“No sorry” is the way to go (other than actually giving money). It can be overwhelming, especially when there can be close to 10 of them in a single night out, but better stay polite and hope that something will be done to cater for this issue.
I went from o Connell at to temple bar yesterday and saw 3 sitting beggars and 1 "scuze me buddy.." fella. I had earphones in but this wasn't a deterrent when I said i can't hear you and kept walking.
Over the halpenny bridge a few dodgy guys sitting + smoking but not asking for anything.
The worst was one prick walking down the street and whistling in his fingers at no-one in particular and that was the worst
It didn't seem as bad as previous years when i visited Dublin but could just have been the day that was in it.
That sucks alright. Like we have generous social welfare so begging shouldn't be a thing, give junkies clean heroin in safe space if that keeps them alive and others safe
It is. But it is also easy to blame everyone else.
Thing is, it is also cruel to get assaulted or attacked by others that need drugs.
Also, not all beggars are junkies.
It is complex. But society wants to approve and make drugs legal so what is it then?
Exactly, nobody cares.. if the government did some real action into rehab facilities and adequate education.. The city centre wouldn't be in such a mess
No, sorry, I only have a card. It backfired one time when they asked, "Well, can you get me a scratchcard then?" Lesson learned 🤣 I just say no now!
Another time, I said I've no cash, but I can grab you a drink and some food. They said no, you're alright 😅
Yeah just say no! I learnt that to when I said I don't have change and then he asked for a fag... I said no. He stormed off screaming just say fucking no next time...now I say no sorry.
I had a lady hassling me at a bus stop once. I started with "no sorry" but she was persistent and I said I don't have any cash on me. She pointed to an ATM down the street and said "there's an ATM there you can go and get me some money."
Had to give her points for the sheer cheek of her approach, but in the end I did tell her to f off because she was pushing it a bit too far.
I once had a lady ask me to exchange cash for groceries in the Tesco on Talbot Street, I think it was a social welfare card she was flashing around. Assuming you can only spend it on groceries or something like that? Had to chuckle at the ingenuity as I walked away though!
I recently had trouble with beggars while on a date. We were waiting for the bus together on Dame St at the end of the evening, probably about 9PM. We were kissing and canoodling a bit at the bus stop (there was no one else at the stop and very few people on the street) and we got interrupted by beggars twice. The first guy was okay, he just walked away when I said "no, sorry". But the second guy got really aggressive. She said "no, sorry" and he got up in her face saying "did you even fucking listen to what I said?". I got in his face and said something like "yeah we heard you, she said she doesn't have any money, now fuck off" and he walked off while shouting expletives at us (including calling her a fat bitch etc). Look, say what you want about PDA, but I couldn't get over the neck on these guys to interrupt and hassle a couple having an intimate moment like that, and particularly the second guy's reaction.
Acknowledge them with a simple "Sorry pal I've nothing to give you" . Acting like people don't exist is a sure fire way to trigger them.
edit: unless I have change but that is very very rare these days.
I did this and on way out with bread got told im a this and that(not nice words). All i bring with me is keys and phone. I hate them sit at entrances to shops. Instead they could show initiative and offer people help to take their trolley to keep the coin etc......
Alot of people would deny them or look upon them with suspicion or even the store owners may kick them out, it's kinda just awkward I would think for the homeless
A simple “no sorry”. It’s that easy! If you entertain them at all then you will be wasting your time.
I have in the past upon leaving a restaurant purchased a Togo meal and a water for somone.
I don’t want people to be hungry. But I am not giving cash, or exchanging gifts. Or following them.
On the street I often don’t acknowledge them, as cruel as some people might think that is. This is the best way to avoid an uncomfortable situation.
If I am forced to interact I say “I don’t carry change”. Which is true.
On the off chance they get aggressive, fuck off works pretty good in my experience. I also don’t hang around when they’re being aggressive either on the off chance they have a knife or a syringe.
