ana, no I am not saying people are mean , there are people who do not want to give because they simply do not believe in giving money when asked , this could trouble them so it could help to think of addicts , please do not assume and by doing so twist what is said

Our nearest town has a population of 18,ooo and more than half of these are students. So a very small place. There are 36 hostel beds which are always full. Those working in the sector (churches etc) say there are approximately 50 more people sleeping rough in the borough - usually in wooded areas etc as it is too dangerous to sleep in doorways - they get threatened and attacked.
These rough sleepers are dependent on organised charity or ad hoc gifts of money from passers-by if they are to eat.
People become homeless for a whole range of reasons and not just drink and drugs. But no surprise if they resort to drink or drugs to numb the cold.
Before people judge they might like to wonder what they would do if they found themselves without a roof over their heads and no money in their pockets.

I once offered to buy some chips for a man sleeping in a doorway. He said it's OK I've just had some and said I'm OK and showed me a ten pound note. He was thankful and polite. Bless him.

Not really. You were questioning people's motives for suspecting that some beggars are not genuine and implying they were just mean. I was just pointing out that nobody's pockets are bottomless, so it makes sense to give to a reputable charity rather than give hand-outs willy-nilly in the street.