557 Cambodian beggars nabbed

[Stramash]

Glasgowian

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

em...

Glaswegian if you please.

And no to your idea; he was putting on a leather jacket and getting behind the wheel. Have since found out (a friend who works for a paper worked on the story) that there is a whole network of 'professional beggars'.

[pandorea]

Glasgowian

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

em...

Glaswegian if you please.

There's always something new to learn. Glaswegian that is! :study:

[Stramash]

Glasgowian

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

em...

Glaswegian if you please.

There's always something new to learn. Glaswegian that is! :study:

http://www.rampantscotland.com/parliamo/blparliamo_index.htm

:wink:

[funky_house]

Glasgowian

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

em...

Glaswegian if you please.

And no to your idea; he was putting on a leather jacket and getting behind the wheel. Have since found out (a friend who works for a paper worked on the story) that there is a whole network of 'professional beggars'.

Talking of begging:

I was stopped by a guy over Christmas who asked me for money, saying he needed to get a taxi to hospital.

As he asked, he pulled up his sleeve to show a gaping wound in his forearm. Literally a hole about 1cm deep, and about 7cm long x3cm wide. It look horrible.

What he failed to realise, is that he tried the same scam on me some months before.

I just said, " Its really clever how you do that." He just shrugged his shoulders, and wandered off.

It couldn't have been a false arm, as the hand was definitely real, so it was a blinding make up job.

[DANNO]

Glasgowian

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

em...

Glaswegian if you please.

And no to your idea; he was putting on a leather jacket and getting behind the wheel. Have since found out (a friend who works for a paper worked on the story) that there is a whole network of 'professional beggars'.

:idea: Beggin' for a job as...a BMW driver :!:

and sucessful :!: :!:

[Neo]

Talking of begging:

I was stopped by a guy over Christmas who asked me for money, saying he needed to get a taxi to hospital.

As he asked, he pulled up his sleeve to show a gaping wound in his forearm. Literally a hole about 1cm deep, and about 7cm long x3cm wide. It look horrible.

What he failed to realise, is that he tried the same scam on me some months before.

I just said, " Its really clever how you do that." He just shrugged his shoulders, and wandered off.

It couldn't have been a false arm, as the hand was definitely real, so it was a blinding make up job.

Similar to the beggars with missing limbs in Thailand.

But they just cut them off.

It's easier.

[PeeMarc]

many people complain about beggars. But they fail to see that 50% of the problem is the mindless people who keep giving to them without thinking.

If people really want to do charitable things (or alleviate their guilts when in poor environments) there are 1000s of legitimate charities that one can help.

[SweetieBabie]

many people complain about beggars. But they fail to see that 50% of the problem is the mindless people who keep giving to them without thinking.

If people really want to do charitable things (or alleviate their guilts when in poor environments) there are 1000s of legitimate charities that one can help.

Always have to remind myself that all the time when i see them around not to give. It's demand supply thing and you don't give they won't be around. But then it's hard not to spare your coins. In some decent locations, these guys make really good, even better than many office workers i imagine.

[Admin_2]

many people complain about beggars. But they fail to see that 50% of the problem is the mindless people who keep giving to them without thinking.

If people really want to do charitable things (or alleviate their guilts when in poor environments) there are 1000s of legitimate charities that one can help.

Always have to remind myself that all the time when i see them around not to give. It's demand supply thing and you don't give they won't be around. But then it's hard not to spare your coins. In some decent locations, these guys make really good, even better than many office workers i imagine.

I also never give them money unless they are obviously non-mafia beggers. If they are mafia I'll buy them an opened bag of fruit...or basically any food/drink that they cannot go and resell.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

[LakeGeneve]

many people complain about beggars. But they fail to see that 50% of the problem is the mindless people who keep giving to them without thinking.

If people really want to do charitable things (or alleviate their guilts when in poor environments) there are 1000s of legitimate charities that one can help.

Always have to remind myself that all the time when i see them around not to give. It's demand supply thing and you don't give they won't be around. But then it's hard not to spare your coins. In some decent locations, these guys make really good, even better than many office workers i imagine.

I also never give them money unless they are obviously non-mafia beggers. If they are mafia I'll buy them an opened bag of fruit...or basically any food/drink that they cannot go and resell.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

I tend to agree with the new JapYank guy who stole Admin's dog.... :wink:

I like to think that most of the time I can discern between the genuine and the genuinely exploited by mafia - we tend to forget that those involved in the begging scam are usually being exploited - but sometimes I cannot so I err on the side of giving the benefit of the doubt.

I certainly don't always give and sometimes I walk past feeling like a bastard. And I do have a point of never giving to a mother who spends days with a young child in a public place (that women with the 3 children who has been at BTS Asoke the last 6 yrs comes to mind as the most extreme example). It is not a principle I am entirely comfortable with.

Most of us have enough money to eat, clothe ourselves, travel and go out. We rarely question the prices we pay, the tips we give or the premium we value as we agree to the paradigm of commercial exploitation; be it labour, the planet, goods or ideas. And some of these places where we spend our money are run by organisations which may be very similar to how some mafias conduct themselves (a certain duty free monopoly may be a good example). Yet we don't usually make a big moral judgement or engage in a person quandary about handing over our money.

But we'll get worked up or make a point of principle about giving that 20 baht to someone who may or may not be genuinely in need.

I did enjoy reading the ever insightful Khun Voranai's article on Sunday as it had a good example of what I am trying to convey;

A tale of two sides of Bangkok

There's an honest eight-year-old girl selling flowers in the streets with no hope for the future. Then there's a spoiled brat who will grow up to be a spoiled big brat who will determine the future of this country.

Now the story of Bangkok is a tale of two cities, contrast is an everyday condition and irony is a constant reminder of life here. Surrounded by the sights of excess and luxury at an intersection, there are also children dressed in rags, as young as five or six years old, making a living on the streets.

On a different occasion and at another intersection, I bought some garlands from another girl, which prompted this conversation with a young lady sitting on the passenger side. She expressed a sentiment that many people I know share.

Young lady: 'Why did you do that? All these kids are working for gangs. You're just wasting your money. She'll probably buy drugs with it.'

Me: 'How do you know?'

Young lady: 'Everyone knows.'

Me: 'Everyone thinks they know, but does anyone actually have proof of that? Look. Sure, a lot of them probably are put up to this by some gangs or even their own parents, but let me ask you this. When she gets older, what do you think will happen to that girl?'

Young lady: 'Probably become a criminal or a prostitute.'

Me: 'Not much of a prospect, is it? I think we both can agree that her future is bleak, can we?'

Young lady: 'Yes, we can.'

Me: 'I think we both can agree that no one is going to rescue her and thousands like her. Not you, not anyone else, and to be honest, not I. Is this correct?'

Young lady: 'It's not our job. Their parents should look after them.'

Me: 'Well, that's easy to say for those who are born fortunate and privileged. Did you see that smile on her face when I bought from her? Life is tough dodging zooming luxury cars to make a living, plus her future also is bleak. I don't know whether she'll give the 20 baht to her parents, a gang, buy drugs, buy food, buy medicine or buy a toy with it. But she seemed genuinely happy that someone bought from her and spent a few moments talking nicely to her, showing care, showing empathy. And now my car also has the sweet smell of garlands in it. All that for 20 baht _ is that so bad?'

Note: Extract. Full at http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/30771/a-tale-of-two-sides-of-bangkok