Of course it is a difficult dilemma for everyone, beggars in the streets of Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand and then you ask yourself: to give money or not?
Especially if they are small children, then your heart speaks. But at the same time, you also know that by giving money you will only make the situation worse. After all, many beggars, young and old, are alone on the street because people give money. If no one gave anything, the begging would soon be over.
In addition, begging in Thailand is a lucrative business. Recently I read an article in which someone claimed that some beggars quickly 'earn' 1200 baht an hour. That is even 9600 baht on a normal working day. And even if it were only half, it's still a good day's wages. In any case, much more than the 200-300 baht a day that most factory workers get.
Anyone who knows Thailand a bit knows that beggars are often part of organized gangs. Sometimes they are even brought and picked up with a van.
Some of us solve this problem by giving a beggar something to eat. Giving anything other than that is virtually impossible, because goods such as clothing are immediately sold again for money.
But we can agree on one thing: children should be in school desks during the day. Children should certainly not beg on the street. There is a good chance that these children in particular will end up in a downward spiral of drugs, sexual abuse and crime. In any case, the lack of education creates an uncertain future.
Give money or not? I say no, don't! I believe that giving money is wrong, no matter how harsh it may seem. But maybe you don't agree. Share your opinion and experiences regarding this difficult dilemma.
Respond to the statement of the week: Giving money to begging children in Thailand is wrong.
I can only agree completely. Children belong in school and it is best to help beggars anywhere in the world with food and drink. Money (which indeed also seems to generate a nice income, the same story is doing the rounds about beggars in the Netherlands who collect hundreds of euros a day) is not a wise idea: the derailed souls use it to do their drinking/drugs/gambling addiction, then you still have the type of “earning easy money” etc. And for the people who are actually in trouble such as neglect, the real solution is shelter and guidance by (volunteer) organizations to help them on their way to a stable and new life.
Completely agree Peter, but you know as well as I do that those children are abused by the elderly for this kind of practice and if their yield is not high enough, there will be punishment, at least no food, but also abuse.
It is even so bad that children are taken (bought) from Laos or Burma and that they are deliberately mutilated and then put to begging.
When I see such a child in Bangkok, my heart turns twice, once for pity for the child and once for disgust for the people who abuse children in this way.
You can get the real begging children (so not forced) out of it, I don't give money, I give something to eat if the child is not in front of a gang and is really hungry, they will take the food and eat it, the child will sit but for a gang it will take every possible effort to extract money.
By the way, that joke has already caused me a big riot once, I gave something to eat and a man came who demanded money in a high tone instead of food.
And indeed when those children get too old to beg and old enough for prostitution, they end up there and then have a totally wasted (just misery and abuse, not a bit of happiness, to which everyone is entitled) life behind them and unfortunately no education system that can change that, then the legislation and morality will really have to be overhauled, strict enforcement, consistently picking children off the street and placing them in protected shelter and not letting them go until they are adults and independent, I know; you are actually imprisoning the victim.
Yours faithfully,
Lex K.
I really can't add anything more to this except that I completely agree!
It's not always easy, but by not giving anything you show that you know that more than half earn way too much money with it. When I think about it, this is actually also corruption and they are just not demonstrating against it..... I know, it is something different from politicians being corrupt, but in principle it comes down to the same thing right 😉
Sometimes I don't feel good about it either, but I don't care. In Thailand, India, Indonesia, we whites are immediately targeted by these beggars. Not only that there may be criminal gangs behind it, but I am also not a lender for everyone. When someone is making music in the street, or recently in Hua Hin, a young girl sat at an organ and collected money for her education (if that is also true), I will give something. But keep the hand open and expect you to get something.. Nope.
A colleague of mine gave an apple to a begging woman in Frankfurt. She immediately got it thrown at her head. She said she hasn't given anyone anything since.
I'd rather give something to an old man. Someone who is at the end of his life and has nothing left. But even then…
Here in Thailand, in general, there are too many people who want to get something, even though they don't do anything for it. Just because you're related, or just because you're a "rich" farang.
Although I no longer want to live there, I found Brazil a lot more pleasant in that respect. Beggars did not necessarily come to me. They also asked their compatriots. And they weren't pushy.
Something different from India, where someone with half stumps of his arms once followed me to get money.
Someone once told me that he had never had a fight or a fight. But once in India he was so harassed by a beggar that he started kicking the guy after the man bit him on the leg.
Fortunately, I have not had to experience this in Thailand.
Yes, completely agree, how pathetic it may seem sometimes, my wife has always urged me not to give anything, it is better if you give something to eat or if you have a bottle of water to give.
Then you have the many tourist places where those "sweet, snobby" children pass by to sell flowers or other where and usually way past their bedtime. Do not cooperate with this either because this looks a bit like child labor which is generally well organized (mafia???).
Nothing to add! I wholeheartedly agree with this statement of the week.
Many years ago, His Majesty pointed this out in his birthday speech.
He also has nothing to give or buy flowers or anything from small children, because then you keep the system going.
If everyone stopped giving or buying, the phenomenon would cease to exist.
Unfortunately, there are still people who give or buy and it is still lucrative. Tourist and Thai, we continue to find it pathetic and that is why we give. It may make us feel good, but of course we keep it this way.
Completely agree with the statement "Giving money to begging children is wrong".
Children have to go to school, play outside or go to bed and not sit next to a cup on the street until late at night. Therefore, never give to this kind of begging. Not even to the parents, who are usually begging a few meters away, or trying to arouse pity for babies or toddlers in their arms.
I must confess that I often deposited my small money in these children's cups.
