Way to Russia Talk Lounge

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 600

Those women are beggars. Usually the sign says the father is dead or there's some sad story there. Is it that strange? Begging must bring in decent money in Moscow.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 676 Location: Moscow

One of my co-workers died last year. He was 25 and the father of a 4 month old baby. His widow was 21.

Gratefully she had family to help take care of her. I suppose women without family are left to beg. There is no social safety net in Russia.

I give money to beggars all the time. And food and beer or whatever I have on me at the time. I often buy things on the street and in the Metro I don't want just because the sellers (always women) need the money.

The only people I never ever give money to are

Gypsies

And those black leather outfitted kids playing bad rock in the perehods. They are really annoying.

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

nikir · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject:

I've heard from many people that these women are all working for the mafia.

Never been sure if that's an urban myth or not, however my own philosophy has always been one of gut reaction. Consequently more often than not I end up parting with a few roubles in the perehods. Big deal.

The rockers get some too, late at night and well affected by alcohol, some of them sound pretty bloody good!

jo jo 7 · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject:

If I was there and can spare some change (rubles) then I would give it to them. You never know they could really need it. Then they could be faking pregnancy, who knows. I wouldn't want to just assume they are or not. I would not beg if I was pregnant, I would get out and go some place else where I know that I would be able to get some help instead of staying in a place that doesn't give a damn whether I make it or not.

BTW, where are their families, not ex-husbands, not deceased husbands more like mother-n-law, father-n-law (if she is a widow) or her family? Why would they allow this? What happen to this mentality that Russians take care of each other? Where did that go?

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

If it were still Soviet times, would these pregnant women be begging in the Metro? I'm wondering if 'managed democracy' has had a positive or negative effect on such begging?

jo jo 7 · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject:

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 600

Now that I think about it, I don't remember seeing any homeless people begging in Moscow. They used to hit me up for beer and cigarettes but I don't remember them actually begging. Without sounding too cynical, maybe you need a good angle to bring in the big begging dough.

I heard the mafia thing a lot as well. Thing is that I've heard that in several countries which makes me think that it's just a handy excuse not to give any money.

StephenB. · VIP Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 807

StephenB. · VIP Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 807

Daria · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:06 am Post subject: Re: 'Conception Day'

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070926/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_russia_baby_1

They make 'em big in Russia.

jo jo 7 · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 446