The Big Issue Magazine

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone.

Just a few questions Do you buy the Big Issue? If so do you buy it because you think its a good read or because you feel sympathy for the seller? If you don't buy it are you prepared to say why? I'm not looking to judge people on whether they buy it or not, I'm just curious that's all

For what its worth I buy two copies a week; one for my wife and I to read and the other copy is brought into work for colleagues to read.

Just curious that's all

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[DaleCooper]

I used to buy it mainly out of sympathy, I never read it and eventually I stopped buying. There is one seller who I often see and I give him a quid without taking a copy. As all the sellers I have come across have been very polite and discreet (unlike the charity direct debit collectors) I am careful to say "No thanks" rather than just ignore them as some do.

 

[me123]

No, mostly because I haven't seen one in some time. I don't encounter big issue sellers anywhere in my daily routine now and actually haven't seen one to my recollection since I've moved to North Wales.

I used to buy one from the guy outside Patrick station when I passed though. Not a great read, but slightly more interesting than the scenery of the North Clyde Line. I hope the guy's doing well.

I recently heard that the Romanian Mafia had taken over management of the Big Issue, but I'm pretty sure that was part of a right wing smear campaign against some of the local sellers in Coatbridge.

 

[Antman]

I buy one now and again but rarely get time to read it. As already mentioned the sellers are always polite and not in your face like chuggers who I never give anything to.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I recently heard that the Romanian Mafia had taken over management of the Big Issue, but I'm pretty sure that was part of a right wing smear campaign against some of the local sellers in Coatbridge.

I can assure you that hasn't happened Perhaps those right wingers should be smeared in something else

 

[Bromley boy]

I have bought it on occasion, although I don't take a copy from the seller, I just give them the price of the magazine.

The concern I have with it is that the seller keeps their profits and may spend them on whatever addiction has put them in the position of needing to sell it.

I've done a bit of voluntary work at soup kitchens in the past, and I think this is a more constructive way to help the homeless.

 

[me123]

I can assure you that hasn't happened Perhaps those right wingers should be smeared in something else

It was all part of a very surreal conversation; which included the Welsh language not being real, and Boko Haram taking over a school in Govan. Proper tinfoil hat stuff.

 

[Antman]

I can assure you that hasn't happened Perhaps those right wingers should be smeared in something else

Oh dear, not more stereotyping and conspiracy theories?:roll:

 

[Cowley]

I used to buy it and read it but I haven't for ages now, mind you I don't buy any of the papers now, just the occasional railway magazine to read in the bath.
I sometimes give people that are living on the street a pasty rather than money especially in winter.
I was working in Topsham last week (quite a well to do place) and I overheard some old dears talking about how happy they were that they'd got rid of the Big Issue seller who apparently dared to push his paper on them. Nice eh?

 

[me123]

The concern I have with it is that the seller keeps their profits and may spend them on whatever addiction has put them in the position of needing to sell it.

What an absolutely repulsive statement. How do you know that they're in that position from an addiction? And even if they are, do you not recognise that addictions are real illnesses?

There are many reasons for being homeless - actually it's mostly due to relationship breakdowns rather than an addiction. And doesn't the fact that the seller is out there trying to turn his life around represent that they are committed to improving their lives? The Big Issue gives sellers a small number of magazines free of charge at the start of their career, but after that it's all up to them. They have to run it like a business - they buy the magazines from the distributor and sell it on. They make £1.25 on each magazine.

It is a business, not charity. As such, you really should take the magazine. And as the profits are the seller's wages... I have to ask you, do you really ask all business owners what they do with their wages when you buy things from them?

Read more here.

I've done a bit of voluntary work at soup kitchens in the past, and I think this is a more constructive way to help the homeless.

It's admirable and commendable that you've dedicated your time in such a way - I can honestly say that I haven't. But it's a very short term solution. Supporting the sellers' miniature business is much more likely to help them in the long term.

 

[AlterEgo]

I've never bought one.

 

[Bromley boy]

What an absolutely repulsive statement. How do you know that they're in that position from an addiction? And even if they are, do you not recognise that addictions are real illnesses?

There are many reasons for being homeless - actually it's mostly due to relationship breakdowns rather than an addiction. And doesn't the fact that the seller is out there trying to turn his life around represent that they are committed to improving their lives? The Big Issue gives sellers a small number of magazines free of charge at the start of their career, but after that it's all up to them. They have to run it like a business - they buy the magazines from the distributor and sell it on. They make £1.25 on each magazine.

