A very disturbing habit that we see around very often. Kids and women begging you for money or to buy something from them! I get annoyed whenever I come across beggers and it really breaks my heart when they're kids!

How do you respond to beggers when they come to you asking for help; money, buy something, food, etc?

Usually, I'd give a kid something.. but if he looks fine to me and pretty much healthy and neat, and bugs the hell out of me (touching my car or following me), I wouldn't. I'd reach the closest security guard so they can take care of him/her.

The elder ones; I ignore. BIG TIME! I try to not even look at them, some are really scary! I just don't feel comfortable around them :os

Saw begging when I was leaving a restaurant last week. There are plenty of non-profit organizations which can assist people when they are hard up. These places help with shelter, food, and clothing...can even teach them a life skill so that they can become contributing members to society instead of a drain.

The one's in Sarooj piss me off big time, specially the eldest brother, he touches my car and marks the windows with his fingers, I'm not gonna buy their luban every time I go to Mc Donalds! I usually give the older people, and the little boys if they looked untidy.

I've never seen beggars in the streets here.. but a few weeks ago I saw a destitute man walking by.. it depressed me all day. I wanted to buy the man lunch or something.. but I was a little scared to go near him. He didn't look quite all there. Was filthy, hadn't shaven in months.. it was a site I have never seen..

The trick with beggars is to buy them a meal instead of give them money. Some people will sell you a story just to get money off you.

I get annoyed 2. but i usually give them, because i feel sad when i see them.

I can't stand not giving something to a person in need, whether he looks the part or not. It doesn't really matter if he/she is just trying to scam me for some money, it's not like I'm pouring out my life savings to them, and it sickens me when people say that if a beggar was truly in need he would go to some magical shelter which would be able to solve all his problems, It seems to me these people are just trying to convince themselves that they have some sort of a soul.

I don't like giving money to people who beg. I always feel like they'll misuse it.

If I'm going to donate anything, I'd do it through a proper charity or I'd give it to someone who's collecting on behalf of a specific cause. Also, I would donate old clothes.

If I'm being harrassed by a beggar then I'd definitely report them. Those kids near McDonalds piss me off. This one time they surrounded my car and I told them I was gonna move the car, so they'd better stand back. They all stepped back except this one boy and when I moved forward, he pretended that I ran over his foot. Since then, I don't even roll down my window or acknowledge them. I pretend I can't see them, though it bugs me that they get their fingerprints all over my window.

i usually give them what ever i have :)

because i always have 100 to 500 biza so there is not point of keeping it for my self , i give them a big fake smile :D

done.

the only places i saw beggars were in large cities like london, in rome, in sicily, reggio in south italy...in malta you don't get beggars, thank god.
i think a lot of people who are beggars are in a sad psychological situation. stuck in a rut, probably homeless and can't get a job.
once me and my bro (some 17 yrs ago lol) went to london to see a few gigs. one late night after a gig, we went to an all night shop and stocked up on chocolates, fizzy drinks, juices, sweets, biscuits etc...
on the way to the hotel we saw this beggar sleeping on a cardboard box. we looked at each other and without words we said to each other (you know...a look that said a million words) 'we don't need this crap in the bag'..so we left it beside that man.
another time in reggio, there were lots of gypsy children begging for money. i had a packet of shortbread biscuits in my rucksack, and gave it to the girl who was begging. five minutes later i saw the unopened packet of biscuits lying in a bin.....

a question....are these people who beg in oman, omanis or foreigners?

Omanis.


..

Omanis.


..
so is it a case of a wide gap in society? are these people just lazy to go get a job (i mean...a woman who begs..why can't she go be a housemaid? rather than get herself and her children to humble themselves for money) or are they in a catch 22 situation?

I once saw a beggar and very nearly dropped my monacle in disgust.

so is it a case of a wide gap in society? are these people just lazy to go get a job (i mean...a woman who begs..why can't she go be a housemaid? rather than get herself and her children to humble themselves for money) or are they in a catch 22 situation?
I think there's a gap. There are wealthy people around who live in big houses and have maids and a gazillion cars, and then you have poor ones who are jobless and don't even own their own homes..

I think there's a gap. There are wealthy people around who live in big houses and have maids and a gazillion cars, and then you have poor ones who are jobless and don't even own their own homes..
i think it's sad that while ''you'' (in general) get housemaids from abroad, such people prefer to beg rather than get a housemaid job. i mean, if the food and accomodation is thrown in with the job....i'd rather do that than begging. plus i'd have a safe environment to live in with a good family who'd care for me and appreciate my work rather then going out in the streets to beg for money.

