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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
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We actually met an old homeless man outside Taipei Railway Station who asked us to buy him a coffee! I obliged, even took a photo with him (showing him what a saint I was lol jk). There were a few like him sleeping outside at night, at least it wasn't too cold. As a kid I used to see this in Singapore even, moreso Malaysia, but the government likes to pretend they don't exist. They do exist, however, like in any city. HK has an even greater wealth gap.
I live in Australia too. There is a huge Asian population who have been in Australia for decades, and yet I can't remember ever seeing even 1 Asian hobo around the streets of Perth. I wondered if there was something about Asian culture which explained the absence of Asian hobos [taking care of their own?]. Most hobos here are white or Aboriginal. My friend went to Singapore and he said he couldn't remember seeing any homeless people at all.
I would have thought wealthier Asian countries would have social security programs to look after their poor. Apparently not.
That was kind of you to buy him a coffee. I prefer to give food to homeless people I come across. It 's good karma. I never give money though in case it is spent on cigarettes or other nonsense.
^ You probably don't see Asian hobos in Australia because Asians who emigrate to other countries are usually well-off. Hobos don't emigrate because they can't. If you want to see homeless Asians, go to almost any Southeast Asian country. That's not a knock against Southeast Asia, it's the truth.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by StabbyAbby
I live in Australia too. There is a huge Asian population who have been in Australia for decades, and yet I can't remember ever seeing even 1 Asian hobo around the streets of Perth. I wondered if there was something about Asian culture which explained the absence of Asian hobos [taking care of their own?]. Most hobos here are white or Aboriginal. My friend went to Singapore and he said he couldn't remember seeing any homeless people at all.
I would have thought wealthier Asian countries would have social security programs to look after their poor. Apparently not.
That was kind of you to buy him a coffee. I prefer to give food to homeless people I come across. It 's good karma. I never give money though in case it is spent on cigarettes or other nonsense.
Oh yeah, I think he just wanted a coffee. Yeah it did feel good to do it, although I don't pretend I'm a really good person.
I was in Sri Lanka and gave some money to beggars/homeless people but it was chump change for me. Probably a fortune to them though.
For being so advanced Singapore barely has a social security system. You're expected to rely on family. Sometimes it's easy to miss but there is poverty in Singapore.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smtchll
^ You probably don't see Asian hobos in Australia because Asians who emigrate to other countries are usually well-off. Hobos don't emigrate because they can't. If you want to see homeless Asians, go to almost any Southeast Asian country. That's not a knock against Southeast Asia, it's the truth.
That's it, although some Asian groups such as the refugees, particularly from Vietnam, weren't so well off. You could see them in places like Cabramatta or Footscray. They've risen the ladder and it's not as bad as the 80s or 90s, but a lot were involved in drugs, gangs and no doubt there were some homeless ones. Asian culture is still family orientated, though, so they could usually rely on family.
Oh yeah, I think he just wanted a coffee. Yeah it did feel good to do it, although I don't pretend I'm a really good person.
I was in Sri Lanka and gave some money to beggars/homeless people but it was chump change for me. Probably a fortune to them though.
For being so advanced Singapore barely has a social security system. You're expected to rely on family. Sometimes it's easy to miss but there is poverty in Singapore.
In the words of Lee Kuan Yew, "social security systems make people lazy". People are expected to work and earn enough money to take care of themselves into the old age, otherwise all they do would be relying on the government to hand out free food and cash, which is something the government would not like to see.
Hardly ever in Seoul, it just amazing how such a huge city could have so few visible homeless people, they exist of course, possibly just hidden from view and too ashamed to go out and ask for money, I don’t think I have ever being asked for money in Seoul.
Oddly enough I remember seeing quite a few beggars in parts of China, you see these people in the street showing off sometimes very gruesome injuries, and (often they are fake) asking for money.
One very memorable occurrence happened In Dali (Yunnan) I was once sitting at a cafe in a street filled with them in the old town. Some guy with not legs shows up out of nowhere ,throws what I could only described as a fit of some sort, and then rolls all the way down the street with his hand out, while continuing to make these terrible screeching noises.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyh
In the words of Lee Kuan Yew, "social security systems make people lazy". People are expected to work and earn enough money to take care of themselves into the old age, otherwise all they do would be relying on the government to hand out free food and cash, which is something the government would not like to see.
Well most people generally agree with the PAP, and considering what Uncle Lee has done for the country many don't want to question him or his successors.
^ You probably don't see Asian hobos in Australia because Asians who emigrate to other countries are usually well-off. Hobos don't emigrate because they can't. If you want to see homeless Asians, go to almost any Southeast Asian country. That's not a knock against Southeast Asia, it's the truth.
Please visit Sydney. If you want to see Asian hobos you will have a frenzy here. Check out Grand Central and Town Hall Train Stations.
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