Increase in Gypsies?

[sunnyd]

The people that sell the flashing lighters keyrings etc are legite if they have an official identity card, which at the time of seeling they normally pass you a card to explain and then they should pass you the id card.

[Scunner]

Anyone remember the guy with the telescope offering "A trip to the moon, 1 Lira"?

[kismetbar]

Going back to Stuart's question, the area around Kale Park is often referred to as the 'gypsy quarter'. That is where we live .... but we're not gypsies? It is called Etibank and the houses were built by Eti Bank for their employees about fifty years ago. I don't know why it's referred as a gypsy quarter as its a lovely area with lovely people and views to die for!
Going back to the original thread, what these 'beggers' are doing is actually illegal and we often see the police rounding them up. They soon re-appear though! As i write this, I have seen eleven kids walking past with their weighing scales in the last fifteen minutes. Why pay a lira to be told you're fat .... or anorexic in my case!!!

[trainer]

go to any large city and you will see some one begging or offering to sell you some thing
when I worked in London you would see them washing car windows at traffic lights, women with small babies at the lights as well as rose sellers and on the Tube a man with a harpsicord and a young boy collecting money all supposed to be illegal but still getting away with it

[pookie]

was in London only yesterday and a foreign lady pushing a pram approached me with her hands out asking for money.  When I got back to the tube (Kings Cross) a young lad with his puppy were begging for food money

[Gorgeous_bird]

The difference is that it is easy to ignore those on our streets when we are busy going from place to place in our normal everyday life but when we go on holiday and you are relaxing having dinner and you approached several times by people trying to sell you a rose or perfume although no different becomes more of an problem than at home.

Question

If somone was sat begging with a child who clearly looked starving would you give the mother money?

[kevin3]

Iv'e seen the mothers and babies in Fethiye and wasn't sure so I watched the locals.Most walked past,one or two gestured them away with the back of their hands.We get them in the Midlands at the markets and car boots trying to sell you fake gold or holding their hands out for money.(Two of the car boots I go to are out in the country,no bus service,so you can only get to them by private transport.)

[kismetbar]

I think Gorgeous Bird has made a very valid ... and thought-provoking point! If I saw a child, obviously in need, would I give the mother money? No I wouldn't. I would buy them a meal. Maybe that is just to ease my guilt but rather that than give them money that might be going elsewhere?

[sue@henry]

I have seen the children sitting for hours on end with their scales (some of them very young )and I feel sorry for them but it is difficult to know how to react to them.  I think they probably have the scales to show they're providing a service rather than begging, which I suspect is illegal.
I have not given them any money because I feel that this just perpetuates their plight.  If they never received money, they would not be sent out to beg in this way.

Sue

[Clioman2]

quote:Originally posted by sue@henry

I have seen the children sitting for hours on end with their scales (some of them very young )and I feel sorry for them but it is difficult to know how to react to them.  I think they probably have the scales to show they're providing a service rather than begging, which I suspect is illegal.
I have not given them any money because I feel that this just perpetuates their plight.  If they never received money, they would not be sent out to beg in this way.

Sue

I think that Sue and the three previous posters have a point, and if you recall my original post that shows what the adult males were doing then giving money is the last thing that one should do.
Handing money to the beggars will simply swell their numbers and increase the hassle for Turks and holidaymakers. Is that what we really want? Fight the gut reaction and think long-term. It's better for everyone in the long run.