Begging is an art that has been adopted by those in poverty around the world. Although it is often viewed as a last resort, the practice is not only complicated and controversial but involves many techniques and methods. Here, we will take a step further with respect to the “art” of begging–which can actually go as far as child exploitation–and look at some of procedures that are applied by mendicants in this feature.
Depending on culture and societal context, begging methods and techniques can vary significantly. There are a number of common methods (i.e., from panhandling, singing or acting, selling items, asking for stories, providing services, to GoFundMe pages on the internet). They vary in their effectiveness at eliciting sympathy and empathy from potential donators, yet they unwaveringly present the potential for exploitation and manipulation.
Innovative Tactics: A Deep Dive into Different Ways of Begging
Creative methods for ensuring beggars’ success have been developed. In order to gain people’s attention, some beggars take advantage of the Internet. Others use more flamboyant means to tell their stories, such as making use of props or dresses. More “senior” beggars often utilize a more classical manner, typically by just asking straight up for money or food on the street.
Now we shall examine in greater depth the techniques of solicitation which may require a more in-depth analysis than what is visible to the naked eye.
- Panhandling – The practice of soliciting donations from bystanders while one is standing on a street or in a public area is the oldest, simplest, and most straightforward technique.
- Singing or performing – Some beggars may have artistic or musical abilities and hence use these talents to entertain people for money.
- Selling goods – Some people use the street to make a living by hawking items like food, flowers, trinkets, and tissues.
- Begging with a story – Often, beggars approach people and explain why they need money, elaborating on an emergency situation, often involving supporting family members.
- Exploitation of Minors – Some beggars may employ young children or even infants to elicit pity and empathy from passersby.
- Offering a service – Some beggars may offer a service in exchange for payment, such as carrying luggage or washing windshields (often times, involuntarily, in that the luggage is gone and the windshield washed before the rightful owner can protest)!
- Online begging – With the popularity of social media, some individuals are now able to use GoFundMe (in foreign countries) and other similar services to solicit donations from the general public, or they can even solicit funds in the comments section of well-liked social media pages.
Child Abuse in Begging
In some cases, the use of babies for begging is part of a wider network of abuse and exploitation. Trafficking of young children for begging is a growing problem in many parts of the world. Babies can be kidnapped, bought, borrowed or taken from their families and forced to beg on the streets, or to accompany the perpetrator who poses as the guardian, in the act. This is an extremely exploitative and perilous practice that must be urgently addressed in an aggressive and systematic manner.
Although it has been controversial and criticized by many, the use of children in this manner is undoubtedly effective. People often give money or food to the mother of a crying baby rather than to a solitary beggar. Just the sight of a helpless child triggers an emotional response in most people with an iota of sympathy, who in turn are compelled to act upon what they perceive as their obligation to help. In some cases, the child in question is a mere infant or pre-speech toddler, and the begging “parent” will reach out to ask for money or food.
Giving syrup or other substances to effectuate drowsiness–or even “better” yet, sleep–in order to keep them from “bothering” the beggar–is obviously not just unethical, but also incredibly dangerous. Babies are especially sensitive to the effects of drugs and other substances, and giving them anything without medical guidance invariably places their health and safety at risk.
In addition to obvious basics of proper nutrition, hygiene and healthcare, children must be taken care of on a socio-emotional and intellectual level. Neglecting these basic needs in favor of begging can have serious long-term consequences for a child’s health and development. It can also be academically harmful to the child, who may be pulled out of school or denied access to primary care at the expense of the begging arrangement.
Street Smarts: Location = Donation
The tactics used by beggars in collecting money may often be influenced by the location in which they are perpetrating their actions. In other words, a beggar near the hospital could claim that he was ill and needed money to buy medication or to cover health care. Similarly, a beggar may claim to be hungry and without sustenance for days, thus strategically placing herself proximate to a preferred restaurant or cafe. At the same time, if they are nearby to a neighborhood shop or kiosk, some beggars might pinpoint their requests to specific items such as milk or bread.
Deconstructing Begging Techniques: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
In order to draw the attention of curious pedestrians and encourage them to cough up spare change–or more substantial donations–beggars may employ a variety of techniques. Some common methodology has been identified as follows:
- Verbal Appeals: Beggars might use various phrases and words to attract people’s attention, such as “save money” (chi srifa); “Please Help;” or “Everyone, Help.” In order to draw sympathy, they might use a warm or pleading tone.
- Gestures: Beggars can use hand gestures to indicate their need for assistance (i.e., by extending a hand or reaching out for a bowl while placing an arm over the heart or forehead).
- Signs: Some beggars may use signs or posters to inform the public of their situation and need for assistance. Messages like “Homeless and Hungry,” and “Disabled in Need” often accompany their presence.
- Props: To draw attention and encourage the public to donate money or other resources, beggars may utilize various visuals such as pets or musical instruments.
- Dress and appearance: In order to garner attention and sympathy, beggars may dress in a variety of ways or utilize certain cosmetics. They may wear torn or dirty clothes, for example, appearing to be in a state of disarray.
Words that Work: Understanding the Language of Beggars
Now we will look at the language of beggars in this story, and what it reveals about their motives. According to Abou El Haja Zaid, a former student at the University of Mohammed V who conducted research entitled, “How Slaoui Beggars Manage to Get Money Using Words,” Beggars’ language is actually focused on requests for donations. In fact, the research showed that 78 % of beggars’ statements were requests, while only 18% followed with a description of their state of affairs.
This means that the primary purpose of the beggars’ speech is to make requests, and that most of these requests are made through performative utterances.
The study gleaned a curious observation in that all of the performative expressions in the data were primary performatives, which means that they are used for an action with no performance verb. For example, the utterance “3tini” (give me) is a primary performative because it is used to perform the action of requesting without the use of a performative verb like “I request that you give me.”
Moreover, it shows that the majority of requests made by beggars came in the form of requests for donations. These requests came in a variety of forms, (i.e., prayers, incipient requests and direct applications with appropriate words). For one thing, prayers may have originally been used as a gesture of gratitude after an acquisition had taken place, but they gradually evolved to become the method of asking for donations, certainly a type of manipulation, if you will.
Real-Life Examples of Begging Language from the Streets:
* Female, in her 60s: “Lah yerhem lik lwalidine” (May Allah have mercy on your parents).
* Male, in his 50s: “Ghir reb3a driyal lah yerhem lwalidine” (Just 20 cents, may Allah have mercy on your parents).
* Female, in her late 20s: “3afak shri hada a khouya” (Would you please buy this, brother).
* Male, in his early 30s: “3afak bghit nkemel flouss taxi” (Would you please give me enough for a cab fare)?
* Female, 10 years old: “3afak dowar m3aya, baba miyet” (Would you please donate some money; I’m an orphan).
* Male, 11 years old: “3afak 3emi 3tini derham” (Sir, would you please give me a dirham).
It is worth remembering that begging is often a symptom of wider social and economic problems. Poverty, unemployment and lack of access to education and healthcare are some of the root causes of begging. It is important to approach begging with empathy and understanding, notwithstanding the need for caution and vigilance regarding potential scams and exploitation.