To think begging from people eating their lunch in a resturant is a step too far?

[dilemma456]

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So not too poor to not have a laminator then? I think it is an organised business, begging, at times.

I feel guilty every time I go into Carrefour and there is a woman there, and again the men who approach the car at the lights at the Vier Armen/Quatre Bras lights at the top of Tervurenlaan.

Begging does seem on the increase in Brussels and the surrounding area. It's expensive here, so why come here to beg?

Sounds like she was working for someone else.
A normal person would not even think of doing this, even if they were desperate.

Rainrain, how awful about the children being drugged.

In the uk, it is usually eastern european gypsies (career beggars), ime or drug addicts.
In Bavaria, I have been asked for money by men who look as though they come from the middle east - they may be illegal, they are certainly desparate.

Before Xmas there was entire family living in the Gare du Nord in Brussels. I saw them daily and it made the news. They don't seem to be there now. Hopefully they have been put somewhere better.....

The public transport network had a campaign to kick all the rough sleepers out of the metro. I remember last year, just before Xmas, the temperature went as low as -18. A group were huddled in the entrance to Rogier metro station. They had a little Xmas tree and everything. I gave them the carrier bag of beer that I had bought for dh. He wasn't very impressed.

haha portofino That's an awesome present! I must admit I don't like giving money, I prefer to give a packet of ciggies/few beers/sandwich and some dog biscuits - there's invariably a dog.

It's a very sensitive issue as these beggars are often Roma - a people traditionally despised and abused in Central and Eastern Europe. But that doesn't mean that the women and children aren't controlled by gangmasters (or simply the male members of their family) - they are - and nor does it make it acceptable for them to use babies and small children to evoke sympathy. Giving money only supports the system of begging and control, but giving food strikes me as a better idea.

I used to give money to anyone who asked, even when I had very little myself. I was taken advantage of a couple of time and now am more selective.

I was in London once and there was a lady begging at the entrance of a supermarket. I did not have any change to give to her as she was going on about how hard done she was, with little children she could not feed... I went to do my shopping and bought things I would have bought for my own childre: milk, cereals, fruit juice and some other bits and bobs for her, complitely forgot to do my own shopping. I got out of the shop, handed her a full bag of goodies and was absolutely flabagastered when she said to me ""so you have got change now?""

The other time was abroad, in a North African country. Out shopping with my SIL, there was a young woman holding what looked like a tiny baby all wrapped up in rags. SIL told me do not get fooled "she probably has more money than you." I just could not not give anything so gave her a bit of money I had on me, the woman then ran away leaving on the floor the "baby" which was actually a piece of wood. I am laughing about it now but did not find it very funny at the time. The morality to this story is to sometimes, not always...listen to your SIL!

Now when I see people begging, I ask them if they would like me to get food,soap, blankets...for them, if they only want money I just walk my way.