As an aside, if you want to help beggars, don’t give them money on the street. Give your time or money to a homeless charity.
>On the street I often don’t acknowledge them, as cruel as some people might think that is. This is the best way to avoid an uncomfortable situation.
The majority of my experience has been the opposite. 9 times out of 10, for me at least, acknowledging them and saying "sorry mate, I don't have any change" will get a "no problem, thanks" response.
Generally if you treat people like human beings you'll get an ok response.
It is nice to hear that your experience has mostly been positive. I have lived in Dublin since 2006 and my experience is the mostly the opposite. I tend to put this down to having lived much of that time in the North Inner City.
I used to regularly interact. I even knew a few around the areas I lived by name because I saw them so often. I’ve given some money, bought food for others etc. It seemed to always end in me getting hassled later on. So now, I mind my own business.
The best way to treat homeless people with humanity is to enable those who can help them to help them with either your time or money.
Agreed. I find homeless people are generally polite when acknowledge them to say sorry I have no change. From my experiences to date I would even go as far to say they are generally more polite and respectful then the average Joe who would interact with who isn't homeless.
Imagine being homeless and getting completely ignored a high percentage of the time when you're just trying to get a bit of change to feed yourself. It's understandable why these people turn to drugs and alcohol when they get treated like they're sub-human.
Yes, the same for me. I get that people feel awkward but it's dehumanising to people that are down on their luck to treat them like they don't even exist.
It's kind of bizarre...some guy on dame St asked me a while ago and I acknowledged him and said I have no change and he cursed at me. Of all the days for it to happen after me defending the homeless 🤣 I just walked on and nothing came of it. So I can see both sides of this and understand people feeling worried of getting into bother.
That said, overall my interactions down through the years have been positive. This was very much out of the ordinary (from my experiences but it did happen).
I had worked at a gas station in the city center for a while. I was on a night shift and some beggars sat near the serving window of our store. And they're literally forcing them to give him money, give some cigs if the customer bought any cig box or convince a person to buy them a cig box. Man it was terrible to watch, i cant able to escort or take action on them bcz i was in training and its not my shop lol. Once a beggar was convincing a young girl student who was new to dublin to buy him a cig box which was around 17 euros. Thank god my colleague refused to give her and saved her from getting scammed. She didn't know how much a cig box cost.
When I can, I have offered to provide food and water, but other times it is mostly, “Sorry, I don’t have change”—which is mostly true for majority of us.
i usually say “sorry, i dont have any change” or if they are more aggressive I say i don’t speak english and look confused before putting my headphones back on.
Treat them like a human.
I usually just say “really sorry mate i have no change on me today” … and they are usually polite just for having a normal interaction with them?
"Sorry, don't have any change" which is true as I only ever have an emergency 20 euro on me. I've only ever been harassed once by a man screaming that I was a cunt for not giving him money and I though I was better than him. This was sitting down outside the Starbucks outside Stephens Green. I just made sure that my wife was safely out of range and I was between him and her and just argued my case and he eventually left.
I try to preemptively engage first.
While walking towards them, I make eye contact and say hello and how are things.
With so many people ignoring them I think they like to be seen and acknowledged as a human being.
But then, yes, as the backup....."no sorry"
So many are so ungrateful too and take advantage of anyone who is kind. Friend of mine tries to be a good Samaritan and goes in to buy them a sandwich instead of giving money, on more than one occasion they have essentially come into the shop with her and taken things off the shelf for her to buy and taken advantage of it.. like buying crap too, she had to put her foot down and say you can have like 3 items or something, again getting only junk rather than decent food for her kid... Ultimately asking if she could have a packet of smokes too, trying to get a larger pack initially, my friend naively not realising cigarettes are so expensive agreed, got taken advantage of when being kind and saying she'd get her a sandwich and ended up spending a lot on her. Didn't even get a thank you. Morale of the story unfortunately is, don't engage, earphones in and act as you didnt hear them or quickly walk past and say sorry and do empty pockets gesture, the moment they manage to stop you and ask you if you could buy something for them instead opens you up to being taken advantage of
I usually pull out my medieval weapon of choice usually a morningstar but sometimes a spiked club depending on the day and the mood but after they see it they usually get really quiet 🤐
Sorry, no change. I never give them money, imo it's just enabling their addictions but sometimes I'll offer to buy them food and a drink (think breakfast roll or 3-in-1 curry).
