Big Issue!
- Thread starter elevenseventysix
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Soldato
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- 5 Aug 2006
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- Derbyshire
in burton on trent in the midlands theres always some foreigner selling big issue. although their accents are so bad it sounds more like 'bissue'.
they are ALWAYS there, yet ive never ever seen anyone buy a big issue.
Arent big issue sellers usualy ex convicts? correct me if im wrong
either way it must be the most demeaning job in the world what losers
they are ALWAYS there, yet ive never ever seen anyone buy a big issue.
Arent big issue sellers usualy ex convicts? correct me if im wrong
either way it must be the most demeaning job in the world what losers
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2003
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- Belfast
It's gotten a lot worse over the last year in Belfast with people shoving the Big Issue in your face. Now the people selling the magazine have to wear a luminous jacket and a badge with their details on it. I must walk by about 5-10 people at least every day walking to/from uni. One guy selling it is dressed in different designer clothing every day and doesn't ever seem to wear the luminous jacket (must destroy his image ). I've also noticed a lot of people around traffic lights trying to sell to people in their cars as they wait.
I get more and more frustrated because if it's not big issue, it's those people trying to sign you up for a monthly charity donation, the accordion players standing every 100 feet from each other and the homeless people with their coffee cups of change. It's getting ridiculous. Even when my Ipod battery is done I keep my earphones in to pretend not to hear them all begging.
The worst I seen was in Rome during the summer, when a begger thought no one was looking and slapped her baby to make it cry.
). I've also noticed a lot of people around traffic lights trying to sell to people in their cars as they wait. I get more and more frustrated because if it's not big issue, it's those people trying to sign you up for a monthly charity donation, the accordion players standing every 100 feet from each other and the homeless people with their coffee cups of change. It's getting ridiculous. Even when my Ipod battery is done I keep my earphones in to pretend not to hear them all begging.
The worst I seen was in Rome during the summer, when a begger thought no one was looking and slapped her baby to make it cry.
Consider this, if you are begging in a "premium" spot - if you get 5 people in an hour that give you £1, you are on 5 quid an hour tax free.... sit their for 8 hours and you are on £40 a day, £200 a week, £800 a month....
I'm a "homeless sceptic" tbh, I don't believe that they ALL doing as badly as made out (I'll grant some will be...). Infact up in Aberdeen I hear stories of them doing "shifts" in premium areas for the big money, and getting taxis to and from their spots...
I'm a "homeless sceptic" tbh, I don't believe that they ALL doing as badly as made out (I'll grant some will be...). Infact up in Aberdeen I hear stories of them doing "shifts" in premium areas for the big money, and getting taxis to and from their spots...
Docaroo said:
I've seen people with the cardboard "homeless and hungry" signs swap shifts before - often dropped off in a nice car
I never give them any money... unless I've been out on the drink all night and see someone snoozing at about 3am in a cold, dark doorway. I've tucked a tenner in their pockets when drunk before
I guess I thought "Well I'm hammered and feel like crap but at least I have a nice warm bed to collapse into".
I remember one day at the Natwest in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester a guy asking me for some money, he was sat next to the cash point, I told him I had no money hence the visit to the cash machine he had adopted as home for the day.
I did however offer him a sandwich and a bottle of Coke which he refused with the hearty of respone along the lines of "I don't want your food I need some money"
My response consisted of four words, two of them being "Go yourself" the other two are not printable.
I did however offer him a sandwich and a bottle of Coke which he refused with the hearty of respone along the lines of "I don't want your food I need some money"
My response consisted of four words, two of them being "Go yourself" the other two are not printable.
Azagoth said:
Lol, took me a while that one.
I don't give them a penny, if I donate it's toa charity so I know it's going to go on food and not a "quarter" from "dealer Pete".
I'm also not sure why you're surprised that he has a mobile phone. Didn't you know it's against his human rights to deny him a mobile phone?
begbo said:An old work mate used to sell the big issue around xmas time. Wasn't homeless and parents were fairly well off. He could make up to £80 in one day!
raises the profile of the magazine though, generates new readers etc, better than hime being on the dole.