Being pestered or assaulted by beggars

So I was eating dinner street side and yapping on the phone when suddenly a beggar comes along. He didn't use any words, he just did this whole sort of ritual i could only describe as how one would act in the presence of the pope. Lots of kissing his hands and then my table and things, kneeling and wearing a super sad face.

Long and short of it was I was annoyed as hell. The waitress was coming with my food and I was talking about some serious business on the phone. All I could think to do was to shake my head no until he left me alone. I tried to use my body language to show I was very displeased. Eventually, his face turned from this weird sad begging thing into an upset and angry face.. he grabbed my arm and dug his claws into me! He pinched and broke my skin and then walked off.

Now that i've wiped down and cleaned the wound up with medical supplies (it sounds much worse than it is to be honest, it's tiny and insignificant.. it's the action that bothered me more.. and the whole breaking of the skin).
I need to ask...

I've a short temper but almost never driven to violence. I think if the waitress wasn't bringing things to my table, my reaction would have been a violent one. Would I have been charged with a crime had I punched him or something?
Also, what does the law say about begging? And how would his pinching or whatever be treated by the law?
Mind you, i'm not going to run to the police to complain about a 'pinching'.. sounds like something that belongs at a school playground. I'd like to know for my own curiousity sake though.

Thanks.

That's assault.

Can you elaborate a bit?

Anxiously awaiting input from others as well.

I wouldn´t have punched him, and I think that could bring you in to trouble.
But a physical push away certainly couldn´t harm the poor bastard.
Well, what do I know, jut my two cent anyway. But I think one should only do what is necesarry to stay safe in these situations, "teaching a lesson" is not gonna do much good.

Well, this happens rarely and usually only if you're treating these people rather rude (Even if it is only in their eyes). It happened to me one time, similar situation, but I guess all you can do is forget about it and act different next time (if it should happen again, what's not too likely). To punch them or doing similar things could turn out to a very bad situation - those people got nothing to loose and that's why I would not go after such things.

When I think about it more, I'm not sure I was actually all that rude to him. I was more annoyed that he wasn't coming out and saying what he wanted rather than putting on the whole act. (unless he was unable to speak ).

As much as I dislike encounters with beggars anywhere, I sometimes miss hanging out in places like Detroit.. at least there, they come out and say things like "Man, sorry to bother you, i'll be honest with you.. i REALLY need somethin to drink... can ya spare a quarter?"
Something about me appreciates that more than a big sob story. Am I the only one?

Legally, you were assaulted. That is NOT acceptable behaviour.
You are certainly legally allowed to defend yourself physically but no more than an approriate response.
And as pointed out above, that's a bit of a grey area and I'd avoid it.
I wouldn't go to the police, unless it is happening reguarly at that restaurant.

Not a pleasant experence, don't let it get to you though.

Yup, got ya.

That's kinda what I thought, same as North America more or less... I just wasn't sure if there were any different/unique rules over here for this sort of thing, favoring one side or the other..

Is the actual act of begging legal? I've always wondered. I mean, I could see the backlash that would come out of creating such a law but i'm curious.

Off the top of my head, the act of begging in itself is legal.

But the owner of property can use their "hausrecht" to prohibit that. eg a transport company, a shopping centre etc.
If you were at a restaurant with tables on the STREET, the restaurant can't do much about it. If you were on a terrace they own, they could.

I don't carry change so I don't give to beggers.
If you want to do some good, think about dropping a few Euros to the Bahnhofs Mission.

Yeah. I'm of the persuasion that you can do a lot more good giving your money to some place where you know it's going to be used properly. Giving money to beggars doesn't help them I don't think. And no, i'm not just trying to justify being an @$$hole... I have always thought this. Plus so many of them are so rude. The ones that can't accept a 'no' or the ones that comment or second guess you are terrible. I think common sense dictates that if someone has something you want, the last thing you should do is piss them off... am I wrong?

done ranting, sorry

Now I've switched from commuting by YouBarn to the tram I don't see the beggars any more that beg in my local station.
Now I'm FAR from being a heatless conservative bastard but they used to piss me off.
Not the obviously impoverished east Europeans or homelss alkies.

But the middle class German Y00t who seem to be doing it for a laugh.
And when you are tired after a long day at work they give you a load of backchat cos you don't give them anything.

Surely you don't mean those Vöivöd yoofs with the Neds Atomic Dustbin haircuts who hover at the Isar exit to Fraunhoferstrasse U-Bahn in their expensive biker jackets and Docs, bumming change? The Pseudopunks? The ones presumably trying to piss Mama & Papa off? That used get my goat going no end.

The very same PB.

You can´t acknowledge the presence of professional beggars. I used to think a rueful smile and a shake of the head or a "no" was good, and it works where I come from in the States. But if you make eye contact, say no, shake your head, or otherwise acknowledge the existence of a beggar, they seem to take it as encouragement. You have to pretend they are not there. That´s the quickest way to get rid of them.

But if one draws blood---that is definitely crossing the line.