It is a business, not charity. As such, you really should take the magazine. And as the profits are the seller's wages... I have to ask you, do you really ask all business owners what they do with their wages when you buy things from them?

Read more here.



It's admirable and commendable that you've dedicated your time in such a way - I can honestly say that I haven't. But it's a very short term solution. Supporting the sellers' miniature business is much more likely to help them in the long term.

I find that response quite offensive, and very patronising.

Of course I don't know what has put the seller in that position but you're naive in the extreme of you don't believe addiction and substance abuse play a major role in homelessness. I'm certainly not trivialising those issues, but I don't want to contribute to them, as then I'm part of the problem rather than the solution.

Of course I don't ask all business owners what they do with their profits. What an inane question. Buying a copy of the Big Issue is hardly like buying a sandwich from Sainsbury's.

 

[shredder1]

I`ve worked with the homeless, drug, alcohol and other social issues, in relation to the homeless, I if I see one sat outside one of the fast food outlets in the morning on my way to you, I usually take them in and tell them to order what they want.

 

[me123]

I find that response quite offensive, and very patronising.

Of course I don't know what has put the seller in that position but you're naive in the extreme of you don't believe addiction and substance abuse play a major role in homelessness. I'm certainly not trivialising those issues, but I don't want to contribute to them, as then I'm part of the problem rather than the solution.

Of course I don't ask all business owners what they do with their profits. What an inane question. Buying a copy of the Big Issue is hardly like buying a sandwich from Sainsbury's.

I find it incredibly offensive that you make presumptions about people's lives based on the fact that they are selling the Big Issue. I bet quite a lot of successful business people have addictions. By your own standards I don't see why you can shop at any retail establishment on the grounds that their shareholders may well have an alcohol/gambling/other addiction.

 

[najaB]

Buying a copy of the Big Issue is hardly like buying a sandwich from Sainsbury's.

It is actually exactly like buying a sandwich from Sainsbury's - Big Issue sellers are self-employed businesspeople. They buy stock, market it and sell it and keep any profit.

 

[Domh245]

I've only ever purchased one copy, from the chap who is outside Nottingham Station near the Tesco (with the dog) and then read it on the tram back to uni - it seemed an interesting enough magazine. The main reason I bought it was because I found myself chatting to the guy and felt reasonably compelled to buy a copy after talking to him

 

[alxndr]

I've brought one about theee years ago, and often thought about him since, although I've never come across that particular vendor again. I was at quite a low point, and all too aware that if it wasn't for a fortunate coming together of events it wouldn't have been outside the realm of possibility that I could have ended up on the streets myself. He let me spend a few minutes playing with his dog, Sizzles, which I was immensely grateful for as circumstances meant that it looked unlikely I'd ever get to see the family dog again.

I did try emailing the Big Issue to see if they could pass my thanks on to him, but I never got a response so don't know if it was ever sent on. He seemed a genuinely nice bloke.

The magazine itself was a surprisingly good read, but I tend to avoid towns centres and rarely carry change, so haven't had the opportunity to buy one since.

 

[Bromley boy]

It is actually exactly like buying a sandwich from Sainsbury's - Big Issue sellers are self-employed businesspeople. They buy stock, market it and sell it and keep any profit.

Oh come off it!

Buying a Big Issue is hardly the same as buying a sandwich from a FTSE100 retailer. As one of the more informed and eloquent posters on this forum, you must be well aware of that.

To be clear, I'm not judging them. There, but for the grace of God, go all of us.

I'm just not convinced that buying the Big Issue is necessarily anymore helpful than handing out cash to people who ask for it, given the unknown circumstances of the seller.

 

[fowler9]

I buy it from time to time and have a chat with the people selling it outside Lime Street. On 2 occasions I have gone beyond buying it and given them enough to get a hostel for the night. On both occasions I have never seen them outside Lime Street again. I hope it is because they had gone on to do what they said they were doing and not that something worse had happened. A good friend of mine volunteered with Big Issue in Liverpool and as I understand it they are very strict with substance abuse and what goes on whilst supporting at the same time.

 

[najaB]

I'm just not convinced that buying the Big Issue is necessarily anymore helpful than handing out cash to people who ask for it, given the unknown circumstances of the seller.