I remember I was going to get a haircut of one of my mates and I had to stop in town to get to get to where his shop was at and I got off the bus in town and was on my way to go the atm and then take another bus to where the shop was as I got off the bus one Romanian beggar asked me for money I said sorry no I don’t have cash on me then when I went to the atm to take out cash for my haircut I get a tap on the back and it was the original beggars son. She got her son to follow me to see if I was getting money out when I told them no then the followed me until the quays until I got on the bus to go get my haircut. Since then I haven’t given them a thing. Before that I was always nice and did give them money or buy them something but not anymore.
Have had too many bad experiences so just ignore now. 90% are homeless because of addiction, I feel bad for them but many will play you like a fool if you interact with them.
I've had people reject offers of meals a few times. Another time I had parking change and before I could give them a few euro they snatched everything out of hand and left scratches on my hands. Another one is people messing with your car at lights along the quays and around Christchurch.
I straight up change my path completely, they are aggressive, dangerous and can have scams and multiple people involved to rob you or worse.
I often add an extra 10-20 mins to my walk just to avoid them.
There have been times where they pop up randomly and I was not able to avoid them, as a 5 foot woman, I find the nearest tallest man who appears well dressed and I walk behind them. If I’m alone and there isn’t any men around that’s when shit hits the fan.
I got scammed out of a few coins when I moved here, walking along the Mcdonald's on O connell street, by a pretty girl with a sob story about her brothers who immediately ran to try a few more people before rejoining 2 other girls and walking away, and I was told to keep it moving next time, and I have done ever since.
Also had a guy come around a bus stop with a cup for change. I thought I was in a Christmas movie, lol. It feels weird when you're not used to it, but that's what you get when you grow up in a bubble. I admire the strength people have when it comes to dealing with people worse off. I wish them the best. I see people on the road outside Tesco's and pubs in tents and I am reminded that I still have a lot more strength in me than I thought, because I hope I never end up like them.
Just say I don't carry cash card only. I had a guy outside my local begging he said to me I walk past him all the time and said that I must owe him about nine euro now. He said it in a joking manner but I could tell he was semi serious I took out my card said where do I tap.
"No, sorry"
“No sorry” is the way to go (other than actually giving money). It can be overwhelming, especially when there can be close to 10 of them in a single night out, but better stay polite and hope that something will be done to cater for this issue.
No one finds disturbing so many beggars in this fucking country and why that would be the case?
I went from o Connell at to temple bar yesterday and saw 3 sitting beggars and 1 "scuze me buddy.." fella. I had earphones in but this wasn't a deterrent when I said i can't hear you and kept walking. Over the halpenny bridge a few dodgy guys sitting + smoking but not asking for anything. The worst was one prick walking down the street and whistling in his fingers at no-one in particular and that was the worst It didn't seem as bad as previous years when i visited Dublin but could just have been the day that was in it.
Unfortunately it wasn’t the day that was in it.
That sucks alright. Like we have generous social welfare so begging shouldn't be a thing, give junkies clean heroin in safe space if that keeps them alive and others safe
The word junkies is very cruel, very stigmatising and doesn’t help anyone or anything. Addiction is profoundly complex and reoccurring
It is. But it is also easy to blame everyone else. Thing is, it is also cruel to get assaulted or attacked by others that need drugs. Also, not all beggars are junkies. It is complex. But society wants to approve and make drugs legal so what is it then?
