Does anyone appreciate the experience of being poor or in desperate situation?

[orchipalar]

Err buddies...more often than not...whenever Orchi's been to certain public places like Suria KLCC...or just be sitting in a kopitiam or hawker stall...Orchi would often notice or come across the following...

1. Someone approaching to peddle VCDs/DVDs...
2. Someone approaching to peddle lottery tickets...
3. Someone approaching to peddle newspaper...
4. Someone approaching to peddle petty trades items...
5. Someone approaching to peddle sale items on charitable cause...
6. Someone approaching to ask for donations to charitable cause...
7. Someone approaching to beg for money...
8. Someone along the sidewalks or streets begging for money...
9. Someone along the sidewalks or streets performing for money...(what's the word to describe this type of showmenship?)
10. Someone approaching to seek certain emergency assistance...
11. hmmm...let's see what else...?

n many a times...Orchi would see that a certain person would NOT hesitate to throw a couple of coins or notes into the "showmen's" hats or collection box...But the same person would turn a blind eye to a handicapped person selling 'kachang puteh' or some confectionery or foodstuffs...or ornamental items...of small retail prices...

n many a times...Orchi would see also that a certain person(maybe busy?) would refused to even look at...or even listen to the individuals of category 1 to 8 for examples...

n then few times...Orchi would notice also that a certain person would seem to be attentive to those in the category 1 to 10 spending time to talk n see...but would eventually NOT considering to buy anything...or help out...

n then there have been cases...though quite rare...that a certain person would even sneer at those individuals or criticize the products...or scold them off loudly...!

Though Orchi could appreciate the facts that some of those individuals could be out to swindle for money...or bluff or cheat for money out of sympathetic persons...n take advantage of their sympathy n so on...has it occurred to many that...MOST of those individuals could be genuinely in need of assistance...support or sympathy from the general public...???

Take as an example...of the lottery tickets selling individuals...now think of what's it takes...n the purpose of him selling those lottery tickets to earn a small commissions out of the sale...as an only source of income...for himself or for his family as well...Can't the public just support the poor lottery tickets seller...by buying just 1 lottery ticket(RM3 each)...???

Can't the person buy 1 lottery ticket or buy RM2 worth of 'kachang putih' from a teenager?...instead of throwing RM1 note...or loose change to the next guy standing near to the lottery ticket peddler...playing a guitar n singing to the tune of 'It's a heartache...' or "...guess i wanna be a soldier of fortune..."

Besides...the person who supports by buying 1 lottery ticket...may even strike it rich...! Who knows?

Similarly to the newspaper peddlers...men women or childrens...CAN'T the public just support them by buying at the least 1 copy of the newsprint(RM1.20 each)...to read or even if you have read the same paper on that day?...

CAN't we just get 1 copy of the other newsprint...just to help out the poor peddlers who is very likely to be doing it to earn a little decent living...?

Or has Many Malaysians totally forgotten how it was like when we ourselves were being poor...or striving to find an odd job to survive...or when we were in desperate situations needing urgent assistance from friends or relatives...???

Or are there ONLY a few Malaysians ACTUALLY NOT been desperately short of RM100 to pay for utility bills or grocery bills...or medical bills...?

...or ONLY few that could be desperately needing a lesser RM50 to buy 2 cans of milkpowder or food for hungry toddlers waiting at home...?

...or ONLY few that had experienced being short of having the RM20...which might barely be enough to eat for 1 WEEK...?

...or Hey! Hasn't anyone been desperate enough NOT to have few bucks in the pocket to buy the next pack of ciggies...which may render him to pick up left over ciggies from the ashtrays... or discarded ones from the roadsides...??????

COME ON Guys n Gals! The next time when someone approaches you...CAN you or CAN you NOT consider to offer an eye contact...n listen to that person...whom may be poor...or desperate...???

[gnehkgnep]

My take on the below...

1. VCDs/DVDs... (I would rather buy it cheaper & better quality at places i normally frequent)
2. lottery tickets... (Yup....I do buy occasionally....but not at the insistence of the seller but when i feel like buying)
3. newspaper... (I can't read chinese....and i buy The Star only)
4. petty trades items... (depend on the items.....whether i need it)
5. sale items on charitable cause... (I have my sceptic....izit really for charity)
6. Someone approaching to ask for donations to charitable cause... (used to do so.....but again put off by the many bogus swindler)
7. beg for money... (I rather send the money to charity or donor organisation)
8. streets begging for money... (they should ask for state/community help)
9. Someone along the sidewalks or streets performing for money... (I never donate)
10. Someone approaching to seek certain emergency assistance... (depends......the trust must be there)

My 2 cents.....everyone need help....not just them.....life is never fair....who are we to complain.......just get on with life and struggle their butt out....and if lucky enuff......someone like Orchi comes along and we have a good Samaritans......if not life still goes on.......either better or worse.....

