She's not as dense as you think ........ Most of them have got houses .... And in many cases, cars.
I heard that there is a Big Issue seller who has a large house in a posh suburb of Edinburgh and drives a high-end car.
He seemingly gets dressed down and dropped of at his pitch every day and then picked up again a few hours later in the fancy car.
When he isn't dressed down to sell Big Issues, he is lording it up in his designer clothes in the west end cocktail bars and spending a fortune in the casinos.
He also goes away on foreign holidays several times a year.
I also heard that he shoots cats for fun.
It must be true, because I overheard a bloke in the pub saying it.
All the Big issue sellers round here seem to be Romanian gypsies, I just shake my head and walk by but am not rude to them. I have heard that they are controlled by the Romanian mafia who threaten other sellers away to get the best pitches for themselves.
It rocked Bournemouth a few years ago when a very well loved big issue seller who always sold outside m and s got beaten up and left for dead by some teenagers of only 14/15. His funeral was attended by hundreds of his customers and well wishers. The tragedy raised the profile of sellers and their back stories which has earned them respect locally. Sad it had to be that way. As for the perpetrators, they were found guilty but released after 2 years!
A Big Issue seller in Birmingham was stabbed a few years ago--by apparently another seller. They got into an argument over a pitch, that is, there actually do seem to be more lucrative places to sell Big Issue and it leads to fights etc. . I lived in the same house as one of the other sellers the police questioned about the stabbing (broad daylight outside a very busy Sainsburys). Yup,he wasn`t homeless,and told me over the week leading to Christmas he made £200,and there was me working minimum wage! There seems to be fewer of them in Brum now,but not all are homeless. I occassionally buy it from a Rumanian looking girl who actually uses the fact she`s a looker to get people,okay men,to buy a copy. She stands opposite my local Co-Op,no trouble,but can look emotionless and dismissive if you don`t buy a copy. The smile soon goes. I`d put money on her actually having somewhere to live. I think the person who talks about High Streets being irritating obstacle courses with chuggers had a point--add the Scientologists and religious shouters and buskers (I don`t like buskers for some irrational reason) and I tend to avoid Brum town centre. Big cities are a nightmare like that.
I live near a large city where there are loads of homeless people, and people with drug and alchohol problems, etc. And a lot of people, including those recovering from these problems, sell the Big Issue.
There is one seller in particular with whom I am good friends. I'll call him X. I always stop for a chat with him. He's such a nice man. He has a hell of a lot of problems, both physical and emotional - a very serious physical disease, and lots of mental hang-ups due to a childhood filled with abuse. However, instead of moping around feeling sorry for himself, he's out there, come rain or shine, selling his magazines. And being really nice to anyone who bothers to be nice to him.
But he's told me that so many people - passers-by, out shopping - say nasty things to him, and make very snide remarks about the most incredible things. They seem to think that a Big Issue seller equals "scum". And they seem to think that the fact he is standing there, selling his magazines, gives them carte blanche to say something really horrible, totally unprovoked, just due to the malicious pleasure it seems to give them to do it.
It would be bad enough to have people being horrible to you if you were a healthy, happy person, for whom everything in your life was rosy. But imagine what it must be like for someone who's got a myriad of problems and is very vulnerable to start with?
It just astounds me - or am I being naive? - that people can behave like this. Even if you for some reason disliked homeless people, what on earth would induce you to actually say something abusive to someone?
The things he tells me that people have said to him leave me dumbfounded. And very sad. Whatever happened to compassion?
Thoughts, anyone?
Some think they're above others. Some people are nasty pigs who might very well find themselves in the same situation one day.
I can be a right cold hearted piece of work at times but I have total respect for people selling the big issue. It's a lot harder to try and sell the big issue than just resorting to crime to make quicker cash.
I had a close friend who was a homeless heroin addict and she was a bloody inspiration to me for sure, very intelligent, well spoken and compassionate girl, she made me take a good look in the mirror when I was acting like the world revolved around me. We drifted apart but I still think a lot of her now. I was also priveleged enough to see her overcome the addiction and get back in the loop of society.
Whilst I'm not nasty towards them, but I certainly won't acknowledge their presence as I walk by. If they haven't got real jobs, they shouldn't be in this country. A few in the city centre also seem to be gang controlled, with a heavy often giving them a stern talking too.
Haven't actually seen a British, homeless and jobless Big Issue seller in years. I see them on the streets begging, but it seems the Roma gangs have scared them away from selling the magazine.
Whilst I'm not nasty towards them, but I certainly won't acknowledge their presence as I walk by. If they haven't got real jobs, they shouldn't be in this country. A few in the city centre also seem to be gang controlled, with a heavy often giving them a stern talking too.