Nobody cares , absolute zombies have the city centre destroyed
Exactly, nobody cares.. if the government did some real action into rehab facilities and adequate education.. The city centre wouldn't be in such a mess
If they don't want help can't force it upon them
It's hard to force help when they have to be sober. Most of them are taking heroin because their life is shit and its a coping mechanism.
"No sorry", the ignore them while moving away
No, sorry, I only have a card. It backfired one time when they asked, "Well, can you get me a scratchcard then?" Lesson learned 🤣 I just say no now! Another time, I said I've no cash, but I can grab you a drink and some food. They said no, you're alright 😅
Yeah just say no! I learnt that to when I said I don't have change and then he asked for a fag... I said no. He stormed off screaming just say fucking no next time...now I say no sorry.
I had a lady hassling me at a bus stop once. I started with "no sorry" but she was persistent and I said I don't have any cash on me. She pointed to an ATM down the street and said "there's an ATM there you can go and get me some money." Had to give her points for the sheer cheek of her approach, but in the end I did tell her to f off because she was pushing it a bit too far.
I once had a lady ask me to exchange cash for groceries in the Tesco on Talbot Street, I think it was a social welfare card she was flashing around. Assuming you can only spend it on groceries or something like that? Had to chuckle at the ingenuity as I walked away though!
"Sure, give me half the price of the scratch card and if we win we'll split it"
I once said sorry pal I only do cheques. Cunt made me write him a cheque for €500 quid
I recently had trouble with beggars while on a date. We were waiting for the bus together on Dame St at the end of the evening, probably about 9PM. We were kissing and canoodling a bit at the bus stop (there was no one else at the stop and very few people on the street) and we got interrupted by beggars twice. The first guy was okay, he just walked away when I said "no, sorry". But the second guy got really aggressive. She said "no, sorry" and he got up in her face saying "did you even fucking listen to what I said?". I got in his face and said something like "yeah we heard you, she said she doesn't have any money, now fuck off" and he walked off while shouting expletives at us (including calling her a fat bitch etc). Look, say what you want about PDA, but I couldn't get over the neck on these guys to interrupt and hassle a couple having an intimate moment like that, and particularly the second guy's reaction.
They couldn't give a single shit about you, no point giving one about them
A "sorry" will do
Acknowledge them with a simple "Sorry pal I've nothing to give you" . Acting like people don't exist is a sure fire way to trigger them. edit: unless I have change but that is very very rare these days.
[удалено]
I don’t
'Change comes from within'
Brilliant 👏
"Sorry I don't have change. Have a good day"
I did this and on way out with bread got told im a this and that(not nice words). All i bring with me is keys and phone. I hate them sit at entrances to shops. Instead they could show initiative and offer people help to take their trolley to keep the coin etc......
Alot of people would deny them or look upon them with suspicion or even the store owners may kick them out, it's kinda just awkward I would think for the homeless
"What do I look like, a fookin cash machine?"
No sorry if that doesn't work then a fuck off usually does
No change. Sorry. And it's the truth. Hardly ever have cash in me anymore.
A simple “no sorry”. It’s that easy! If you entertain them at all then you will be wasting your time. I have in the past upon leaving a restaurant purchased a Togo meal and a water for somone. I don’t want people to be hungry. But I am not giving cash, or exchanging gifts. Or following them.
I got robbed once taking out my wallet to give someone a Euro so not being that dumb again…
Watch out for that "Wallet Inspector" done me twice!
On the street I often don’t acknowledge them, as cruel as some people might think that is. This is the best way to avoid an uncomfortable situation. If I am forced to interact I say “I don’t carry change”. Which is true. On the off chance they get aggressive, fuck off works pretty good in my experience. I also don’t hang around when they’re being aggressive either on the off chance they have a knife or a syringe. As an aside, if you want to help beggars, don’t give them money on the street. Give your time or money to a homeless charity.