[kokomo]

gnehkgnep, what you've said is so true. Life still goes on for better or for worst.

Yes, there are many people from diff walks of life on the street either begging for money, singing on the street, draw your pics and etc ... some will donate, some will put in few bucks for those buskers and some will just walk away. Its own preference! I say, what they do now is still better than those who come around behind your back and snatch your handbags/rob you off your money from the moment you withdraw from ATM machines.

[Ullas Sahadevan]

Wow! This post really touched my heart. I agree some of these people can be con artists (especially the donation guys - they piss me off terribly). But, you can just follow your intuition about a person being genuine or not and just buy some stuff from them. Whatever Orchi said doesn't cross your mind on a busy day. I would want to keep whatever said in this post on my mind, next time I meet one of these fellas. The idea of being poor like them scares me!!

If you give it a thought, you treat your friends for coffee or snacks every once a while. What is stopping us from buying food for the needy on the street? Maybe we treat our friends because they add some value to our lives. Maybe they are educated, rich or just make a good conversation. At the end of the day we are all but selfish...

[kokomo]

I got to know from my aunt who lives in Puchong area, apparently there is this old couple, one leading and another is so called "blind" will go around from restaurants to restaurants or even coffee shops begging for people to give donations / get a packet of tissue from them.

The problem here is, they do this during the nite and only from Monday to Friday! And on weekend morning, they would dress up nicely, go to the market have good breakfast and all and the old "blind" man can walk on his own without the wife leading him. So you see? Of cos if we're not in those area often, we cannot assume or pre-assumed they are all like this. But if we know, don't tell me you'll still drop in a few bucks for them?

Not to say we're selfish all the way but we do have a selfish side of us. For this, I will not even give a sec look at it. I actually enjoyed buskers going around from table to table or just stand at a side there and start playing a few songs.

[alexhay]

hmm..let me see

1. Someone approaching to peddle VCDs/DVDs...(I do buy but not always)
2. Someone approaching to peddle lottery tickets...(One month once...try luck mar)
3. Someone approaching to peddle newspaper...(yup..i buy from the shop below my office)
4. Someone approaching to peddle petty trades items...(depands if i need it)
5. Someone approaching to peddle sale items on charitable cause...(how sure are we if they are genuine)
6. Someone approaching to ask for donations to charitable cause...(how sure are we if they are genuine)
7. Someone approaching to beg for money...(how sure are we if they are genuine)
8. Someone along the sidewalks or streets begging for money...(how sure are we if they are genuine)
9. Someone along the sidewalks or streets performing for money...(what's the word to describe this type of showmenship?) - these ppl are just want to earn a living. I will just give.
10. Someone approaching to seek certain emergency assistance...(I been through this and friend do help me and I really appreciate those who had helped me)

at times we have to face the problem and not to avoid it. by avoiding, it will get the matter worst and its hard for you to get out of the problem.

[Sentinel]

I am suremost Malaysians are still caring and welfare-minded and still throws in the few coins into the showmen's hats, Orchi. The problem now in society is that there are so many conmen and pretenders with people looking for the easy way out that a Malaysian have been 'cheated' and vowed never again.

I do not mind saying I was one of those who give regularly to these beggars and still do especially when I am around Lorong Selamat, New lane or those food courts and hawker centres in Penang - there seems to be more (of these beggars) there...and at times I wonder if I am being conned again and again.

There was a time I gave a beggar on a crutch who can hardly walk. But a few moments later, wifey and I saw him dashed across the main road, faster than I could do because the lights were turning red....

However, the only way I can keep on doing these little hand-outs is to reduce the amount to about 40-50 sen each time, it doesn't burn a hole in my pocketif its not a genuine case and if thats the case ie its not a genuine case, to keep the mindset that the money will somehow "come back" to me via other means since I gave sincerely and karma says it will repaid 10 times over

[in]

I normally follow my gut instinct, whether to donate or not.
FYI, not ALL of these people are con-artists. There's a blind guy that used to sell tissues at Giant Subang. (I don't know if he is still there.) He used to be a telephone operator at the Malaysian Tobacco Company (MTC) in Sungai Besi. He had a very very pleasant, courteous and deep voice and he always recognised a caller by his voice and would greet accordingly. I know because Loh-kong used to work at MTC, and I always called him at the office. (This was before handphones were common.) Anyway when the company merged and the HQ closed, he was without a job. One day while shopping at Giant, loh-kong recognised him and went to say hello. He says its tough going, as he does not have any other skills and has to resort to selling tissues. It was quite sad to hear his story.

[FineTuned]

I think the problem is that most of us have/know of relatives and associates who constantly sponge on us, citing their current run of `bad luck'. This leads us to be skeptical when it comes to helping out anybody who comes to us with a sob story.

