Has Anyone Come Across

[emmie]

this.
I was on an overground train, and this middle aged chap came wandering up the carriages, handing a little piece of typed paper and a small pack of tissues to all the passengers. The typed message said i am homeless and have no money... I would have said he was Chinese, but truly no idea, i was rather stumped...

[emmie]

he was reasonably well dressed, not that shows anything of the person's finances

[tonyav]

Wonder where he got the money from to buy the small packs of tissues ?.

[Baldric]

Not that recycled stuff we were talking about the other day?

[emmie]

or the rail fare,

[emmie]

no those little packs of tissues you can buy at super saver stores or in bulk for three quid or whatever...

[knowabit]

Did he not come back and ask for money for the tissues, or take the tissues back if you did not give him any money?

[vakayu]

Very strange emmie,the price of the fare and packets of tissues would have bought a few meals for him.

[emmie]

he walked down the carriages and looked at everyone, some gave him some money, those who didn't he took the tissues and the note back and walked back down the carriage. I must admit that begging on the train is a new one on me, I was in a cafe the other day, and a couple came in with their hands out asking for money, the manager wasn't best pleased.

[tonyav]

I wonder if he went the whole journey ?, did he get off before you emmie ?.

[emmie]

don't think so, but if there are no guards, ticket inspectors on perhaps he just kept on changing trains, very odd.

[tonyav]

In that case emmie, he may have only had a platform ticket or no ticket at all.

[emmie]

don't know whether you can get platform tickets now, but even so, it seemed rather odd. Some years ago we would get young Chinese girls and blokes flogging cd, dvd round the pubs, a friend bought some, told him not to, the quality was rubbish...

[emmie]

you generally can't get through barriers at the main stations, you need a pass, ticket.

[SlackAlice]

Happens all the time on the Underground.

[DTCwordfan]

He's a famous Chinese beggar, emmie - Mr. Mon Ey Lo

[weecalf]

May if you gave him money he would have issued a tisIOU

[emmie]

i have seen beggars on the underground but never on main line trains.

[emmie]

in case you are wondering, no i didn't give him any money, he looked rather miffed, and he positively glared at the poor woman opposite, very very strange...

[josaphine32]

I would happily buy them a coffee or a meal deal, or pay for there food, but I would not hand money over, I would go as far as to find them a hostle or room and pay, I know some are desperate without addiction, and I would gladly help, but I wouldnt hand money over, I went to london in may, and as I came out of victoria bus station around 12am, I was on the bus and saw a couple asleep in the door way of the depot, how could they have slept there with all the buses and pollution, and noise of all the buses coming out of the station, I wanted to get off and help them, but it was too late, it bothers me even now,

[emmie]

this chap was on the train, as we were heading out.