Big Issue seller stabbed to death in Birmingham, UK - Polidicks

The thing is, why a magazine? I'm sure if they sold chocolates or something they'd sell so much more

[QUOTE=Mellowbloom;39194354]The thing is, why a magazine? I'm sure if they sold chocolates or something they'd sell so much more[/QUOTE] Personally, I wouldn't buy any food from a random guy on the street.

[QUOTE=squids_eye;39194314]The people who sell the big issue usually have no other options. They can't just get another job because of problems like large gaps in employment or having a criminal record.[/QUOTE] Not saying it's a bad thing just as the person above the person above pointed out why not sell something more attractive to the average person. It's good that they actually have a way to earn money but I think there is a hell of a lot more that can be done to help. [QUOTE=squids_eye;39194430]Personally, I wouldn't buy any food from a random guy on the street.[/QUOTE] It depends, fresh food I would never buy but something sealed would be fine.

[QUOTE=smurfy;39191630][img]http://imgkk.com/i/vdux.jpg[/img] [/QUOTE] hezzy doing what he does best

[QUOTE=Mellowbloom;39194354]The thing is, why a magazine? I'm sure if they sold chocolates or something they'd sell so much more[/QUOTE] They would just eat it

[QUOTE=Eltro102;39192801]this is sad but there must surely be more incidents just like this which dont get nearly as much coverage[/QUOTE] This stuff gets coverage over here because we dont have guns being shot left, right and centre

[QUOTE=Puni;39194823]This stuff gets coverage over here because we dont have guns being shot left, right and centre[/QUOTE] Plus it's in the city centre which is never really empty at any time. It's pretty bad that big issue sellers have been stabbed in what you might of thought was fairly safe area to walk around.

This is why you need guns so you don't get your hands bloody

We have one guy at our town who sells them and once yelled out "Big issue: Smelly homeless guy selling you shitty newspapers!"

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;39192906]I don't think I've ever seen anyone buy a Big Issue[/QUOTE] Thats a shame, my dad used to buy them, now any time I see them in the street I give them £1 and tell them to keep the magazine, a little extra never hurts.

[QUOTE=absolalone111;39197774]Thats a shame, my dad used to buy them, now any time I see them in the street I give them £1 and tell them to keep the magazine, a little extra never hurts.[/QUOTE] Some of them don't like that though, because then it becomes charity, and the idea is that they actually do work in return for money instead of begging. A pride thing, hence the motto: 'A hand up, not a hand out'

[QUOTE=JohnnyGoGo;39193548]Why?[/QUOTE] I'm starting to work for Capgemini in March, their offices are based in Aston and I'm moving down there. It isn't a particularly bad area, is it? I have stayed down there a couple of times and it didn't seem that unsafe, and the crime stats for the area aren't as bad as the ones for my old flat in Newcastle (Which was a nice area as well) I used to feel sorry for a guy in Newcastle bus station that used to sell these. He would stand on the same corner every day for hours with a smile on his face and actively trying to get people to buy, he must have been ignored by thousands of people a day but he still kept going.

Was probably a racist attack, Birmingham is teeming with immigrants both legal and illegal.

[QUOTE=Cushie;39199658]I'm starting to work for Capgemini in March, their offices are based in Aston and I'm moving down there. It isn't a particularly bad area, is it? I have stayed down there a couple of times and it didn't seem that unsafe, and the crime stats for the area aren't as bad as the ones for my old flat in Newcastle (Which was a nice area as well) I used to feel sorry for a guy in Newcastle bus station that used to sell these. He would stand on the same corner every day for hours with a smile on his face and actively trying to get people to buy, he must have been ignored by thousands of people a day but he still kept going.[/QUOTE] Yeah it's pretty rough as far as I know, last time I walked through it ages ago I got chased by 20-30 people, a lot of gangs walk around it. Most people I know avoid the area, but I also know people who live there seem to do ok. I suppose some parts of it will be worse than others.

