An brief encounter in Nanning...

[Joanne]

Dennis, I have no doubt that your woman was destitute but when in China you have to watch out for scams. In Nanjing there is a skinny boy that has his leg hooked behind his head and moves around on a big board with wheels. He looks pitiful and many people give him money. But, the guy that drives him and some others to work, gets the money. Same with the little girls selling flowers. By giving them money, you encourage begging. Just like the bums on the street corners here.

 

You did good however but did you ever figure out what the guy was upset about?

164529[/snapback]

The streets were pretty empty that morning. This man saw me give this woman money. I assumed that we was deriding her because of it. But, that's only a guess.

 

I do recall seeing severly crippled persons pushing themselves on wheeled boards. I don't recall seeing any begging, however.

 

I don't believe this woman was scamming me, as she didn't even know that I was coming up behind her. And, the filth on her and her garments, certainly looked like someone who was living on the streets.

 

In one of CFL member's China journals, she writes how she came to realize the small value that the Chinese seem to put on human life. It seemed to her that it does not matter if someone dies. Maybe, because there are so many people? This seemingly complete lack of compassion is just mind boggling to me. I suppose, I'm just learning about the world outside the USA.

164533[/snapback]

My best guess is that the man felt ashamed that the lady was seen digging through trash by a foreigner. It is quite common that one Chinese did something shameful in front a foreigner, and other Chinese people feel losing face.

[Joanne]

I hate professional beggars, particularly the organizers of professional beggars.

 

I would like to offer help to people who really need it. (When professional beggars is common) I would rather buying 10 yuan worth of tissue paper which I don't need than giving 1 yuan to the person who come begging.

[Joanne]

Of course, I don't think the lady you see is a scam, Dennis. She is working hard trying to support herself and her baby. Your help would be very much appreciated. You have a "good heart"!

Edited October 31, 2005 by Joanne (see edit history)

[Dennis143]

Of course, I don't think the lady you see is a scam, Dennis.  She is working hard trying to support herself and her baby.  Your help would be very much appreciated.  You have a "good heart"!

164668[/snapback]

Thanks, Joanne. I often wish I had given her more...