General Chat

We would have bought the lad a coffee but he already had one.

Ann
Glos

Yes Maddy you are quite right... there but for the grace of god!!

We used to have one every week, but th elad is not there these days.... perhaps his luck has changed??
I hope so.
Deanna X

Like Jacqueline I dont buy the Big Issue,but I give money.Its a case of "There but for the grace of God,go I"


Maddy

never buy the big issue but always give the sellers a pound and if they are near a bakers buy them a pie and a coffee they need it this weather
Love Jackie

I buy one every fortnight which is normally when i go to the bigger shopping town as they dont have any vendors in the town near me. There are two regular vendors in the town they seem to take it in turns but they are always very polite and have a little chat. I think its a worthwhile cause as it makes us all more aware of the homeless situation and gives the people involved some pride and self worth. And afterall what is £1.50 to most of us really not alot is it but it makes a difference.

Jax xx

The sellers even say 'thankyou' if you don't buy one. I think the thanks is 'cos I acknowledge their presence.

LW

I wish we had a Big Issue where I am in Canada ... I think there have been attempts. Maybe in Vancouver.

I got a kick out of buying an issue one day in London, when my mum and I visited in 1994, and then an issue of the local equivalent the next day in Calais, when we went over for lunch on a lark for one day of our two-week trip to England. That's my idea of what to do on holiday; learn stuff about where you are.

I did notice that the English tourists in Calais who accompanied us on the ferry were singularly dismissive of the local person selling the paper there. But then *all* tourists are rude (not just the French in England! ... and dang, they were rude), and I guess they probably didn't read French anyhow ...

Yes we have a very nice man that sells big issue in our village, everyone stops and chats to him.

I know what it is to be homeless even if it was for a very short time.

skwirrel

Yes, i meant to say, I do always smile at them and say no thank you when I don't buy. Usually the reason I don't buy is because I don't want to have to carry it. actually sometimes there are interesting pieces in the magazine.

Ann
Glos

I don't always buy one Ann, but whenever I pass a seller and he asks me Big Issue? I always say sorry no, or acknowledge him, not just ignore him as some other people do. I think it must be awful for them to be treated as tho they are invisible.
Lizx

I bought my first copy for ages yesterday, the poor lad looked so cold and he was shivering. it was a bumper issue costing £2. he will keep £1 of that. Within the magazine there is a piece by 'the Big Issue Man' Graham Walker. I thought that something he said made a lot of sense.

" Christmas, when, for one week only, the media declare a ceasefire on their war with the homeless. When they electronically Tippex out their predictable rhetoric -'druggies', 'down and outs'- and replace it with 'poor', 'unfortunate' and 'underclass'.

Christmas when, for one week only, The Big Issue sales barometer, with one gentle tap, registers b****y high."

It made me think that, yes, I do tend to buy a copy at Christmas and on very cold days when really I should be buying it whenever I see it Normally the cost is only £1.50 (the sellers buy them for 75p and keep the profit.) The Big Issue organisation helps with support to the sellers to keep them off drink and drugs. I think my NY resolution will be to buy more copies. £1.50, the cost of a Woman's magazine, or a cup of coffee in town, not a lot to me but so much more to a homeless person trying to regain self respect.

ann
Glos