Busking and panhandling: all the same to the almsgiver?

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BoskoBadovnic

BoskoBadovnic

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Like anyone else who wanders the streets of a big city, I come across street performers, or buskers, and I come across beggars, or panhandlers. Both are out there hoping passersby will give them money. A busker aims to charm observers into a generous mood by his performance on the guitar or saxophone or by some other means of entertainment, whereas a panhandler simply asks strangers for spare change in hopes they will take pity on him. To a panhandler I am almost always moved to give something. To a busker, however, I am inclined to give spare change only if I like his performance and to withhold it if I don’t. But is that right? Shouldn’t I be equally generous to the performer who pleases me and the performer who grates on my nerves? From my point of view, is the busker the same as the beggar, no matter what I think of his performance?

EDIT: Scroll down to post no. 11 for a clearer (I hope) statement of my question.
 
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I think the important thing is to give. You don’t have to give to everyone. Just find a way to help those in need when and if you can, whether monetary, works or however you’re able. Many people don’t like to give on the streets because of the risk the money will go to drugs or some other illicit use. But that’s for each individual to decide.
 
That’s useful to know, but rather beside my point. Let’s assume that I can give a buck or two to every street person that I come across, and that I leave him to consider how to spend it. What I wonder is this: should the busker and the beggar be equal in my eyes? The beggar simply asks for money, and I’ll give him some, but the busker, it seems to me, attempts to earn money with his performance. Do I give him something even if I don’t like his performance?
 
With all the programs out there for the unfortunate, and in my case knowing the individual wont work.
Reminds me of something someone once said to me. “You can sit in your pile of #### and wallow in it, or you climb out and make something of yourself”.
Truer word were never spoken.
Way to much enabling going on.
The person I know who begs has a drug addiction, and spends money on smokes.
 
Are you thinking of someone in particular, or do you assume that every street person is cadging quarters for a fix? In any case, that’s not to the point of my question, which is whether I ought to be equally generous to the busker and the beggar even though one tries (and may fail) to amuse me and the other simply hopes I’ll take pity on him.
 
BoskoBadovnic said:
I don’t ask a beggar why he begs. I assume he has no other means at the moment of obtaining money.
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That’s how I do it too. There are con artists out there but I believe almost all panhandlers really do need help.
Sftyvlv1 said:
What about a beggar who has been offered work and wont work.
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Do you know this about a specific beggar? Then don’t give to him.
But if you’re assuming this without evidence then shame on you. You don’t have to give to every panhandler you see, but if you’re a Christian then you’re under orders from Christ. Feed the hungry.
He leaves the details to us. Give to a soup kitchen or a food bank. Give to your church’s charity program. But do something.
Sftyvlv1 said:
. “You can sit in your pile of #### and wallow in it, or you climb out and make something of yourself”.
Truer word were never spoken.
Way to much enabling going on.
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There are people who can work and refuse to, and “if a man will not work, neither let him eat.”
But some people can’t work. The paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethsaida was really paralyzed. Blind Bartimeus was really blind. The man with the withered hand was not faking and not just trying to avoid work.

Some people can’t work. Christ told us to feed the hungry.
 
The replies I’ve gotten so far make me suspect that I didn’t state my question clearly. Let me try again. Let’s assume that I am able to give some money to every street person I see and that he’ll use it to keep body and soul together.

To my naked eye, the beggar and the busker are not in the same position. The beggar tries to obtain money simply by asking me for it and hoping that I’ll find it in my heart to give him some. (I can’t think of any instance when I wouldn’t.) The busker, on the other hand, provides a service that I may or may not want. Do I give him money whether I want that service or not? In other words, do I treat him exactly as I treat a beggar?
 
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My nephew plays guitar, fiddle, and banjo. He also drove ambulance for a living

One week-end he did Busking with his guitar and sang. He made more money on a Saturday afternoon than he made driving ambulance all week.

Jim
 
BoskoBadovnic said:
do you assume that every street person is cadging quarters for a fix?
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It’s a pretty safe assumption in Canada, the US and other Western countries. People who really need help do not have to resort to begging on the street, and rarely do.

Also, you are not giving to the street busker out of pity. You are giving out of appreciation for making your day more pleasant and enriching your life, or, at least, making an honest attempt to.
 
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Busking is one thing.
Begging for money is quite another.
Food yes, although I am aware of the biblical passage on not working and not eating.
Money no.
 
Dobar dan Bosko!

I do the same as you.
In my mind,a beggar is usually in a more desperate situation and probably homeless unlike a busker who may be just collecting extra money to fund their trip around US or France etc.
 
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I’ve assumed that most buskers have no other way of getting money and would themselves be beggars if they didn’t know how to play a musical instrument, hence my question as to whether the two are practically the same from the money-giver’s point of view.
 
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BoskoBadovnic said:
I’ve assumed that most buskers have no other way of getting money and would themselves be beggars if they didn’t know how to play a musical instrument
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That’s probably an incorrect assumption in most cases in Western countries. The main exception being the Roma children with the accordions that plague public transport all over Western Europe, and the Roma brass bands that plague every town square. Their situation is particular sad.
 
In Harvard square, and in some cities that have a Subway type contraption, performers or buskers must audition or be approved for their spot. I know this for a fact. at least in Harvard square, you can’t really just decide to do it.

Whether they play the violin, juggle balls, are fire-eater or what have you, it’s the same case. This isn’t 19th century England. Some of them do it for exposure, there are unsigned artists, occasionally there are people that make a good living at music or they are a comfortable student and they just want to brighten people’s day with music as well, people that are out for the social experiment, etcetera. While the majority of them are not wealthy and are not just doing it for a lark, they are not homeless.

Some of them post a PayPal or venmo address. I know that quite some time ago, some took debit cards. If you enjoy the the entertainment, sure toss them some coins or a couple bucks if that’s what you would like to do, but do it for that reason not because you feel you are obligated to do it out of charity. Look at as more of you giving someone a tip for a job well done. Lots of them in key tourist areas make quite good livings
 
GordonP said:
It’s a pretty safe assumption in Canada, the US and other Western countries. People who really need help do not have to resort to begging on the street, and rarely do.
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I disagree with this assertion. Welfare services exist but on the whole they’re inadequate to the need.
 
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