^ I don't think Omani families would want Omani houseworkers as they would know intimate details about the family..

^ I don't think Omani families would want Omani houseworkers as they would know intimate details about the family..
yes but if you have a housemaid that would live with you for ten years...she'd have intgrated herself well with the community and would know the family details anyway. there are downsides and plus sides, the language and culture is one of them. a housemaid from the same country would understand the rituals and celebrations more, and speak to the children in their mother tongue. she would know where the shops are and how the services work more than a foreigner.

I give them that look & they get nothing for me. I believe in most of the cases, these people are not in need.

I can't say no to little kids...they break my heart lol I always end up giving them what they want. The older ones though I lie to them..I tell them I don't have any money or sometimes I don't bother I just ignore them.

Once I opened our garage gate and got inside...the gate takes time till it shuts itself I didn't notice a woman entering .. she came to me and almost gave me a heart attack I swear to God...she was knocking on my window asking for money I was like "what the hell do you think you're doing?! How can you get into peoples houses like that" Then she left.

Wow! Im a little disturbed by some of these posts. It must be nice to have no empathy, no heart and to be blind. Life must be so pleasant when you dont see or hear pain and destitution. Is there a pill I can take to become nearsighted and self righteous?

There are hundreds of extremely poor Omanis and expats here in Oman. And by poor I mean starving, homeless and desperate. I particularly like the "I only give to dirty beggars" statement. So if a poor person has a little self respect and his mama has managed to rinse him off then he cant be poor? What planet are you living on? Or if hes trying his best to not beg by actually selling some bukhoor or luban then you want nothing to do with them? Hey, at least the kid is showing some enterpreneural spirit here, hes not begging hes selling goods - just like Lulu and Car4.
Are they lazy? Youve got to be kiddin me! there is substantial unemployment here in Oman, rents have soared, the price of basic foodstuffs have in some cases almost doubled and your average Omani is earning about 200-400rial a month (if hes lucky) Why dont the women go to work? Mmmm let me see - if she goes to work as a housemaid as some of you suggested she'll earn about 50-80rial a month. Whose going to take care of her kids? Daycare? On 80rial a month????
Sure there are some ppl who are takin advantage and beggin cos its easy but the question is how do you know which is for real and which are really in need?

If youre in doubt, jump in your landcruiser and get your driver to take you out of Qurum( obviously you live here) and take a lil drive to Seeb, Mabella, Sheradi or even better, go into the interior for the day where you too can get to see kids get excited over an apple!! (But dont get out the car, heaven forbid some poor person should touch you or 20 000rial car! Yugh! Youre just too good for that right?

So while you munch on your big Mac remember that there are kids out there who probably only had a peice of bread for breakfast, a bit of laban and rice for lunch and water for dinner. Enjoy your burger!

i think it's sad that while ''you'' (in general) get housemaids from abroad, such people prefer to beg rather than get a housemaid job. i mean, if the food and accomodation is thrown in with the job....i'd rather do that than begging. plus i'd have a safe environment to live in with a good family who'd care for me and appreciate my work rather then going out in the streets to beg for money.
It's not just about Omani families' reluctance to employ Omani housemaids. Many poor people would rather beg, or maybe even starve to death, than serve at a fellow Omani's home. It's a cultural thing.

Most of them scare me. I don't like the desperate ones, who keep tailing you until you give them something, and even when you give them, they demand more. I understand that some of them live in miserable conditions, but I'd rather donate through a reputable charity. Many of those children are made to beg by their alcoholic fathers, who use the money to drink all day and night, and thus be in no condition to work next day.

Hijabi makes very good sense, well done :). I wish I had the same compassion as you do.

On a related post, has anyone witnesses a beggar who comes to your houses, rings your bell, you give her a couple of rials, only to have a nice car waiting for her at the corner of the street to whisk her away? Yeah, I've been conned big time. But what to do? You don't know who is real and who isn't, so it is safer to give all. About the boys who beg around malls, it's heart breaking not to give them anything but sometimes you've to when they get too pushy and aggressive. But I prefer giving them money without buying anything, since I don't use whatever they sell or buying them a meal if they're as hungry as they claim.

On a related post, has anyone witnesses a beggar who comes to your houses, rings your bell, you give her a couple of rials, only to have a nice car waiting for her at the corner of the street to whisk her away? Yeah, I've been conned big time. But what to do? You don't know who is real and who isn't, .


yup, happened with us, with my mom...

and that lady, came again, and had a v v v long lecture...




i usually dont give beggers, bcuz i'v witnessed many, use that money, to buy alcohol, glue, cigarettes, etc...

but sometimes, i see some, who i TRUELY believe are in need, and give them...

