EDITOR – I am completely disgusted by a new trend which seems to be developing in and around the Bluff area, and I am quite sure in other areas too.
On Saturday, 9 November, we were driving to a friend’s house when we came to the intersection of Bluff Road and Edwin Swales Drive. There was a group of men standing on the side of the road, and another ‘begging’ for money in the traffic, with a sign tied to him saying ‘will flash for cash’. At the same intersection there was a beggar and a street vendor.
I was horrified by how many people willingly took out their wallets and gave money to this man, who was obviously celebrating his upcoming nuptials and competing in what was supposed to be a humiliating dare by his friends. Not one person gave the beggar any money, but I could see some gave quite generously to this man. Is this the norm these days? Could this man not afford to pay for his wedding or the alcohol required for a great bachelor party?
Perhaps he should not be getting married then.
Those people who were at the intersection were there for a genuine reason, and I feel it is morally so wrong, firstly to be touting for money in this manner, and secondly for people who would usually use the excuse ‘I don’t give to beggars’ to be supporting this stupid trend so avidly. One wonders, if the beggar had a similar sign, would they would still be so quick to donate?
Maybe it is just me, but I hope all those people who did donate felt honourable about doing so, since their cash was most likely used in any event to purchase cigarettes and alcohol (another of the reasons many justify not giving to beggars).
