How come beggars are so fearless in begging?

[sadavis00]

How come they have no fear of failure, or rejection, of making a bad impression? They beg to pretty girls, they beg to men in suits who look down on them, they take the insults, and just keep on begging, keep on keepin' on. I personally will find this line of work quite demanding. Most of these fellows seem quite capable of doing minimum wage work, given that they than an average beggar earns barely 600$ per month whle begging, and as far as I know they beg for the most of the day, I'll bet they can earn more and work less by simply getting a mimimum wage manual labor job.

I understand why people asking donations to help other people can be so fearless, they are doing it out of altruism. But what about street beggars? They are just begging for themselves.

I wonder. Given that the most difficult part of any human endeavor is not the ability to do it, but the ability to handle failure, rejection and embarrassement that comes from doing it, beggars truly have a special skill. Also, simply asking is often half the battle in getting. Beggars are the leaders when it comes to asking and handling the rejection/falure/embarrassment that may accompany it.

So, I think if beggars could simply spiff themselves up, put on nicer clothes, smell better, they could could turn into quite a bunch of world beaters, getting a girl, making a bunch of money by simply using their begging skills in a more channeled, productive manner.

But, maybe this act of spiffing themselves up may take away their ability to beg. They may discover shame. Maybe my idea is not so good afterall.

I wonder how some people, who do wear nice clothes, manage to retain their inner beggar. I think some people, especially the ugly+stupid+humorless, have things so much stacked against them that they truly need the power of the beggar to gain any happiness at all. Others who are not so ugly+stupid+humorless, may also benefit by finding the strength of the beggar, these people could become able politicians for example.

[Jennihul]

The need for basic survival strips one of many presumtions.


Jennifer

[NotesMaeve]

Many of these folks are pretty mentally ill, so that might keep 'em from a minimum wage job.

Also, what have they got to lose?

[balexmills]

It seems that you are forgetting that many of these "beggars" have mental health issues that are not being addressed. They are just trying to survive. Many are alcoholics/drug addicts and or veterans. Just as you would find their means of existence demanding, they find the mainstream ways of existence too demanding. They cannot simply spiff-up and be okay and not need to beg.

The ones that could spruce up and join the mainstream probably find reasons to enjoy the way they live. I don't find it hard to belive that a beggar could enjoy making his living begging over working a manual labor job that paid him 8 or 9 dollars an hour. Manual labor is demanding, and the pay is usually not worth the energy you must put forth. If he has his system down pat, he could probably make more than that, work only when he wants to or needs to, and not be subject to dangerous or strenuous conditions. Not to mention that he probably doesn't have a mortgage, car payments, utility bills and so on.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

The need for basic survival strips one of many presumtions.

I'd die before I would beg on the streets. I couldn't face all that rejection, and the way people look at beggars, etc.

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by sadavis00

Others who are not so ugly+stupid+humorless, may also benefit by finding the strength of the beggar, these people could become able politicians for example.

If you'd like to try it out ...

Denver Street Retreat

"The practice of the street retreat is a "plunge" - the intentional placement of participants into a completely groundless situation in which anything could happen, while anchored by spiritual practice. Developed by Bernie Glassman Roshi, the Founder of Peacemaker International, the Street Retreat has been described as “an amazingly powerful spiritual practice.” Street Retreats have been held in many countries across Europe, and in various U.S. cities like New York, L.A., Seattle, Denver, D.C. and San Francisco.

"For four days and three nights participants will live on the streets without money, bedding, change of clothing, books or watches. We will panhandle for bus fare, eat in soup kitchens and intimately and vividly come to see how our cocoons have insulated us from our groundlessness."

[munish]

Originally Posted by sadavis00

How come they have no fear of failure, or rejection, of making a bad impression? They beg to pretty girls, they beg to men in suits who look down on them, they take the insults, and just keep on begging, keep on keepin' on. I personally will find this line of work quite demanding. Most of these fellows seem quite capable of doing minimum wage work, given that they than an average beggar earns barely 600$ per month whle begging, and as far as I know they beg for the most of the day, I'll bet they can earn more and work less by simply getting a mimimum wage manual labor job.

I understand why people asking donations to help other people can be so fearless, they are doing it out of altruism. But what about street beggars? They are just begging for themselves.