Clearly, this must have been a vagrant with mental health issues.

we should kill a few for the buzz. sure, no one would give a toss, really

A US comedian said something that made me laugh once..
In a nutshell he suggested that we could knock out two big problems if we just fed the homeless to the hungry nations..

Acts of violence, up to and including murder agaist the homeless / beggars are not uncommon.
Can't remember if it was here or in England but a gang of youhs just got sent down for a long time for it recently.

in a "social" country with so many programs that the bulk of my taxes go for, why do people choose? it seems more of a choice here than in london or new york, where the expense of life could make a CEO one day to the next homeless.

Perhaps I do not understand the entire underworkings, but i do know many on the street are addicts of some sort, heroin seems to be the most popular. Now I do not point this out as it is some fault or their choice ...I am not being a hard conservative...I just wish some of the social programs combatting these choices that are so easily to make. Why not have drug clinics, free clean needles and some sort of control, like they have successfully done in Austria and parts of the UK?

let me restate: I do not know what it is like to be homeless, frustrated, bored out of my mind and only seek escape through drugs and alcohol, therefore creating an anchor and direction of life. I am not critisizing these people, but you can not say you have a strong, healthy economic society and have what seems a large percentage of the poor actually street bound and wacked out of their mind.

You tight git you should have given him a few coins or something, I always give a few coins if someone asks I doubt if it would have dented your wallet for just 50 cents or a euro.Sorry for you that he got mad but hey thats life next time you know what to do...dig deep amigo

I strongly urge you not to follow the "give in and do as they say, so you arent harrassed" as opposed to "do what you think is necessary"...Germany ought to do something about beggers coming into restaurants and hassling their clientile...likewise with those paper couriers, candle makers, etc. NO SOLICITING! Then again, I have no problems looking someone in the eye and saying "no!"

As previously stated, it's not about money.
If I thought it would actually help these people and improve their lives somehow, i'd give more than 50 cents. I think it just contributes to the problem though.

Why should she have? I have to agree with ChatCapone- it's not like there isn't a safety net here in Germany for the poor. I think that giving them money only encourages them!!!

I have to deal with those *annoying* women downtown who tow around their kids and their signs 'Hello. I am a Bosnian refugee. I have three children. I have no food...' blah blah blah.

Well honey- why did you come to the place with the highest unemployment in Germany? Go down to Munich where there is very little unemployment and get a freaking job. Do not pester me and my tours every freaking day, looking for money.

If people don't tolerate or encourage the beggars, they will go elsewhere.

Its that kind of selfish attitude,me myself and I,I am succesful and you are not that has destoyed the modern world.Take a step back and what would you do if you in this kind of postion with no money...yeah go to munich on what with what money.We all have to start somewhere in life sometimes right at the very bottom and somne are LUCKIER than others...perhaps yoe were lucky or had parents to back you up at some stage early in your life...

thumbs up, gentle jim. "Go to munich" - wtf! It's fact that you won't get a job ANYWHERE in germany without a home. So, if you have some space, don't give 'em money, give 'em a place to stay!

The "generosity" of the German state should not be overestimated and cities like berlin are an attraction for "easy", relatively "lots" of begging income if you are right at the bottom of the European social pile.

It's up to landlords to keep solicitors out of pubs etc.
Though it has an age old charm people coming round selling roses, newspapers and in some places, dodgy smokes and knocked off gear.

Im all for keeping solicitors out of pubs!

but for me the charm of being pestered by an endless cast of people trying to flog you stuff wears off very quickly.

Because the non modern world was a happy wonderous place of equality and unselfishness..

I cannot abide by beggars. Sorry, fuck off. Life is not fucking easy for anyone, and if they think I'm gonna give them some of my hard earned money for cheap booze (food my arse) then frankly, they deserve a kicking for being rude arseholes. Sorry, but I already get 50% of my earnings nicked by the shitty socialist government here - want some cash? go ask them.

Normally, just saying "fuck off" does the trick, or maybe squaring up to them in a threatening manner, taking your German Shepherd off the lead, and saying "fuck off" through gritted teeth - butf if a beggar layed a finger on my person, I'd retaliate. Done it before, would do it again. Eye for an eye? Nope, a scratch on my skin would be repaid with his teeth meeting with a kerbstone.
No doubt about it. I've seen beggar scum in Barcelona digging away at a wound on their leg to make sure it was nice and open, to get more sympathy. Sick. The last couple of years have seen Leopoldstr. covered with beggars, one every 50 metres, that started off just sitting there, then a few months later, every single one was equipped with a little puppy. Scum scum scum.

If you're telling me that these people "need my help", you are living in a pink world of make believe. Help yourself first I say. Can't get a job without an address? Bullshit - you might not be able to get a legal job without an address, but cash in hand for pot washing is available the world over. Been there, done it.

I support several charities, and have done for many years - I do not however support the "please give me cash so I can get pissed in the park" charity.

I like the ones that sit up on their knees and rock backwards and forwards, especially that little Asian bird. Gave her a right shock when I stood right in front of her and pulled me dick out.

Hey! I thought she could do with the money... and I could do with the BJ. 50 Cents IS 50 Cents.