Beggers and The Big Issue (Full Version)

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Alexeiuk -> Beggers and The Big Issue (10/4/2005 8:03:51 PM)

You should NEVER, NEVER buy a Big Issue from a vendor on the street.

- doing so makes the area attractive to more beggars
- doing so provides the means to allow a beggar to scavenge in the area, which could have a terrible effect on property prices in the area
- doing so puts money in the hands of people who can not use it as effectively as a homeless charity distributing aid to shelters.

I am sick and tired of seeing beggars in residential areas like Cambridge. What do you think about big issue sale's in your area?


Alexei Oxbridge :D



MsIncognito -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/4/2005 8:15:10 PM)

Questions:

1. What is a "Big Issue" ??
2. If they are selling something are they still begging? Last I checked beggars didn't exchange goods for money, they just asked for money.
3. How do you know that these 'beggars' aren't using their money effectively? Who gets to define 'effective' in this situation?

Just curious [:)]



happypervert -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/4/2005 8:24:20 PM)

They aren't beggars on the street -- they are potential marketing opportunities! Click this link for more info!



FangsNfeet -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/4/2005 8:47:24 PM)

So I'm driving down the residental street getting closer to the Free Way intersection. On the corner is a group of young Jr High kids along the curve trying to raise money for better foot ball uniforms. They where just there begging with buckets along with an adult. They had there signs for help and where wearing there Jersey's. I ofcourse didn't donate a damn thing the first day. But on the second day I handed them an envelope that had something better than money. Inside was a computer print out that I had typed up saying

Stop Being LAZY! Get your behinds on a parking lot and do a CAR WASH. You'll get MORE MONEY that way. Begging is for loosers and whimps. If you want uniforms you're going to have to earn them

Being that I"m white, the group just took my letter as a racial offense. Yeah like a really give a damn what color the kids are. The bottom line is that if and when money needed to be raised for Uniforms, Youth Trip, Fundraiser, etc..., we always had to work to earn the money instead of sitting there trying to get hand outs. I've sold candy, mowed yards, and washed plenty of cars to earn my tickets, uniforms, and camp fees.




stef -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/4/2005 9:47:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: FangsNfeet

Stop Being LAZY! Get your behinds on a parking lot and do a CAR WASH. You'll get MORE MONEY that way. Begging is for loosers and whimps. If you want uniforms you're going to have to earn them

I'm sure they were all broken up over your note. It must be absolutely devastating to be called "loosers" and "whimps" by an anonymous coward who can't spell. They'll likely require years of therapy.

quote:

Being that I"m white, the group just took my letter as a racial offense.

They did? Did you stick around while they read it? I doubt it. You probably left that corner faster than John Force so you could get away before they read the note and so you could revel in your misplaced smugness and perceived superiority.

quote:

Yeah like a really give a damn what color the kids are. The bottom line is that if and when money needed to be raised for Uniforms, Youth Trip, Fundraiser, etc..., we always had to work to earn the money instead of sitting there trying to get hand outs. I've sold candy, mowed yards, and washed plenty of cars to earn my tickets, uniforms, and camp fees.

How do you know they weren't also doing those things? The baseball/football/soccer teams did *all* of those things when I was a kid.

~stef



BlkTallFullfig -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/4/2005 10:18:58 PM)

quote:

I'm sure they were all broken up over your note. It must be absolutely devastating to be called "loosers" and "whimps" by an anonymous coward who can't spell. They'll likely require years of therapy.

quote:

Being that I"m white, the group just took my letter as a racial offense.
They did? Did you stick around while they read it? I doubt it. You probably left that corner faster than John Force so you could get away before they read the note and so you could revel in your misplaced smugness and perceived superiority.
[sm=lol.gif][sm=lol.gif][sm=lol.gif]Stef, you are bad! I hope someone is delivering proper punishment on a regular basis. [8D] M



darkinshadows -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 1:17:07 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Alexeiuk

You should NEVER, NEVER buy a Big Issue from a vendor on the street.

- doing so makes the area attractive to more beggars
- doing so provides the means to allow a beggar to scavenge in the area, which could have a terrible effect on property prices in the area
- doing so puts money in the hands of people who can not use it as effectively as a homeless charity distributing aid to shelters.

I am sick and tired of seeing beggars in residential areas like Cambridge. What do you think about big issue sale's in your area?


Alexei Oxbridge :D



OK being from the UK I can completely answer this 'big issue'

For those of you who do not know, the big issue was started by homeless people to aid homeless people. It is written, produced and sold by homeless or ex-homless people and is a chariety organisation. The money raised from its sales(which is £1.40 a week per issue) and advertising within the magazine goes into training for people who have no employment prospects, raises money for childcare groups , money for transport until people get on their feet and sheltered accomodation. It also raises money for programmes dealing with the mentally ill.

It is NOT sold by beggers. It is sold by bonifide people who are trying to get a foothold in a difficult world. All vendors carry ID - they have official ID cards provided to them by the people at the Big Issue. There will always be theft and people steling magazines but if your not sure, just ask to see the ID. Most sellers have the ID around their necks if you bothered to look.

My local Big Issue sellers name is steve. He sells the BI, plaits my daughters hair when he has time and enjoys rachmanihoff. His favourite colour is turquoise and he reads shakespere like a poet.

So, get your facts straight before you try to belittle an organisation that aims to help with the homelessness situation. Maybe you can't be bothered to fork out a small amount each week - but I would love to know what you do for the situation and others like it? You need to get your facts straight. Why not go visit the Big Issue main offices? They wouldbe happy to meet you and then you would get a real understanding.

