Beggars can’t be choosers
Marieke | May 3, 2007The influx of beggars and homeless people on the streets of Dublin has, I’m sure, not gone unnoticed by anyone. And they come in all shapes and sizes: wearing the latest Nike shoes or just an old sleeping bag, sleeping, mumbling or flat out hassling. Anything goes today.
On my most recent visit to the ATM, I was approached by its new squatter. Nothing strange there you’d say. True, but this gentleman was actually ON THE PHONE while trying to convince me to part with my change.
to his friend: hold on a sec
to me: can ya help us out loooove?
me (being quite flabbergasted I must admit): ehh I don’t think so pal
to himself: feckin foreigners
FYI: I’m pretty sure his phone was a lot more expensive than mine is….
A month ago I got panhandled at the Jervis Luas stop by a girl who then got on the Luas, then went all the way to Tallaght, same as me, except talking on her mobile the whole time. What the hell?
Fine Dub accent on ya there Marieke
Seriously though some people just take the piss which is a shame because there are genuine less fortunates out there who do need help.
Yes definitely, but fortunately you can usually spot the fake homeless (what kind of world is this turning in to anyway?!) by too new clothes etc. Apparently it’s a very lucrative business…
But it does make you not want to help out the people who actually need it.
There certainly are a lot of people begging in city centre and some are dressed as well as I am. What bothers me the most is bringing the children. Children are being brought up to beg when they should be in school. I “hope” that the people begging with their children in their arms are homeless simply because it is heart breaking to see children begging. I know some people are in desparate situations but it is so hard to see the children on the streets. The cynical side of me says that the people who bring their children with them are trying to play on our sympathies.
the most alarming panhandling i’ve ever encountered was in vancouver, canada, one spring. one particular street of downtown seemed to be filled with middle-class and rich college students who were all on a drug-induced bender. they were clearly healthy people, with great teeth and nice clothes, but they were stoned out of their minds. it was annoying to be approached constantly but i didn’t get alarmed until one young woman, whose eyes clearly were not focusing, stepped about two inches away from my face and shrieked, “but i’m HUNGRY, lady!” like, dammit, i should therefore feed her….
truly homeless, down and out, in need of coin? i’ll help you. rich spoiled person flirting with adventure/drugs? forgetaboutit.
and if you have a cell phone, man, you can REALLY forget about it.
Watch your back when youre at the atm machine. The Roma were targeting them about the midlands this week. I also encountered quite a few of them begging in Galway city centre when I went into it yesterday.
I remember as a child in Dublin 45 years ago watching the child beggers sitting on O’Connell St bridge, sometimes playing tin whistles. The parents would be drinking in a pub on Eden Quay, only leaving to empty the money from the child’s box. These were members of the travelling community. Nothing appears to have changed in all this time
[...] first was the number of beggars around the streets. You couldn’t go twenty metres without seeing another one. Do they not [...]
Let me tell you something that scaried me a little. I´m brazilian and i´m living in Dublin for around 5 months. In my country (that is considered a poor one) there arent as many beggars as I see here in Ireland.
I know, it´s strange, but true.
The situation has only gotten worse and worse in dublin.
I have no idea how many roma people have been allowed to move here. It’s alarming how many are around the city centre. How are they allowed into the country just to burden it.
Furthermore I get consistently pestered by irish beggars. On one saturday i got asked no less than 3 times by irish beggars, who will stop you on the street and ask you for something ridiculous like 47 cent.
The thing that annoys me most is these people want a hand out not a hand up, it’s frustrating when you work hard all week only to get pestered by beggars on your weekend.
It’s an appalling situation and I now steer clear of the city centre and spend my money elsewhere.
Dublin City council really has alot to answer for.