Have you got spare change?

Darragh29 · 22-09-2008 11:15PM

Well, given the choice between guving change to a "story bud, any spare coppers?", or someone else, the chances are that an old Iraqi looking homeless man isn't a "heroin riddled, syringe-hanging-out-of-his-arm, junkie"...

Loopy · 22-09-2008 11:15PM

The best line I heard when your asked if you have any spare change is:

'No I dont, I haven't finished living my life yet'..

Run_to_da_hills · 22-09-2008 11:16PM

Aren't all these guys getting the dole

22-09-2008 11:25PM

'Spare change' is a funny term, as if you just have piles of money growing on a tree and you don't need half of it. I'm a full time student this month living off money I spent the last year saving up. I don't think I really have money to 'spare'. I would skip buying water or a DART ticket if someone seemed truly, desperately in need, but I hate when people take an attitude with you like you won't miss a fiver/tenner.

Poccington · 22-09-2008 11:26PM

I give them nothing.

dotsman · 22-09-2008 11:29PM

Grainne C wrote: »

If only that were true, you can't claim social welfare without a pps number which you can't have without an address.........

But doesn't everyone not have a PPS number already? (formerly a PRSI number I think). Even if they've somehow managed to get through their entire lives without a PPS number, I'm sure they could arrange to stay in a hostel for sufficient time to get one.

I used to be very generous, regularly giving money to homeless. But too often I'd either see the person go on to earn a nice fortune from it, or else see them go straight into a shop/offie for a few tinnies. Now, I only really give to buskers etc, at least they are trying to do something for their money.

The thing is, I'm not exactly an expert, but I'd imagine that giving money to the vast majority of them is a bad thing, as I'd imagine the reason for most of them to be on the streets is due to drink/drugs in the first place, so that is the first thing they're going to spend your money on.

Darragh29 · 22-09-2008 11:29PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Aren't all these guys getting the dole

Yeah but a lot of them have banged it up their arm within a few hours of getting their "scratcher"...

Conbro · 22-09-2008 11:29PM

Let the bastards starve. They got what they deserve. Losers

Kinetic^ · 22-09-2008 11:30PM

"Sorry, I don't want any of your change"

eddiehead · 22-09-2008 11:31PM

What about people who beg at traffic lights or junctions? Im a cynical ba$tard and I rarely give beggers anything, but it can be quite uncomfortable when some one legged woman holding a change cup comes a tappin' at your car's window. I say this because I remember it happening every day at the M50 roundabout on the way home when I was working in Coolock. In fairness, if they got €1 each (or more) from 5/6 cars every stop every day they'd be loaded:eek:

McGetty · 22-09-2008 11:32PM

No, I don't give anything. Too many bad stories have soured me to them all. The sister gave one a tenner one night only to have the one run after her and ask "Have you nothing more than that?" A mate who bought some food when she saw a mother begging with her kids for money "feed them" and brought it out to them had the mother grab it all and throw it back in her face screaming "What the **** am I supposed to do with that ****e?" A guy who works in a bank has told me that these gypsy women we always see begging around town are coming in each week depositing at least 300 Euro.

I could go on. I realise they're all isolated incidents but it's hard to shake the feeling that money you give to these people is going down the drain. I'd much rather donate to the homeless charities.

Nehaxak · 22-09-2008 11:34PM

Actually, most if not all of the Roma beggars do not get the dole as they are not legally entitled to it or even to be here for that matter, so cannot work legally either. Begging (far as I'm aware, please correct me if I'm wrong...) is also not illegal in Ireland.

Pisses me off no end when some gyp comes up begging from me though and I do to them as they do to me, grab their tits and start singing "hi my name is, who, my name is, what, my name is, jigga jigga, slim shady".

Or just tell 'em to FO !

Dave! · 22-09-2008 11:45PM

* Do you give change if you have?

Sometimes

* Are you disgusted?

Not really

* Do you feel pity?

Yeah

* If somebody got on the bus and were short of change would you give them the difference?

Probably

* Sometimes when people walk up to you on the street and ask for change, do you fob them off or do you hand them spare change

Fob them off usually

jiltloop · 23-09-2008 12:05AM

I used to give the odd beggar change until one time on talbot st a guy asked if i had any spare change. I had about €1.25 on me and thats all i had till pay day but i had my bus tickets sorted for the week so i emptied my pocket and gave him all the change saying that's all i have in my pockets. The b*stard then looked at the change in his hand and said "ah for f*ck sake" like everything I had on me wasn't enough! I told him where to shove that money in no uncertain terms.

giggsy664 · 23-09-2008 12:20AM

Nehaxak wrote: »

Actually, most if not all of the Roma beggars do not get the dole as they are not legally entitled to it or even to be here for that matter, so cannot work legally either. Begging (far as I'm aware, please correct me if I'm wrong...) is also not illegal in Ireland.

Pisses me off no end when some gyp comes up begging from me though and I do to them as they do to me, grab their tits and start singing "hi my name is, who, my name is, what, my name is, jigga jigga, slim shady".

Or just tell 'em to FO !

'Twas only legalised like last year. Some begged got arrested, took it to court and said I have a constitutional right to beg. He won.

Mimikyu · 23-09-2008 12:56AM

This post has been deleted.

steo87 · 23-09-2008 01:03AM

"Dub-dub-dublin takes good care of the homeless..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMsr0cLnQPI

psycho8itch · 23-09-2008 01:19AM

gurramok wrote: »

Next time, spot them hanging around the Luas machines on Lwr Abbey st. Both blokes Irish, one tall bloke in grey clothing and another in his 40's wearing a cap, they must make a fortune there offering their 'services' on how to work the Luas machines which is near harassment!