Peace and Love



imtempting -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 3:26:39 AM)

I agree with your statements.



perfection20005 -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 5:06:45 AM)

I'm not from the UK, so I don't know anything about the Big Issue, but I do know what its like to be down and out on your luck. There have been several times I was almost homeless, and had two children who would have been the same way. Don't ever think that it that you are above being that way, and don't ever put someone down when you don't know their personal circumstances.



FangsNfeet -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 5:14:30 AM)

quote:

How do you know they weren't also doing those things? The baseball/football/soccer teams did *all* of those things when I was a kid.


The fact that they where there from 10am till sun down every Saturday and 430pm till 730pm M-F was a big hint they wern't doing much of anything else but begging for money. During the summer they where out there just about every day from July till school started.

As for the note, I was stopped at the red light with a few cars infront of me. Besides, I wanted to see the expressions on there face as the note went from boy to adult who asked me to step out of the car. So I didn't get out of the car. I was going somewheres and didn't have time for there BS.

Last summer as I was moving to the Dallas area, I had two kids come up to me saying they needed some back to school money. They had there own rake and lawn mower ready to work. As a kid I've been there myself so I game them $20 each along with two gallon jugs of Power Aide to rake and mow for a couple of hours to straighten up the place.

The bottom line is that I don't give money to beggers. But I do give the homeless beggers empty blown up Burger King Bags
Everyone else get's the same advice to start selling stuff and having car washes.



DesertRat -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 6:01:11 AM)

Thanks for the advice! I will change my life completely forthwith.

Just curious...is English your native language? I wouldn't want to be too critical if you're still figuring it out. If that's the case....good job!

Bob



BlkTallFullfig -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 6:12:11 AM)

quote:

So, get your facts straight before you try to belittle an organisation that aims to help with the homelessness situation. Maybe you can't be bothered to fork out a small amount each week - but I would love to know what you do for the situation and others like it?
Dear Angel, do you really think social conscience is high on the mind of a person with this type of a rant?
quote:

You should NEVER, NEVER buy a Big Issue from a vendor on the street.
- doing so makes the area attractive to more beggars
- doing so provides the means to allow a beggar to scavenge in the area, which could have a terrible effect on property prices in the area
- doing so puts money in the hands of people who can not use it as effectively as a homeless charity distributing aid to shelters.

I am sick and tired of seeing beggars in residential areas like Cambridge. What do you think about big issue sale's in your area?
Alexei Oxbridge :D

Alexei is one remarkable young fella who I hope never has to cross paths with misfortune/bad luck or his words might come back to bite him in the ass. M



BlkTallFullfig -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 6:21:03 AM)

I didn't reply to you at all, because I don't know you, and I don't care what you do with yourself and your stuff.
I do find Stef incredibly witty and her reply was funny. [:D] M



sub4hire -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 7:48:14 AM)

quote:

I'm sure they were all broken up over your note. It must be absolutely devastating to be called "loosers" and "whimps" by an anonymous coward who can't spell. They'll likely require years of therapy.


Take it easy on the child, all of us here know he is still growing up.

When I was growing up the club I ran had carwashes as well. We did a great many things in the community to raise money. Of course in the end most of it went to the senior communities, but we had fun.
It wasn't begging at all. It was working with the skills we had that day.

Begging is the man who parks his cadillac in the mall parking lot, puts on his dirty clothing and walks 2 blocks to the street corner near the mall. With a sign that says Homelss, will work for food.

According to the local news and such these people can take in 3 grand a day on a good day.



MsIncognito -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 4:04:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: dark~angel

For those of you who do not know, the big issue was started by homeless people to aid homeless people. It is written, produced and sold by homeless or ex-homless people and is a chariety organisation. The money raised from its sales(which is £1.40 a week per issue) and advertising within the magazine goes into training for people who have no employment prospects, raises money for childcare groups , money for transport until people get on their feet and sheltered accomodation. It also raises money for programmes dealing with the mentally ill.

It is NOT sold by beggers. It is sold by bonifide people who are trying to get a foothold in a difficult world. All vendors carry ID - they have official ID cards provided to them by the people at the Big Issue. There will always be theft and people steling magazines but if your not sure, just ask to see the ID. Most sellers have the ID around their necks if you bothered to look.


Thank you dark~angel. I appreciate the info. It sounds to me like this is a worthwhile organization. I'd support it.



Alexeiuk -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 4:55:41 PM)

I’m very happy to see that some people here have seen the funny side of my question - yes it was meant to be very selfish but it was also meant to be funny, lets face it if you cant laugh at other people who can you laugh at?



frenchpet -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 4:59:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alexeiuk
if you cant laugh at other people who can you laugh at?

Start with yourself.[:)]



stef -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 5:17:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sub4hire

Take it easy on the child, all of us here know he is still growing up.

Some children need to be spanked when they get out of line. His mommy and daddy clearly spared the rod.

~stef



Alexeiuk -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/5/2005 5:25:35 PM)

'rolls eyes turns around and bends over' :D



darkinshadows -> RE: Beggers and The Big Issue (10/6/2005 2:20:53 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Alexeiuk

I’m very happy to see that some people here have seen the funny side of my question - yes it was meant to be very selfish but it was also meant to be funny, lets face it if you cant laugh at other people who can you laugh at?



Well, you are neither stephen fry or bremener,bird or fortune - so maybe it might be a suggestion to sack the person who gave you such materiel?

Whilst it is true that comedy makes the best from suffering, there is impressive humour and plain bad taste. Making humour from bad situations is an art. And you are no artist. (Now THATS impressive humour[;)])

Did I flame?[8|] oh my...

Peace and Love



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