While I cannot deny that there are some (extremely rare, in my experience) genuine cases of misfortune, most of the time I find that the so called bad luck is caused by the person's own greed (making high risk investments) and irresponsibility (refusing to save for a rainy day), or just plain laziness (don't want to do hard work to earn money). Giving such people handouts will only encourage them to continue their bad habits.

Frankly, there are so many opportunities to cari makan legally and honorably in Malaysia, if one is willing to swallow his/her pride and do some less glamorous job....

I think when we give (usually a small amount which is painless to our pocket) to strangers, we are actually making the situation worse.....because we create a society where conmen and lazy people can thrive, and this deprives those who are in real need of attention and help. If one has true charitable intentions, then put the money and time in organisations which are managed professionally and can make use of your donations more efficiently.

Don't give just to ease your erratic pangs of conscience.

[gnehkgnep]

My motto.....

Do not blame the condition you are in......
Blame yourself for not doing enough to change the condition you are currently stuck at.....

If u need help....try getting help at places/ppl offering help.....
If u need money.....try working harder
If u need friends.....try to be a better person

If u need sympathy....try looking at those in worse condition than u.....

What i need is
COURAGE to be brave when I am down
SUPPORT when I am weak and kinda lost
LUCK when I feel i am being cursed and having bad times
GUIDANCE to see an opportunity

[yvonnefoong]

Hi guys,

This is a good topic indeed. I feel there's no certain right or wrong to every opinion. To judge another person's decision to do things differently may be self-righteous. Then again, skeptics have a food for thought too. Anyway, I don't always donate to these people by the roadside because there are so many of them. I solute those who peddle items to earn a living instead of asking for outright donations. One example is the 2006 AYA awards winner, Sia Ling Ling.

Check out her story published in the NST. http://www.yvonnefoong.com/archives/...-own-two-legs/

In summary, Ling Ling has a genetic disorder that are caused her muscles to degenerate (something like that). She has trouble walking with legs that curve. Being bullied and unfairly treated by her own family members in a small town, she packed her bags and moved to the city to make a living for herself. In KL, she resorted to making souvenirs using wires and sold them twice a week at the night market. (these people some deem as beggars) She refused financial support from her sister working in KL. Eventually, her hardwork paid off. Today, Sia Ling Ling is a full-time employee of Beautiful Gate Foundation, a college scholar, and a loving wife. She's my classmate in Life College. She is here today because of her own determination, and mercy from the public. I'm so proud of her.

[kudat]

my home town is this small little place in the northern tip of Sabah...which I think, has been officially recognised as the poorest area in Malaysia.

Although poor by any standard, the people there share whatever they have with those who dont have.. When I was young, there was only one beggar in the whole town, and everyone knew that person. He was a beggar not by choice but due to some accident, he lost the use of both hands. Of course, he died many years ago..

Point I want to state is that the person who becomes a beggar, more often than not, maybe one due to circumstances beyond control. Being unwilling to improve one's lot, and resorting to begging is despicable.

[chsum]

Orc, may i add in to ur list,

11) Someone approach u with a puncture motorcycle asking for money to fix it.

For me,
never buy - if it's hotselling item n cheap n no problem, they do not need to peddle it.

never donate - even if it's genuine, the ppl who peddle it will take a cut from the donation, even for WWF, go n ask how much % they take.

Street performing - will give if music is good.

my dua sens

[bslee]

I have the exact same approach as gnehkgnep.
What irks me most is unsolicited sales people knocking on my gate selling all sorts or questionable donation hunters. In one year, I don't have enough fingers and toes to count them knocking in. Free world, free market, but its an irritating phenomenon to unsecure (where no paid security services exist at housing estates)where in reality door to door sales is widespread and absolutely NO CONTROL except THE FRONT GATE and ignorance to their call. The scratch & win is perhaps the most horrifying sales scam ever to hit residential homes. Goes to show these parties are very well aware of Malaysian gullibility and take every millimeter of advantage to scam.
We have to be well in the know and on our toes to be safe. Its part of life in this country and allow me to express there's insufficent enforcement to curb the scam menace.
Oh well..this is Malaysia..Bolehland again!.

[FineTuned]

Orc, may i add in to ur list,

11) Someone approach u with a puncture motorcycle asking for money to fix it.

......................

never donate - even if it's genuine, the ppl who peddle it will take a cut from the donation, even for WWF, go n ask how much % they take.

Street performing - will give if music is good.

my dua sens

Your item 11 can be classified under ts's item 10, I think.

This kind of emergency request is the most difficult to judge. I have been approached countless times by people needing some money for bus fare etc. because they have been stranded by others, blah blah. Sometimes I give and sometimes I don't....depending on how desperate they look. And if there are children tagging along, it's even more difficult to say no. I have this sinking feeling that in 90% of the cases, I have been conned.

As for donations, try to send your cheque directly to the organisation, not a third party collection agent. Better still, donate your time, not money.

Giving to street performers? this is not donation, but paying for entertainment IMHO. If don't feel entertained, don't pay lah.