But now that I've read this I'll think twice before I give something again. It is a pity that these people are not helped by the government. Nowadays you have a TV program for everything. (Addicted, Twice on its side, Stay of Execution) I've never seen anything like it on TV in Thailand. Maybe something for John de Mol. Who I will always give some money to is the famous man with no legs on Sukhumvit Road near Nana Station. Or did he mutilate himself on purpose? I don't think so.
In the state of Santa Catharina Brazil I have seen the local government hang banners across the street saying not to give begging children anything, can't remember if there was a penalty or not? Would the government do that in Thailand?
I find it a difficult subject, when I see those children sitting there, my heart bleeds, and I feel guilty, and I want to buy that off and give money anyway. Maybe I'm not doing it right, but those bad people behind this are just playing on human feelings, taking advantage of the weakest in our society. I wish everyone wisdom.
Dear Geert, your feelings are completely understandable, but especially when you realize that the weakest are abused, and bad people play on human feelings, especially when you realize that you can buy off your own guilt, while the question is what you will achieve with it: then you let common sense prevail. After all, it's about them!
I care, whether it's good or not. You never know the background whether it's forced or not. If you really want to call a halt to it. Find out if there are any street workers who are familiar with the target group and know what it's like, and if you still want to take off your pink glasses and can make the effort to turn the tide. Be humane active .. there are plenty of initiatives that could use a helping hand ... .. right?!
Dear Madelon. It is good to know what options we (all) have to do something about it. Thank you for that and I agree with you.
It's nice for me to know that I can set the boundary where I have to take off those roza glasses myself. great martin.
Your reasoning is quite flawed. Of course you don't know the background, but that doesn't change the fact that giving money is wrong because you keep it going. Children should not beg but go to school. A street worker will confirm that.
And if you want to help so much, don't give money (quite easy) but go volunteer yourself.
If you give when you don't know if it's good, you're not doing it right. Then, for whatever reason, it is meant for you. And it's about the well-being of those children, not about your good feeling.
You probably didn't give anything right. I can't give anything from Pon she shares your opinion
The photo is great and shows the dilemma you find yourself in. What a baby
Just like geert, my heart bleeds. I would prefer to put her in my pocket and give her the most beautiful thing in the world.
Dear Madelon,
What exactly are you trying to say? what does this have to do with the color of your glasses?
This is a very unpleasant phenomenon that affects the whole of Asia, not just Thailand, and this is not a society as we know it in Europe, where do you want to inquire about “street workers”? does not work here and how do you want to turn the tide, come up with something concrete please.
There are indeed plenty of initiatives that could use a helping hand, but there are so many people, stray dogs, endangered species and so on, who could use support and how do you, as a Westerner in an Asian, completely unknown society/ environment which initiative is worth your helping hand.
Yours faithfully,
Lex K.
With all due respect. It appears from a typical European reasoning.
Anything negative is an unpleasant phenomenon.
The name of the Beast doesn't matter that much. But they are there.
And who says that I am a European, and approached it that way?
Dear Madelon
Can you please explain to me what a "typically European arrangement" is, please?
And how it differs so markedly from the “North and South American, African, Asian and Oceania reasoning” respectively?
I will really be very curious about your answers, so thank you in advance!
Kito
Dear Madelon, please also try to indicate why you think it is good to give? How do you see what advantage these children have or what perspective do you offer them by spending money on them? I am very curious about your answer.
Totally agree with the statement. Example: woman of approx. 60 years old with a 1-month-old baby on her arm. In the background, the client in brown striped custom costume and twisting on his finger with heavy gold ring, the keys of a Mercedes Benz 500SL. It was parked on the side street. From behind a beer on the terrace opposite I could clearly see that deception. This is how you get bottled everywhere in this world by this kind of people. Close your eyes and walk past. great martin
Quite right.
I'm not going to go into what I've already seen.
Otherwise it would be a long story.
Tourist don't fall for it, that's a sincere recommendation.
First of all, let me say that in my living environment (which is NOT the center of Bangkok) I see very few begging children, but many more disabled adults who beg to a greater or lesser extent. For the sake of convenience I also consider the blind singers as beggars.
If I have to decide to give a beggar (child or adult) money (my coin money is either a 5-Baht coin or a few loose Bahts) I can make TWO types of MISTAKES:
1. I give some change but the beggar is an impostor, is a professional beggar who may or may not be exploited by another;
2. I don't give anything but the beggar is not a cheater but really someone who has no social network in this country on which he/she can fall back. (Social assistance, etc., does not exist here, for food and free shelter, people have to rely on the temples).
In most cases (when I'm in a good mood) I give some. I accept the first kind of error. I do the same with begging children (in the company of an adult). Of course children should go to school, but there are many who have to work after primary school because parents have no money for secondary school. Disabled people also do not belong on the street, but should do adapted work. And I don't mean sing.
Good or not ???
I let my heart speak!
Of course it will depend on what everyone's heart and wallet has to say.
Sorry if you don't approve this.
Greetings.
Didit.
And yet it was better to let your mind speak than your money bag. Letting your heart speak, so being emotionally unable to handle what you see, is no more than a denial of your own impotence. Your impotence, their constant unhappiness. And this is the last I will say about it: after all, if it is not clear yet???
It's good to look into your own heart.
Just before going to sleep.
Or I from dawn to evening,
no deer have hurt.
If I didn't make my eyes cry
No melancholy on a being lei.Or I to loveless people.
said a word of love.
n find in the house my deer.
that I have sorrow.
That I wound in my arms.
around a head that was lonely.
Then I feel on my old lips.
that goodness is like an evening kiss.
It's good to look into your own heart.
and thus to close one's eyes.
ALICE NAHON 1943