If you have the time and really want to help but dont wanna get conned, dont give cash. Ask what they need.... food? lets go to Lulu's, clothes? take em to the mall, pay the rent? give me the landlords details and I'll deposit the money for you. Get the idea? i too have been conned - repeatedly:angry: but how can I say no and take the risk that that person may really be in need? Perhaps my lil rial will make a difference maybe it wont, but at least I tried. Perhaps my lil pathetic kindness will stop that father from drinking, perhaps it will enable that loose woman to stop her "activities" perhaps it'll give that lil boy a chance to concentrate on his school work so that he can improve his life and build a future. Its a little tricky trying to concentrate when you have hunger pangs! Poverty leads to desperation and desperation leads to crime. Its a fact.

To the rude beggars who say it isnt enough, give me more - tell em to give it back, Im sure there are more needy ppl out there. :(

Why is it that we assume that needy people should be grateful with less? The whole idea of "Hey I gave them some beans and my old shoes, why arent they grateful?" says a lot about as humans. They are not lesser beings and eventhough Im sure the truly needy would appreciate even that, shouldnt we feel ashamed?

"there but for the grace of God go I" try to remember it the next time you look down on someone.:)

I never give them.

I never give them.

How sad for you! :no:

How sad for you! :no:

No its not :)
Begging in public is just illegal.

No its not :)
Begging in public is just illegal.

Mmmmm but then again so are a lot of other things but that doesnt seem to stop anyone. Like.... ummm dating, premarital "relations", not wearing your seatbelt, speeding to name but a few.:p Shall I go on?:yuk:

Mmmmm but then again so are a lot of other things but that doesnt seem to stop anyone. Like.... ummm dating, premarital "relations", not wearing your seatbelt, speeding to name but a few.:p Shall I go on?:yuk:

Go on... fill the bucket list, shall i say :p

I've done non of what you listed so far.. :angel:
apart of speeding; which i do regret doing it on some occasions. :D

Note: dating is classified as an illegal thing by law.

Go on... fill the bucket list, shall i say :p

I've done non of what you listed so far.. :angel:
apart of speeding; which i do regret doing it on some occasions. :D

Note: dating is classified as an illegal thing by law.

dating is or isnt illegal?

^ didn't know it was illegalised!!

I find it hard ignoring them, regardless of the age. I usually just give them a couple of rials and they leave. Never got into a major issue with beggars

Depends on my mood really
but most of the time I say "sorry I only have my credit card on me" lol!
and if it's a homeless who's sitting on the floor and waiting, i'll most probably give him something.. not the beggars!

I don't like to give when I'm asked.

Give them anything...
And if you have nothing, give them kind words.
And if you don't have that, give them a smile.

It doesn't matter if they give it back. It'll have some effect, though subtle.

if i saw men and women i really get upset coz god gave them the health and everything so they can work to get money

but when i see kids no matter what i cant handle myself sometimes i tear up :os
when its about kids i cant really control myself i imagine myself in their place or imagine how their parents will treat them if they didnt bring money :/

anyway we dont have much here :os i saw PLENTY in Jordan and some were acting like they are from the gulf and they came from health care and they dont have enough money anymore!! they are good at acting so go to hell and act! and dont beg!

Give them anything...
And if you have nothing, give them kind words.
And if you don't have that, give them a smile.

It doesn't matter if they give it back. It'll have some effect, though subtle.


yeah i dont like it when some ppl shout at them .. no matter what they are humans ...

so ya a good word can do a nice effect on them :)

are there any charities that take care of homeless people? do you think there are mafia style run begging on an organised scale?

^^ well

we dont have mafia


but i know some parents, force thier kids to begg for money...

^^ well the problem is that the government gives those families who really really needs money a salary each month plus a small house


well we dont have those kinda mafias but i think its coming -_- kids watch lot of movies and act like others just to feel that they belong to something but its wrong.

well in some countries the mafia organise children to beg for them.....same as what parents who force their kids.
(btw....if you go to a mafioso town..they'll say 'non so niente' (i know nothing) and 'there is no mafia here' re the mafia. :hyper:

^^ well the problem is that the government gives those families who really really needs money a salary each month plus a small house


well we dont have those kinda mafias but i think its coming -_- kids watch lot of movies and act like others just to feel that they belong to something but its wrong.