Haven't actually seen a British, homeless and jobless Big Issue seller in years. I see them on the streets begging, but it seems the Roma gangs have scared them away from selling the magazine.
Good old British compassion. When did people start thinking like this I wonder?
I tend to feel more sorry than anything else for people who are obviously more disadvantaged than I am, whatever their nationality.
I live near a large city where there are loads of homeless people, and people with drug and alchohol problems, etc. And a lot of people, including those recovering from these problems, sell the Big Issue.
There is one seller in particular with whom I am good friends. I'll call him X. I always stop for a chat with him. He's such a nice man. He has a hell of a lot of problems, both physical and emotional - a very serious physical disease, and lots of mental hang-ups due to a childhood filled with abuse. However, instead of moping around feeling sorry for himself, he's out there, come rain or shine, selling his magazines. And being really nice to anyone who bothers to be nice to him.
But he's told me that so many people - passers-by, out shopping - say nasty things to him, and make very snide remarks about the most incredible things. They seem to think that a Big Issue seller equals "scum". And they seem to think that the fact he is standing there, selling his magazines, gives them carte blanche to say something really horrible, totally unprovoked, just due to the malicious pleasure it seems to give them to do it.
It would be bad enough to have people being horrible to you if you were a healthy, happy person, for whom everything in your life was rosy. But imagine what it must be like for someone who's got a myriad of problems and is very vulnerable to start with?
It just astounds me - or am I being naive? - that people can behave like this. Even if you for some reason disliked homeless people, what on earth would induce you to actually say something abusive to someone?
The things he tells me that people have said to him leave me dumbfounded. And very sad. Whatever happened to compassion?
Thoughts, anyone?
I tell them no thanks as I no money myself to spare.
Same goes to charity And anyone asking for money off me,
I got to think of myself 1st
I used to buy the Big Issue a lot in the couple of years after it was launched, specifically from a vendor near St Marys in Paddington, lovely he was. He always seemed very grateful for not only the money but the fact that people had really compassion for him.
Fast forward 15 years and we work in a small office in an affluent small town in Buckinghamshire where there is a female BI seller who arrives in a taxi and spends most if the day on her iPhone...yes, iPhone. Recalling my regular BI seller in London, he used to stand on the corner, occasionally shouting "Big Issue" and people would come to him, just like any other newspaper seller in London. The woman where we work addresses everyone individually at the shop entrance - meaning you have to actively refuse her before you go into the shop. What I'm trying to say is that some of them feel like a nuisance whereas you didn't get that vibe years ago. You do feel a bit harrased...then like a bastard if you completely ignore them - you can't win. I can see why some people get snappy.
There is also the underlying issue that back in the day, you had the feeling you were helping British people down on their luck, now you feel like buying the BI is just giving foreigners self employment status and all the benefits that entails, and some people aren't happy with that - perhaps that's why some people are getting abuse?
It's such a shame what has happened to the BI. I wouldn't buy it now. It's lost its purpose. So where are the likes of the guy from Paddington? There has been a big rise in homelessness in the last 3 years, so it's not like they don't exist anymore.
I used to buy the Big Issue a lot in the couple of years after it was launched, specifically from a vendor near St Marys in Paddington, lovely he was. He always seemed very grateful for not only the money but the fact that people had really compassion for him.
Fast forward 15 years and we work in a small office in an affluent small town in Buckinghamshire where there is a female BI seller who arrives in a taxi and spends most if the day on her iPhone...yes, iPhone. Recalling my regular BI seller in London, he used to stand on the corner, occasionally shouting "Big Issue" and people would come to him, just like any other newspaper seller in London. The woman where we work addresses everyone individually at the shop entrance - meaning you have to actively refuse her before you go into the shop. What I'm trying to say is that some of them feel like a nuisance whereas you didn't get that vibe years ago. You do feel a bit harrased...then like a bastard if you completely ignore them - you can't win. I can see why some people get snappy.
There is also the underlying issue that back in the day, you had the feeling you were helping British people down on their luck, now you feel like buying the BI is just giving foreigners self employment status and all the benefits that entails, and some people aren't happy with that - perhaps that's why some people are getting abuse?
It's such a shame what has happened to the BI. I wouldn't buy it now. It's lost its purpose. So where are the likes of the guy from Paddington? There has been a big rise in homelessness in the last 3 years, so it's not like they don't exist anymore.
