What to do if you see beggars with little children

[Anonymous]

To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

The best way to change minds is to be able to make your argument in a way that isn't offensive. I agree with your sentiment while being disgusted by your name-calling and immature argument.

[Anonymous]

Confirming those who note this is a scam. Sometimes groups of travelers going to place to place. They make lots of money, women and kids are used for sympathy. Call the cops if the kids seem in distress (cold, inappropriately dressed, etc). They come to the beach in the summer to prey on tourists, leave in expensive cars. Shame kids are being used like this, don’t reward the adults by giving them money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

+1 Please stop. You really are encouraging the exploitation of these children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I give them cash. No questions asked. I can spare a few bucks.

Same. God will judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a family that hangs out in front of the Giant/CVS in McLean. I asked them once where they were from and the dad said (in perfectly good English) “we are from Romania”. Not sure why I was surprised by that.

Gypsies are originally from Romania

This is PP. I know the history of Roma people. I was surprised by the fact that 1) the dad’s English was perfect. Barely any accent. 2) that he would answer my question so freely. I thought he would ignore me or pretend not to understand but nope…he answered very confidently and with such good English that it was jarring. And 3) he said it in a way that showed pride. Like he was happy to announce where he hailed from. It was just a weird interaction and I probably shouldn’t have been talking to him in the first place.

[Anonymous]

It makes me angry these scammers are using their children in this way. Kids should be in school, not begging on the side of the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I absolutely hate this.

There is a woman who stands at a corner of our local shopping center in Alexandria. She is young and very pretty. She is very sweet when you talk to her. She always has a child in a double stroller with her. She waves as she holds a big sign. It is horrible. A few of us have contacted social services on her behalf, as well as the police department. She apparently isn't breaking any laws and she absolutely does not want to have anything to do with the people from social services. The owner of the shopping center can't really do anything, either.

It is really upsetting to see her use her children the way she is. As repulsive as I find her actions, there is nothing I or others can do unless something changes. If I ever see a bruise or if a child looks scared, though, watch out girl because I will do whatever it takes to get that child (and siblings) out of her control.

You are evil. The authorities have already told you that the kids are not being abused and yet you see it as some kind of personal mission to break up a family. I have way way way more problems with people like you than anyone asking for $1. You are an ACTUAL threat to families and the community and you can’t even see it because your gaze is fixed on others who you hate. No panhandler has ever had someones children taken from them. WTF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

+1 Please stop. You really are encouraging the exploitation of these children.

If the kids are being exploited then why did the police refuse to act? CPS?

Because you are factually wrong and just spewing hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

Oh please you want me to show you kids used as “props”? Let me take you to a Bethesda dance class some time. What about child modeling? Literally using kids as props but that is what wealthy UMC people do so you don’t have anything to say about that.

What other kids are used as props, and where? I bet you have only ever used this concern as a justification to hate on panhandlers and never have written a single word about any other context.

[Anonymous]

We have them in the Kentlands in Gaithersburg too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

Oh please you want me to show you kids used as “props”? Let me take you to a Bethesda dance class some time. What about child modeling? Literally using kids as props but that is what wealthy UMC people do so you don’t have anything to say about that.

What other kids are used as props, and where? I bet you have only ever used this concern as a justification to hate on panhandlers and never have written a single word about any other context.

Wait, the Bethesda dance classes are collecting money from strangers in parking lots? This is news to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the morally superior PPs who think they are kind-hearted to giving to these people: YOU are the reason why those kids are out there as props. You are participating in the exploitation of children. You're just too dumb or naive to see that.

+1 Please stop. You really are encouraging the exploitation of these children.

If the kids are being exploited then why did the police refuse to act? CPS?

Because you are factually wrong and just spewing hate.

It’s a fact that the kids are out in all weather. It’s a fact that they Are used as props to gain sympathy and get money. That’s a fact, I have seen it myself. In freezing temperatures, in the heat and in the sun. They’ll have a baby strapped to the chest and a five-year-old stuffed into a stroller and an elementary school age sitting close by. If that’s not exploitation of children and I don’t know it is. It’s not hate.

I don’t know why the police or CPS refuse to act. Maybe because their actions are borderline and they don’t cross the legal line but I don’t have to use the legal system to make my judgment call on what is exploitation.

[Anonymous]

I had to bring up this thread because I was shocked at something I saw tonight.

I was walking into the grocery store and saw a woman panhandling (she had one of the usual signs and kids with her). Later, as I'm walking through the grocery store, I see one of the kids running around being supervised by a random shopper, who was telling her to pick some things out - I believe the shopper had offered to buy the child some food and the mother had let the child go into the store with her. This was very kind of the random shopper, who obviously had pure intentions, but I was appalled the mother would let her child go into a semi-large grocery store to pick out treats with a stranger, while she stayed out in the parking lot! Maybe I watch too much true crime but this seemed like extremely poor judgement to me on the mother's fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to bring up this thread because I was shocked at something I saw tonight.

I was walking into the grocery store and saw a woman panhandling (she had one of the usual signs and kids with her). Later, as I'm walking through the grocery store, I see one of the kids running around being supervised by a random shopper, who was telling her to pick some things out - I believe the shopper had offered to buy the child some food and the mother had let the child go into the store with her. This was very kind of the random shopper, who obviously had pure intentions, but I was appalled the mother would let her child go into a semi-large grocery store to pick out treats with a stranger, while she stayed out in the parking lot! Maybe I watch too much true crime but this seemed like extremely poor judgement to me on the mother's fault.

*mother's PART, not fault