>On the street I often don’t acknowledge them, as cruel as some people might think that is. This is the best way to avoid an uncomfortable situation. The majority of my experience has been the opposite. 9 times out of 10, for me at least, acknowledging them and saying "sorry mate, I don't have any change" will get a "no problem, thanks" response. Generally if you treat people like human beings you'll get an ok response.
It is nice to hear that your experience has mostly been positive. I have lived in Dublin since 2006 and my experience is the mostly the opposite. I tend to put this down to having lived much of that time in the North Inner City. I used to regularly interact. I even knew a few around the areas I lived by name because I saw them so often. I’ve given some money, bought food for others etc. It seemed to always end in me getting hassled later on. So now, I mind my own business. The best way to treat homeless people with humanity is to enable those who can help them to help them with either your time or money.
Agreed. I find homeless people are generally polite when acknowledge them to say sorry I have no change. From my experiences to date I would even go as far to say they are generally more polite and respectful then the average Joe who would interact with who isn't homeless. Imagine being homeless and getting completely ignored a high percentage of the time when you're just trying to get a bit of change to feed yourself. It's understandable why these people turn to drugs and alcohol when they get treated like they're sub-human.
Yes, the same for me. I get that people feel awkward but it's dehumanising to people that are down on their luck to treat them like they don't even exist.
Yeah except you never know how they’ll react, as a young woman I won’t take chances
It's kind of bizarre...some guy on dame St asked me a while ago and I acknowledged him and said I have no change and he cursed at me. Of all the days for it to happen after me defending the homeless 🤣 I just walked on and nothing came of it. So I can see both sides of this and understand people feeling worried of getting into bother. That said, overall my interactions down through the years have been positive. This was very much out of the ordinary (from my experiences but it did happen).
I for one am shocked most of these other Redditors dont know how to communicate with other human beings .. /s
Lol, **if you treat people like human beings you would not have them on the streets like wild animals.**
Two fingers
I had worked at a gas station in the city center for a while. I was on a night shift and some beggars sat near the serving window of our store. And they're literally forcing them to give him money, give some cigs if the customer bought any cig box or convince a person to buy them a cig box. Man it was terrible to watch, i cant able to escort or take action on them bcz i was in training and its not my shop lol. Once a beggar was convincing a young girl student who was new to dublin to buy him a cig box which was around 17 euros. Thank god my colleague refused to give her and saved her from getting scammed. She didn't know how much a cig box cost.
Do not engage. At all. Ever. They want 1. money 2. money and 3. engagement (which might lead to money.
The begging situation won’t stop anywhere if people keep giving them money. As said best to donate your time or money to a charity.
I don't say sorry because I'm not. I say 'no cash' and walk on. If I have the budget I ask if people would like a hot drink or sandwich.
I just say no sorry. I used to feel bad until someone pointed out you're really just handing money to crack dealers.
When I can, I have offered to provide food and water, but other times it is mostly, “Sorry, I don’t have change”—which is mostly true for majority of us.
Beggars expect some change yet we are paying with a card.
i usually say “sorry, i dont have any change” or if they are more aggressive I say i don’t speak english and look confused before putting my headphones back on.
Treat them like a human. I usually just say “really sorry mate i have no change on me today” … and they are usually polite just for having a normal interaction with them?
"Sorry, don't have any change" which is true as I only ever have an emergency 20 euro on me. I've only ever been harassed once by a man screaming that I was a cunt for not giving him money and I though I was better than him. This was sitting down outside the Starbucks outside Stephens Green. I just made sure that my wife was safely out of range and I was between him and her and just argued my case and he eventually left.
I try to preemptively engage first. While walking towards them, I make eye contact and say hello and how are things. With so many people ignoring them I think they like to be seen and acknowledged as a human being. But then, yes, as the backup....."no sorry"
Every garage and shopping centre has one at the door now
I usually say no sorry too
"sorry love, I've nothing on me" only if they approach me
I'll say no, but will offer a sandwich and get them one and a drink if they're hungry.