Pretty much my experience too. In Norwich there are a few regular BI sellers who seem local from their accents. Out in the county though, in the small market towns they all appear to be Roma. I've seen them dropped off in cars early in the morning and they immediately block the pavements. They don't just call out "big issue" which I have no problem with but they wave their arms about and push the mag under your nose. Some of them also do a lot of pleading which I don't like. We had a Roma guy who used to come in the charity shop where I helped, pinch a load of fresh clothes and leave all his filthy ones behind.
Whilst I've not experienced that reaction I have received very sarcastic and rude responses from one Big Issue seller. It certainly does work both ways!
Even if true, it doesn't justify being rude to all sellers does it.
Whilst I'm not nasty towards them, but I certainly won't acknowledge their presence as I walk by. If they haven't got real jobs. hey shouldn't be in this country.
What's a real job?
How is selling a magazine that people wish to buy not a real job?
Perhaps I should go into my local newsagent and tell them to get a real job.
Reminds me of a beggar in a wheelchair who accosted me coming out of a taxi asking for money, i told him no, i had nothing spare to give, he then followed me in his chair to the cash point, then when i got my money out he asked again, he said, well you have money now, and held his hand out, i told him to piss off.
My group and i then qued up to get in to a bar, and while in the que the guy in the chair came past again, and one of the bouncers shouted to him (cant remember his name, but lets say its dave), so the bouncer shouts "hey dave, how you doing, we all got a curry tonight, and we got you one as well for your dinner", the "beggar" replied, "i hope it isnt lamb, i dont like lamb":o
Pretty much my experience too. In Norwich there are a few regular BI sellers who seem local from their accents. Out in the county though, in the small market towns they all appear to be Roma. I've seen them dropped off in cars early in the morning and they immediately block the pavements. They don't just call out "big issue" which I have no problem with but they wave their arms about and push the mag under your nose. Some of them also do a lot of pleading which I don't like. We had a Roma guy who used to come in the charity shop where I helped, pinch a load of fresh clothes and leave all his filthy ones behind.
I don't know how anyone knows who is Roma and who isn't, unless you know them personally to speak to.
I don't know how anyone knows who is Roma and who isn't, unless you know them personally to speak to.
Have they started to wear badges?
Firstly you can tell by their features, colouring and hair colour. They favour lots of layers of clothes and the women nearly always have their heads covered. The women wear very long skirts which is not common these days.
My neighbour lived and worked in Romania for 4 years and she agrees they are definitely Roma.
It's the same as gypsies here. You can spot them a mile off because they choose to dress a certain way. Women in tight Lycra dresses, huge earring and high heels. Men in open necked shirt, suit trousers tucked into rigger boots. The older men always wear machine knitted grandad type zip up patterned cardigans. Don't ask me why but they do.
Firstly you can tell by their features, colouring and hair colour. They favour lots of layers of clothes and the women nearly always have their heads covered. The women wear very long skirts which is not common these days.
My neighbour lived and worked in Romania for 4 years and she agrees they are definitely Roma.
It's the same as gypsies here. You can spot them a mile off because they choose to dress a certain way. Women in tight Lycra dresses, huge earring and high heels. Men in open necked shirt, suit trousers tucked into rigger boots. The older men always wear machine knitted grandad type zip up patterned cardigans. Don't ask me why but they do.
I don't think this is a good idea and I believe this is against the agreement they sign up to as well.
Well it's better than being rude to them or completely ignoring them as you walk past them.
Wasn't aware of the agreement; if this is true they could refuse to accept the quid and hand it back explaining about the agreement for seeking the magazines.
Comments
He seemingly gets dressed down and dropped of at his pitch every day and then picked up again a few hours later in the fancy car.
When he isn't dressed down to sell Big Issues, he is lording it up in his designer clothes in the west end cocktail bars and spending a fortune in the casinos.
He also goes away on foreign holidays several times a year.
I also heard that he shoots cats for fun.
It must be true, because I overheard a bloke in the pub saying it.
If you walk past him, either ignoring him or saying a polite no, he waits a few seconds and then calls out "thank you" in a sarcastic tone.
If I wanted to buy one, I wouldn't buy from him because of his poor attitude.
And yes, not all of them are homeless as someone in this thread has already said.
A Big Issue seller in Birmingham was stabbed a few years ago--by apparently another seller. They got into an argument over a pitch, that is, there actually do seem to be more lucrative places to sell Big Issue and it leads to fights etc. . I lived in the same house as one of the other sellers the police questioned about the stabbing (broad daylight outside a very busy Sainsburys). Yup,he wasn`t homeless,and told me over the week leading to Christmas he made £200,and there was me working minimum wage! There seems to be fewer of them in Brum now,but not all are homeless. I occassionally buy it from a Rumanian looking girl who actually uses the fact she`s a looker to get people,okay men,to buy a copy. She stands opposite my local Co-Op,no trouble,but can look emotionless and dismissive if you don`t buy a copy. The smile soon goes. I`d put money on her actually having somewhere to live. I think the person who talks about High Streets being irritating obstacle courses with chuggers had a point--add the Scientologists and religious shouters and buskers (I don`t like buskers for some irrational reason) and I tend to avoid Brum town centre. Big cities are a nightmare like that.