Youre right, the govt does provide them with some money and in some instances even a lil house. But when was the last time you tried living on 100rial a month? Oh yeah and feeding/ clothing a coupla kids on that too.

ooops hit the wrong button

Forgot to mention that you'll also need to take a taxi to go and collect that money from the ministry and as most Omani families are pretty large its more than just a "couple" of kids and dont forget about grandma who probably lives with them too.

Anytime you want to see the real world and are ready to leave your little bubbles, drop me a line and I'll take you on a lil tour to reality

My friend get's amused giving them but not before they loudly say "may god bless you with a good husband"... sometimes she asks them to bring their friends along

anyway i enjoy talking to them while waiting for the line but my friend says i annoy them :os ..some how they just dont come near my car anymore :mmhmm:

i usually give the little kids since they break my heart, but i get seriously pissed off when a young man comes begging! they look healthy enough to do some labor, i have no sympathy for those, it's kinda disgusting actually.

once there was a man and his wife, Pakistanis i guess, roaming around in their car in a parking lot, and when we stepped out of our car, they asked if we can come for a minute ( to their car!) lol, apparently the sun was too hot for them to be begging outside their car. :D

there are ladies who come to houses begging for 200 baisas while wearing gold, expensive looking clothes, etc.. i really can't figure those out.

but some really look the part, and they often settle for a good meal. those are the ones i consider real beggars.

i'd much rather donate to charities.

this speaks of what most of us are trying to say i guess.
sorry, it's in Arabic.

Beggars

there are ladies who come to houses begging for a 200 baisa while wearing gold, expensive looking clothes, etc.. i really can't figure those out.
Yeah & holding the latest mobile phones, it makes us really wonder! The thing is if you give them something else rather than money, they will just throw it in the nearest garbage bin, it happened to us.

Youre right, the govt does provide them with some money and in some instances even a lil house. But when was the last time you tried living on 100rial a month? Oh yeah and feeding/ clothing a coupla kids on that too.

but that doesn't give them the right to have the ability to walk around houses and streets to beg for money while they can walk around to look for a job!

god gave us options and we just should choose the right one!

but that doesn't give them the right to have the ability to walk around houses and streets to beg for money while they can walk around to look for a job!

god gave us options and we just should choose the right one!

The ppl you are referring to here are mostly not Omanis. Theyre Palestinian, Pakistani, egyptian etc. Im talking about Omanis who are in need. I like your comment about if theyre fit enough to walk around the streets then why cant they walk around and get a job... geez wonder why they didnt think of that, could it be (as I said earlier) that there is a hidden problem here with unemployment? Unless youre super smart or lucky to have wealthy parents then the large mahority of young Omani cannot afford tertiary eduction. No education means no qualifications. And that means.......uhhhh let me think... yup no job! The govt is doing a great job in subsidising tertiary education for their ppl esp young women and programs like SANAD etc are doing a superb job of giving young Omanis a leg up and a chance to start their own businesses. But they cant cover everyone.

What I find so sad is the lack of empathy shown here by these posts. While youre all sitting in your lil villas in Qurum and MQ, attending yr expensive pvt schools and chompin on Big Macs have you ever wondered why companys like Bahwan are providing 200bz per child everyday to buy school lunch? Could it be that they recognise that a lot of Omani children are going to school hungry? Or did you think it was just for fun? Im not asking that u dole out your cash, just that you show a little empathy and take off your blinkers!

one Omani man came to me when I was getting into the car. I was dressed properly and was looking pretty rich (driving da Bimmer!). First let me describe the man, he was ofcourse shorter than me, with a nice beard style (meaning he had the beard nicely adjusted at a barber), he was clean dressed, could smell oud from him, and he was healthy too.

he came to me and gave me salam, i thought he would want a lift to someplace or somthin n he goes like,
"can you help me plz?"
for what?
I need money, give me money
y should I give you any money?
because I don't work
so go and work!
(looks down for 3 secs and again) no u help me
u tell me, how did i get my money to give u?
u work
so u also go n work!
i can't
forgive me to speak to u like this because ur much elder than me, Allah has given u good arms, legs, u r healthy and u look clean, go and use all these attributes and work, don't beg, its a sin!
r u gona give me money or no
Never, go earn it, wanna wash my car for it?
(he just walks away)

so this was actually so embarrassing for him, but he should've learned a lesson, I was really surprised to see an Omani healthy clean guy begging!! must've been a druggie or a drunkard or somethin!