I wonder. Given that the most difficult part of any human endeavor is not the ability to do it, but the ability to handle failure, rejection and embarrassement that comes from doing it, beggars truly have a special skill. Also, simply asking is often half the battle in getting. Beggars are the leaders when it comes to asking and handling the rejection/falure/embarrassment that may accompany it.

So, I think if beggars could simply spiff themselves up, put on nicer clothes, smell better, they could could turn into quite a bunch of world beaters, getting a girl, making a bunch of money by simply using their begging skills in a more channeled, productive manner.


But, maybe this act of spiffing themselves up may take away their ability to beg. They may discover shame. Maybe my idea is not so good afterall.

I wonder how some people, who do wear nice clothes, manage to retain their inner beggar. I think some people, especially the ugly+stupid+humorless, have things so much stacked against them that they truly need the power of the beggar to gain any happiness at all. Others who are not so ugly+stupid+humorless, may also benefit by finding the strength of the beggar, these people could become able politicians for example.

Read this article by steve pavlina.

Point no. 7. Begging for money.--
If you want to know how a begger is able to do that.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...ver-get-a-job/

[Jennihul]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I'd die before I would beg on the streets. I couldn't face all that rejection, and the way people look at beggars, etc.

You have something they don't have. Probably many things, if you think about it materially, mentally, emotionally and cognitively.

So you will probably never HAVE to...Just by nature of who you are.

Jennifer

[sadavis00]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

You have something they don't have. Probably many things, if you think about it materially, mentally, emotionally and cognitively.

So you will probably never HAVE to...Just by nature of who you are.

Jennifer

Are you sure? I hear there is going to be a recession. I guess better establish your begging street cred now rather than after the recession when there will be more competition.

[Brutha]

Originally Posted by seeker5

I'd die before I would beg on the streets. I couldn't face all that rejection, and the way people look at beggars, etc.

You have probably no idea how an extreme sitution feels and were never in one.

Fear of rejection is leared in our culture. We don't have it when we are totally desperate and have no other way.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Brutha

You have probably no idea how an extreme sitution feels and were never in one.

You have absolutely no idea what I've been through.

Originally Posted by Brutha

Fear of rejection is leared in our culture. We don't have it when we are totally desperate and have no other way.

Unfortunately that's not true. I wish it was. It just ain't. For your statement to be true, the fear of death has to be greater then the fear of rejection.

Plus, there is more to begging then facing rejection. There is also having to do an identity shift in who you are. Plenty of grown, previously successful people have killed themselves rather then accept a "lesser status" in life.

[Sam988]

People get used to it. If they've done if for long enough, they will lose all fear of rejection because they realize that rejection is not going to hurt them watsoever. On the other hand, if they have nothing to eat, THAT will hurt them.


For shy people, this could be a nice exercise on having a different view of the world and losing their shyness. They could dress with some blad clothes and go around asking for money. Would be an interesting experience.

[Brutha]

Unfortunately that's not true. I wish it was. It just ain't. For your statement to be true, the fear of death has to be greater then the fear of rejection.

It's not about fear. When you go two days without water you, don't do everything to get water because you fear to die of thirst. The emotion that drives you is the thirst itself.

[jcstofu]

think of soliders in war ,
there is a famous line from band of brother "when you think that you are already dead ,then you will move like soilders"

[sunj]

You also have to remember they don't pay taxes since it's all cash. They are probably make more than min wage people.

[Michael Chui]

I've noticed that beggars who are new do worse than those who are seasoned and maintain a particular profile.

In part, this is because they might get more desperate with time.

But also, experience teaches them that anyone could be their next donor, and why the hell shouldn't you approach them?

An entrepreneur should do the same thing with VCs. A salesperson should do the same thing with customers. A person looking for sex should do the same thing with prospects. Yes, you need to refine and polish your approach to the point where it actually, y'know, works. But you should always approach. Get it wrong, change it up, do it again.

Rejection is learned, as Brutha said. It is also unlearned.

[Tonezone]

I saw a news story once about a guy who made more money begging in one year than he did at a real job, and that on a good day he could pull in up to $100.

I think most of it has to do with the fact that people are very bad off and just don't give a crap.