Some think they're above others. Some people are nasty pigs who might very well find themselves in the same situation one day.
This - If only more people would do this.
Do the same.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8519573/Big-Issue-sellers-no-longer-need-to-be-homeless.html
I don't think this is a good idea and I believe this is against the agreement they sign up to as well.
I had a close friend who was a homeless heroin addict and she was a bloody inspiration to me for sure, very intelligent, well spoken and compassionate girl, she made me take a good look in the mirror when I was acting like the world revolved around me. We drifted apart but I still think a lot of her now. I was also priveleged enough to see her overcome the addiction and get back in the loop of society.
Haven't actually seen a British, homeless and jobless Big Issue seller in years. I see them on the streets begging, but it seems the Roma gangs have scared them away from selling the magazine.
Good old British compassion. When did people start thinking like this I wonder?
I tend to feel more sorry than anything else for people who are obviously more disadvantaged than I am, whatever their nationality.
I tell them no thanks as I no money myself to spare.
Same goes to charity And anyone asking for money off me,
I got to think of myself 1st
Fast forward 15 years and we work in a small office in an affluent small town in Buckinghamshire where there is a female BI seller who arrives in a taxi and spends most if the day on her iPhone...yes, iPhone. Recalling my regular BI seller in London, he used to stand on the corner, occasionally shouting "Big Issue" and people would come to him, just like any other newspaper seller in London. The woman where we work addresses everyone individually at the shop entrance - meaning you have to actively refuse her before you go into the shop. What I'm trying to say is that some of them feel like a nuisance whereas you didn't get that vibe years ago. You do feel a bit harrased...then like a bastard if you completely ignore them - you can't win. I can see why some people get snappy.
There is also the underlying issue that back in the day, you had the feeling you were helping British people down on their luck, now you feel like buying the BI is just giving foreigners self employment status and all the benefits that entails, and some people aren't happy with that - perhaps that's why some people are getting abuse?
It's such a shame what has happened to the BI. I wouldn't buy it now. It's lost its purpose. So where are the likes of the guy from Paddington? There has been a big rise in homelessness in the last 3 years, so it's not like they don't exist anymore.
Pretty much my experience too. In Norwich there are a few regular BI sellers who seem local from their accents. Out in the county though, in the small market towns they all appear to be Roma. I've seen them dropped off in cars early in the morning and they immediately block the pavements. They don't just call out "big issue" which I have no problem with but they wave their arms about and push the mag under your nose. Some of them also do a lot of pleading which I don't like. We had a Roma guy who used to come in the charity shop where I helped, pinch a load of fresh clothes and leave all his filthy ones behind.
Even if true, it doesn't justify being rude to all sellers does it.
What's a real job?
How is selling a magazine that people wish to buy not a real job?
Perhaps I should go into my local newsagent and tell them to get a real job.
My group and i then qued up to get in to a bar, and while in the que the guy in the chair came past again, and one of the bouncers shouted to him (cant remember his name, but lets say its dave), so the bouncer shouts "hey dave, how you doing, we all got a curry tonight, and we got you one as well for your dinner", the "beggar" replied, "i hope it isnt lamb, i dont like lamb":o
Beggars it seems, can be choosers.
Have they started to wear badges?
when they speak to you ,you can tell if they Foreign by there accent.
But specifically Roma?
What?
They said they give the seller a quid, and tell the seller to KEEP the magazine. Nobody is short changing anyone.
The women mostly wear long skirts and headscarves, and the men wear brightly coloured track suits.
Firstly you can tell by their features, colouring and hair colour. They favour lots of layers of clothes and the women nearly always have their heads covered. The women wear very long skirts which is not common these days.
My neighbour lived and worked in Romania for 4 years and she agrees they are definitely Roma.
It's the same as gypsies here. You can spot them a mile off because they choose to dress a certain way. Women in tight Lycra dresses, huge earring and high heels. Men in open necked shirt, suit trousers tucked into rigger boots. The older men always wear machine knitted grandad type zip up patterned cardigans. Don't ask me why but they do.
Well it's better than being rude to them or completely ignoring them as you walk past them.
Wasn't aware of the agreement; if this is true they could refuse to accept the quid and hand it back explaining about the agreement for seeking the magazines.