Again: the way they get the magazines to sell is by buying them. If you honestly can't see the difference between just giving money to people, and supporting a business venture then I don't know what else I can say.

Buying a Big Issue is hardly the same as buying a sandwich from a FTSE100 retailer.

The only difference is the scale of the business. And if news headlines are anything to go by, major businesses aren't immune from illegal and/or immoral practices.

 

[Bromley boy]

Again: the way they get the magazines to sell is by buying them. If you honestly can't see the difference between just giving money to people, and supporting a business venture then I don't know what else I can say.

The only difference is the scale of the business. And if news headlines are anything to go by, major businesses aren't immune from illegal and/or immoral practices.

I'm aware of how the business model works, thanks. If you don't see the difference between a Big Issue seller and a FTSE100 company there's nothing more I can say!

My understanding is that there isn't much control over what the sellers do with the profits of sale. They may be used for self destructive purposes. Thus potentially perpetuating the problems that have put the seller into their invidious position in the first place.

As I say, I cast no judgement on them. Quite the opposite. I make monthly donations to a homelessness charity and have previously donated my time to help out in soup kitchens. I'm fully aware that homelessness is a massive, and increasing, problem, one I'm concerned to help solve where I can.

I'm just not convinced that the Big Issue is the best solution to it.

 

[Starmill]

Oh come off it!

Buying a Big Issue is hardly the same as buying a sandwich from a FTSE100 retailer. As one of the more informed and eloquent posters on this forum, you must be well aware of that.

What's the difference between buying a sandwich from a FTSE100 retailler and a coffee shop that has one location? The coffee shop might have less than 0.1% of the revenue of the Supermarket and there are some that were started and are staffed by just one person. So what's the difference between a one-person coffee seller and a one-person magazine seller? Or do exclusively only buy goods and services from FTSE100 companies?

 

[Bromley boy]

What's the difference between buying a sandwich from a FTSE100 retailler and a coffee shop that has one location? The coffee shop might have less than 0.1% of the revenue of the Supermarket and there are some that were started and are staffed by just one person. So what's the difference between a one-person coffee seller and a one-person magazine seller? Or do exclusively only buy goods and services from FTSE100 companies?

The difference is that I proceed on the assumption that someone with the funds to open a coffee shop isn't homeless and potentially battling highly destructive addiction issues.

I've met a fair few of London's homeless population, they're usually nice people, who've had a few bad breaks in life. Not that far away from the rest of us in any sense.

None of them own coffee shops.

Many of them have addiction/substance abuse issues.

This thread is going down a truly ridiculous road.

 

[Darandio]

This thread is going down a truly ridiculous road.

Indeed, along with many other recent threads on here.

In fact, there is a real danger of popcorn addiction becoming an issue.

 

[deltic]

i buy it on an irregular basis - it has the occasional interesting articles but its not the greatest read

 

[Bromley boy]

Indeed, along with many other recent threads on here.

In fact, there is a real danger of popcorn addiction becoming an issue.

True...

I've never been in a debate with someone whose voting for Mr. Blobby before, so I didnt have high expectations of how it would develop

 

[najaB]

My understanding is that there isn't much control over what the sellers do with the profits of sale. They may be used for self destructive purposes. Thus potentially perpetuating the problems that have put the seller into their invidious position in the first place.

If they spend the money on drugs/alcohol then (a) they won't be able to buy any more magazines; and (b) will be highly unlikely to be in a fit state to sell them in any case.

 

[theblackwatch]

Not bought it for years.... I used to buy it occasionally when it was under £1 but that was a long time back! I chuck a fair bit at charity (though never via those direct debit collectors) and have helped out with charity events and manage the website for one, so no guilt here!

 

[najaB]

Many of them have addiction/substance abuse issues.

Some of them had addiction/substance abuse issues that resulted in them being homeless, equally many had addiction/substance abuse issues that were a result of being homeless.

But many of them also ended up one the street due to mental health issues or family breakdown.

The difference is that I proceed on the assumption that someone with the funds to open a coffee shop isn't homeless and potentially battling highly destructive addiction issues.

So, for clarity, conversely you assume that Big Issue sellers do have addiction/substance abuse issues merely because they became homeless?

 

[DaleCooper]

Paul Flowers ex chairman of the Co-op bank was convicted of possessing cocaine and crystal meth. Does that put banks on the same level as Big Issue sellers?