We used to see beggars regularly in Baden, people with only one leg or arm, people selling single flowers etc, but haven't seen any for a while, hopefully the police have clamped down on it. We once even had a guy come to our door, how I don't know because we live in flats where you need a key to get through the main door, with a card in German saying he was deaf and dumb, selling handmade stuff. He also asked for a drink so I stayed at the door with him whilst hubby got some water. Can't be too careful! Trouble is we are a bit of a soft touch, so I'm glad they seem to have disappeared, for now.

You will always just see them in summer. In winter they prefer to stay in a warm country.

I don't give here. All beggars I have seen were either obviously organized, which I don't support or people who could not buy enough drugs/cigarettes/alcohol from the money they get from the state. I pay my taxes and insurances to make sure nobody has to be hungry here. I do give when I am in countries where people actually suffer.

I don't give to beggars either. But that's because I'm an awful human being, not because I don't want to support a drug/booze habit or organized crime.

We all pay taxes in order to support these people; therefore, I don't see a point in giving anything.

And some people pay the additional chump-tax.

Excuse me ignorance but what is chump-tax?

Cross me palm wiv silver milady an I ll tell ya

Or are on a day trip.

I'm not wishing to attack you personally, but this argument is all to often used simply as a sop to the conscience. If you don't want to give, don't. No reason to feel guilty or anything about that. It's a free choice. But there are plenty of organisations who are responsible that you can give to, and they're not hard to find.

I had someone from a suspicious deaf/mute organization and tons of Jehovah Witnesses at my door. They simply ring all the bells till someone opens the door. Unfortunately, people will open the door without knowing who wants in. That’s how people got inside the building and broke into the basement (taking 3 of my wine boxes… )

Last year I was taking the train in Hardbrücke when a beggar went to a group of young men “Hasht du n’zehni?”. One of them, as a joke, puts a 200 CHF out “Got change?”. He had. He gave the guy 190 CHF back… I was a bit dumbfounded…

So he clearly didn't need money, still got paid out, and he also managed to offload some 'funny money' fresh out out the printer for a profit of 200 CHF . I'm in the wrong business.

There's also plenty of organisations who are responsible that you can give to, and they're not hard to find, BUT the money goes into their pockets as opposed to be distributed to the real cause.

I even know that on a whole 500 000 inhabitants city scale basis:
The entirecity card-boxes for cancer or another cause (can't remember) were actually distributed and collected by a group of paid students all working for a local millionaire person. Thoses boxes were on most till's, etc...

Police report? the guy's not a dumb and regularly got charged for scamming but changes offices into rented apartments and change "business names". The legal system is not capable to prevent or arrest the guy. The civil servant would not care at all.


For the other "charity collectors" in the street they were all paid people pretending to be generous volunteers.


So yes there's "institutions". Yes they aim to tackle charities related issues. But in between there's too much shark feeding.

And for the "conscience thing" it's the same for those idiot paying the roms in switzerland: they give them coins (or notes!!!) in order to buy themselves a conscience, eventhough they don't help in any way at all: they only showing abusers that they can live with begging, and they won't help the real person in social difficulty, back on the track.

its like a mattabooboo

Defintely not the case here, as mentioned above I do give to the homeless on a regular basis.

I've brought this argument up with many back in canada, and a simple internet search can show how poorly run almost all of these 'charitable' organizations are run.
My personal choice is the Terry Fox Foundation who's work was done entirely by volunteers. It's isn't the same anymore, but they still get a third of my yearly income through donations.

i once asked a begger outside of a supermarket in london what made him beg....after i'd given him money of course.....he bluntly replied that he cant afford the expensive christmas presents for his kids so he begs for 2 weeks before christmas and makes aroung 2000 pounds!!!!! he stressed that he had a home and was on welfare. Since then i only give to people in 3rd world countries, luckily i have an aunt in Egypt who goes into the slums every month, i am currently helping a mother of 6, 100 francs a month feeds and schools her children.

I've heard that many professional beggers in Toronto actually do very well for themselves, many living well above the poverty line (in montary income). I'm not really one to judge someones choice of lifestyle over others, so i just shrug with a bit of jealously and say "good for them!"

I could easily make 200-300 CHF asaking for money in mexico for 3 hours. (Tried and succeeded myself )

Easy money on the pocket, but not on the conscience..

I think giving food to people who claim to be hungry is the best, too. But somebody I know actually did this, gave a few rolls when approached by a hungry hobo and got whacked. So, I think sometimes it is better just keep walking than irritate a hungry and picky beggar or feed their habits with cash donations.

Volunteering in a hobo kitchen in Berlin was the best way to do charity for me. When I have some to give next, I will buy nursing pumps for lactation agents , to reward them for free and difficult work, rather than anonymously give to those who ask.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

Yikes, all these stories of begging on the SBB? I'm shocked! I saw this daily on the RE or S-Bahns when I was living in Cologne but here! Fortunately, I haven't encountered any just yet in Bern.

BTW, do not give any money to any of these beggars! Please, please, please! I lived 2 floors above one "head" mobster family when I lived in Germany. All the money raised from the foot soldiers (begging on the train, begging on the streets, selling roses, etc.) go to the top. The whole neighbourhood knew about this but the state will not prosecute them because of political correctness. They held no jobs and drank all day and all night. Yet without "income", they drove €100,000 cars with Swiss plates. Don't feed the monster!


May I ask where?

Ah, those people are legendary in TO.

__________________
When a man thinks a thing, the thing he thinks he thinks is not the thing he thinks but only the thing he thinks he thinks he thinks.

Was it the youngish lady who needs the cash to pay for her mobile phone/drug habit?

My rule for beggers is generally give the old, frail and forgotten of this world a CHF or two, especially old ladies. The young, strong and lazy can get stuffed, i.e. the two punks who sit around near Fitzzen with their dog.

It is interesting to learn that Switzerland has cartels not only for the importation of goods but also for beggars. Being organised is key and so much part of the culture here.