I guess the killer had big issues

Now if it was the guy that sells in a town not far from Birmingham. He is a proper dick, he is an immigrant that uses their methods of selling the Big Issue. Before Christmas he wore a santa outfit and kept going up into peoples faces, i'm talking inches away, shouting "HO HO HO Merry Christmas, buy Big Issue". I am surprised he did not get punched. I did get to piss him off thought I walked up to him with my hand out, in a way to give him some money, then I swooped round and gave a pound to the homeless guy with a dog that was quietly sitting not far from him. That homeless guy burst out in laughter and said "that guy has been pissing me off all day"

[QUOTE=JustExtreme;39193290]Used to be one on my route to uni and I used to give him a pound if I had one on me as I had no interest in reading the magazine as I bought it once and it was pretty boring to me, I hope he got himself a warm beverage or something to make his life a little more bearable[/QUOTE] This is better for them than buying the magazine. I've spoken at length to a Big Issue seller before, and the charity take a sizeable share of the proceeds (50% was the figure the guy told me, but this was several years ago) for every magazine sold. Not accepting the mag means they get to keep the whole donation. However, if they refuse, don't insist. Part of the mentality behind selling the Big Issue is they're 'employed', and understand that they're making money for the company and then getting a wage. Some don't want to be seen as begging, and will refuse your charity on principle.

[QUOTE=Cushie;39199658]I'm starting to work for Capgemini in March, their offices are based in Aston and I'm moving down there. It isn't a particularly bad area, is it? I have stayed down there a couple of times and it didn't seem that unsafe, and the crime stats for the area aren't as bad as the ones for my old flat in Newcastle (Which was a nice area as well) I used to feel sorry for a guy in Newcastle bus station that used to sell these. He would stand on the same corner every day for hours with a smile on his face and actively trying to get people to buy, he must have been ignored by thousands of people a day but he still kept going.[/QUOTE] Aston, Spark Hill, Balsall Heath and other areas like that are pretty shit tbh, the one road, Ladypool road is like being in another country, a good 1k of halal fast food joints, Sari shops and pakistani fruit and veg markets. Only time I've walked through Aston is from the train station to the Villa ground, and I always make sure to stick to the main roads. Haven't been into Birmingham City centre for a while, but walked past these shops laods of times, it's only a couple of minutes from the Bullring, must have been hundreds of people around.

-snip- maybe not

[QUOTE=Mort and Charon;39202848]Aston, Spark Hill, Balsall Heath and other areas like that are pretty shit tbh, the one road, Ladypool road is like being in another country, a good 1k of halal fast food joints, Sari shops and pakistani fruit and veg markets. Only time I've walked through Aston is from the train station to the Villa ground, and I always make sure to stick to the main roads. Haven't been into Birmingham City centre for a while, but walked past these shops laods of times, it's only a couple of minutes from the Bullring, must have been hundreds of people around.[/QUOTE] The flat I'm moving into is literally 5 mins from the train station, when you get off an go down the steps theres a huge housing estate to the right, its in there. Walked through there a few times, both at around 10-11pm and I didnt really get a feel of being unsafe, I knew there are a lot of minorities around though. Walked past a car full of black people around my age with weed smoking coming out, they seemed okay though, asked if I was lost because I took a wrong turn and went back. If I'm walking in built up urban areas I always steer clear of groups of people anyway.

I was just there in Euro Truck Simulator 2. So sad for this to happen.

Wow, I saw that guy earlier in the day.

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-21003318[/url] [url]http://news.sky.com/story/1037416/man-charged-with-murdering-big-issue-sellers[/url] A man has been arrested and will face court on monday.

[QUOTE=FlippR;39194598]hezzy doing what he does best[/QUOTE] That guy is way to old to be Hezzy, here's the real image of Hezzy on the scene [img]http://www.fancydressshack.co.uk/admin/ProductImages/police-costume-child-1-large.jpg[/img]

In Chicago we have street-wise, you've never walked in the loop if you haven't heard STREET-WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSEE multiple times.

[QUOTE=Lamar;39209839]In Chicago we have street-wise, you've never walked in the loop if you haven't heard STREET-WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSEE multiple times.[/QUOTE] in los angeles we have "ey yo cuh gimme yo change or imma shank you" Oh and I think there's some homeless newspaper too