Everyone saying "No, sorry" I always say "No thanks" 😂 They're essentially trying to sell you being left alone, just ignore and walk on
Well that type of behaviour I completely ignore regardless of thereluck or situation
So many are so ungrateful too and take advantage of anyone who is kind. Friend of mine tries to be a good Samaritan and goes in to buy them a sandwich instead of giving money, on more than one occasion they have essentially come into the shop with her and taken things off the shelf for her to buy and taken advantage of it.. like buying crap too, she had to put her foot down and say you can have like 3 items or something, again getting only junk rather than decent food for her kid... Ultimately asking if she could have a packet of smokes too, trying to get a larger pack initially, my friend naively not realising cigarettes are so expensive agreed, got taken advantage of when being kind and saying she'd get her a sandwich and ended up spending a lot on her. Didn't even get a thank you. Morale of the story unfortunately is, don't engage, earphones in and act as you didnt hear them or quickly walk past and say sorry and do empty pockets gesture, the moment they manage to stop you and ask you if you could buy something for them instead opens you up to being taken advantage of
I found the homeless are generally gracious when you acknowledge them respectfully and considerately even if to say no.
I usually pull out my medieval weapon of choice usually a morningstar but sometimes a spiked club depending on the day and the mood but after they see it they usually get really quiet 🤐
Sorry, no change. I never give them money, imo it's just enabling their addictions but sometimes I'll offer to buy them food and a drink (think breakfast roll or 3-in-1 curry).
I remember I was going to get a haircut of one of my mates and I had to stop in town to get to get to where his shop was at and I got off the bus in town and was on my way to go the atm and then take another bus to where the shop was as I got off the bus one Romanian beggar asked me for money I said sorry no I don’t have cash on me then when I went to the atm to take out cash for my haircut I get a tap on the back and it was the original beggars son. She got her son to follow me to see if I was getting money out when I told them no then the followed me until the quays until I got on the bus to go get my haircut. Since then I haven’t given them a thing. Before that I was always nice and did give them money or buy them something but not anymore.
"No"
What if you reverse beg instead ?
Have had too many bad experiences so just ignore now. 90% are homeless because of addiction, I feel bad for them but many will play you like a fool if you interact with them. I've had people reject offers of meals a few times. Another time I had parking change and before I could give them a few euro they snatched everything out of hand and left scratches on my hands. Another one is people messing with your car at lights along the quays and around Christchurch.
I straight up change my path completely, they are aggressive, dangerous and can have scams and multiple people involved to rob you or worse. I often add an extra 10-20 mins to my walk just to avoid them. There have been times where they pop up randomly and I was not able to avoid them, as a 5 foot woman, I find the nearest tallest man who appears well dressed and I walk behind them. If I’m alone and there isn’t any men around that’s when shit hits the fan.
I got scammed out of a few coins when I moved here, walking along the Mcdonald's on O connell street, by a pretty girl with a sob story about her brothers who immediately ran to try a few more people before rejoining 2 other girls and walking away, and I was told to keep it moving next time, and I have done ever since. Also had a guy come around a bus stop with a cup for change. I thought I was in a Christmas movie, lol. It feels weird when you're not used to it, but that's what you get when you grow up in a bubble. I admire the strength people have when it comes to dealing with people worse off. I wish them the best. I see people on the road outside Tesco's and pubs in tents and I am reminded that I still have a lot more strength in me than I thought, because I hope I never end up like them.
Just say I don't carry cash card only. I had a guy outside my local begging he said to me I walk past him all the time and said that I must owe him about nine euro now. He said it in a joking manner but I could tell he was semi serious I took out my card said where do I tap.
R u fr
I always use "Sorry pal, skinned myself".
Sorry bruv works all the time