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What are your thoughts on giving money to beggars? (reddthat.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Pro@reddthat.com to c/asklemmy@sh.itjust.works

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I am asking because I know people from both sides:

People who discourage it: usually talk about how the beggars might spend their money on, how they might be lying, How donating to them will encourage them to keep begging and how they should be looking for a job instead (My commentary: finding a job is impossible for them this days, matter of fact there is literally hundreds, if not thousands of articles online talking about how hard and impossible it had become).
People who encourage it: to be honest here, they usually talk only about religious reasons.

(Note: I know that the overview about both sides are highly unbalanced, but I preferred to keep it limited to my personal experiences rather than expanding it from myself, as I intentionally not looking for theories and objective logic, rather I am looking at people reasons and opinions as this is highly subjective matter.)

Anyone got any thoughts about this?

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[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca -2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The term “beggar” carries significant social, historical, and ethical baggage, and using it can raise several concerns, especially in contemporary discussions around poverty, homelessness, and social justice.

Dehumanization and Reductionism

Concern: The term defines a person solely by their economic condition or behavior, rather than as a complex individual.

Example: Saying “a beggar” instead of “a person who is unhoused and asking for help” reduces their identity to a single desperate act, often erasing context like trauma, systemic failure, or disability.
Stigmatization and Shame

Concern: “Beggar” has strong negative connotations, often associated with laziness, fraud, or failure, regardless of the reality.

Social impact: This contributes to public hostility or apathy toward people experiencing poverty, reinforcing stereotypes that they are undeserving of compassion or aid.
Historical and Cultural Bias

Concern: In many cultures, “begging” has been treated as morally suspect or even criminal. In some legal systems, "vagrancy" laws were used to target marginalized communities.

Implication: Using the term today without awareness of this history can echo punitive or classist attitudes.
Lack of Structural Awareness

Concern: The term “beggar” often implies personal failure, obscuring systemic issues like:

```
   Lack of affordable housing
```
```
   Mental health service gaps
```

   Underemployment or exploitative labor

```
   Racialized poverty and intergenerational trauma
```
Result: It discourages deeper reflection or policy solutions by framing poverty as an individual problem.

Alternative Language and Framing

Many prefer phrases like:

```
   “Unhoused person”
```

   “Person experiencing homelessness”

```
   “Person asking for assistance”
```
These terms are person-first and focus on circumstances rather than character judgment.

Summary

Using “beggar” can be perceived as outdated, pejorative, and lacking empathy. In thoughtful or inclusive contexts—especially academic, activist, or journalistic—it is generally advised to choose language that centers the humanity and complexity of individuals rather than casting them as social burdens.