Do you give money to people on the street?

Julia said:

No. Only exception is "The Big Issue" sold by people with mental health problems. In organising the production of their magazine, they're taking the first steps to coping. And it takes some courage to get out on city streets to advertise that.

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I'm glad you mentioned this - it reminded me and so tonight I bought a copy off a lady selling it on the street close to 8pm at night.

I wonder how it works - do they get a share of what they make individually, or do they share in the overall profits? I wanna know just to see if it matters who I buy it from.

Tyler Durden said:

I'm glad you mentioned this - it reminded me and so tonight I bought a copy off a lady selling it on the street close to 8pm at night.

I wonder how it works - do they get a share of what they make individually, or do they share in the overall profits? I wanna know just to see if it matters who I buy it from.

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I don't know, Tyler. Maybe next time you buy one, ask the person selling it. I'm sure they'd welcome the opportunity to have the discussion.

prawn_86 said:

Slightly off topic but i have contacted 10 - 15 charities who needed volunteers offering to volunteer and only 3 got back to me. If charities are so desperate for help you think they would have better service

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Further to McLovin's comments about the usefulness of one-on-one contact, something you might like to consider, prawn, is either setting up or joining a youth mentoring program in one of your local high schools.
Here, either the school, in conjunction with whoever is running the mentoring program matches up a volunteer mentor with a kid who is struggling at school for whatever reason. Sometimes just a really difficult home life, inappropriate behaviour at school, all sorts of things. The mentor and the student get together during school hours on school grounds (to protect both parties). The results can be remarkable.

Another very rewarding volunteer activity that I've enjoyed is tutoring in adult literacy. It's astonishing how many adults have never learned to read and write. Their lives are much disadvantaged as a result. With support and encouragement they can do really well, and the person tutoring is imo much rewarded just by the progress and resulting satisfaction of the learner.

This may not at all be the kind of thing that appeals to you, but others might also perhaps consider making a contribution in this sort of opportunity.
A community is about as good as the contribution of its members in most cases.

I may be a bit of a dick.
But if we are importing Asian workers, because we can't find enough able bodied Australians.
Why are we talking about giving money to people on the street.
Shoudn't we be saying "go down to CES, apply for training and take a job that a 457 is taking"
Have I got something wrong here?

Further to this, I had a thought, not only are we selling the farm we are importing the people to work it.LOL

disarray said:

which brings me back to wanting to kick our pathetic welfare state recipient mentally capable beggars in the face.

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hehehe..love yr attitude..a request for $ can be a prelude to being rolled so it pays to be wary...whats the best form of defence?...attack!..best form of attack?..a surprise attack!:

To answer the question, I never offer, not since a very scruffy fat homeless man in the CBD disrespectfully knocked back the rest of my hot chips on a winter day

however, if approached, I sometimes pay coin on the basis that since I refuse to argue over less than $5 anyway, why do it with a potentially mentally ill street person

prawn_86 said:

... If charities are so desperate for help you think they would have better service

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If these charities had more helpers perhaps they could have better service!

One charity I have tried to contact has no-one on their phone.


And I won't talk to an answering machine. :frown:

Plenty of musos started as street buskers eg John Butler. So I'll often tip some money into the hat, especially when they're obviously just kids.

Was about to give some loose change to a beggar in Sydney.
He was sitting on the ground, with one leg bent up, his elbow on his knee and hand near his ear. I kept walking when I saw he was talking on his mobile.