+1
And yes,i can work out how to use touch screen.
Especially when I've already got my ticket.
And its not like im in Dublin to notice all that often

Jigsaw · 23-09-2008 01:29AM

I never give to beggars and I never will. There are routes out of the sh1te life they lead but they feel it is more easy to beg than get their arse into gear and do something about it.

MIN2511 · 23-09-2008 10:00AM

So this morning on my way to get the luas i pass a beggar on the bridge, i wonder "has she been here all night?". I didn't give her any change because i had no money on me but now thinking about it i wonder did she really sleep there? Has she eaten? Why is she begging? Why should i give her my change?

eddiehead · 23-09-2008 10:05AM

MIN2511 wrote: »

So this morning on my way to get the luas i pass a beggar on the bridge, i wonder "has she been here all night?". I didn't give her any change because i had no money on me but now thinking about it i wonder did she really sleep there? Has she eaten? Why is she begging? Why should i give her my change?

Next time ask if she takes Laser

Dragan · 23-09-2008 10:08AM

There are certain homeless folk around Dublin that I will help out when I see them. They are nice folk, I've chatted to them before and often times the problems that put them on the streets are not the usual self destructive drink/junkie stories.

It does however get REALLY old when I am standing waiting for a my bus out of town. I live on the Southside and will get the 44 home. Last week as I was waiting for my bus 4 homeless guys all asked me for change within 10 minutes. The first guy I let him get through his rant and just told him no, the second and third guys I cut off half way through and the last guy I completely cut off. He then lost the plot and started banging on about at least I had a home to go to and all this ****. I then lost the plot with him. He had been hassling a lass for change before me, doing the big loom over her thing to try and intimidate her into giving him money so I had no problem letting this cnut know what I thought of him.

My rules are if they get aggro they will be told to **** off. I had a homeless guy grab my arm on Grafton Street one night and after refusing to let go he was made to. Some of them are very pushy and that won't fly with me.

thelordofcheese · 23-09-2008 10:08AM

MIN2511 wrote: »

I just want to know people's take on this... I am not categorising any nationality, but when you see beggars who ask for spare change
Do you give change if you have?

Are you disgusted?

Do you feel pity?

If somebody got on the bus and were short of change would you give them the difference?

Sometimes when people walk up to you on the street and ask for change, do you fob them off or do you hand them spare change

What is your general take on begging on the streets...

Tbh, i saw a program ages ago about beggars making 33k a yearr(TAX FREE) i find it hard to believe they actually make such money.

I refuse to give them money, then i log into one of my alt accounts and complain about romanian beggars on AH.

It's a hobby of mine....

KTRIC · 23-09-2008 10:11AM

When they ask "spare change ?"

Tell them "no thanks, I've loads"

That confuses the f*ck out of them, especially the junkies and drunks.

Dragan · 23-09-2008 10:12AM

giggsy664 wrote: »

'Twas only legalised like last year. Some begged got arrested, took it to court and said I have a constitutional right to beg. He won.

It's not the right to beg, it's the right to Free Speech that won it for him.

It should be noted you also have the right to tell them you don't want to hear it.

Zillah · 23-09-2008 10:19AM

It completely depends on how much change I have in my pocket and if they look like assholes. Most of the time I ignore them completely but I have been known to be nice.

One time I left Eamon Dorans to go to the ATM in templebar and there was a homeless guy shouting abuse at people nearby for not giving him money. Being quite drunk already I hunkered down beside him and asked him why was he being so aggressive? He said its because people ignored him and it made him so angry. I spent a while explaining that I understood that, but shouting abuse is only going to make them treat him worse and that people have a right to refuse if they like. A second homeless guy pitched in saying that's what he's been saying. He seemed to take it to heart, then I gave him a handful of change I happened to have in my pocket and said good night. He patted me on the shoulder and said I was one of the good ones.

So began and ended Zillah's drunken adventures in the gutter.

Polly701 · 23-09-2008 10:29AM

I don't give money to beggars anymore. I used to when I was younger because I felt sorry for them. But now I think that by giving them money you are encouraging them to continue doing what they are doing. I will give money to someone who is collecting for charity (eg Simon at Christmas).

23-09-2008 10:29AM

MIN2511 wrote: »

Sometimes when people walk up to you on the street and ask for change, do you fob them off or do you hand them spare change

What is your general take on begging on the streets...

Depends. If I am in downtown Los Angeles, never, especially at night! We are warned that there are a few that use this as a ploy to get close to you, especially if you are a woman, and rob or otherwise assault you (or worse).

Then again, a woman with child approached me in a coffeehouse near the beach a year past, claiming in very broken English, that her husband left her and they had not eaten in a couple of days. OK, foolish me, I bought them pastries and drinks, and they wolfed down the food like there was no tomorrow! She insisted that she pay me back when she got a job. I gave her my university postal box number, and forgot all about it after they left.

About a month after, I was surprised to receive payment for the meal!

John Mason · 23-09-2008 10:31AM

about 14 years ago, i used to work in a shop beside O'Connell Bridge. one old bloke used to come in and change his begging money into paper money. He would change between £80-90 irish pounds.

these guys are making a fortune, i would never give money to them

Dinter · 23-09-2008 10:36AM

I think the dole is around €200 a week at the moment. Tbh I'd be lucky to have that free and clear to spend on myself after being taxed, paying my bills and trying to ramp up my savings.

As far as I'm concerned any spare change I might have had was taken off me at source by Revenue. I have some blind orphan charity that I give to though and that's about as charitable as I am.

Frankly I'd be more interested in donating outside of Ireland as I think I do enough here and tbh people on social welfare probably won't starve.

Have you got spare change?

Comments