Yeah, just yesterday there was someone begging in Org general for some gold. I like to help them out if it's possible (with advice, not with gold!). Our conversation went something like this:

Me: if you don't already have a profession, you should pick up mining and go out to Durotar and collect some copper.
Beggar: I don't need copper, I need gold.
Me: what I mean is, you mine copper veins around Durotar for 'Copper Ore', and then sell it.
Beggar: how does that make me money?
Me: you take the Copper Ore and put it on the AH.
Beggar: AH?
Me: the Auction House.
Beggar: what's the Auction House?
Me: ... it's a place in the capital cities where you can put items up for auction so that other players can buy them. They generally sell for more than a vendor would buy them for, and Ore sells pretty well.
Beggar: ah, that's pretty cool. Where do I find the AH?
Me: ask a guard.
Beggar: where can I find a guard?

I stopped at this point. Sure enough, 5 minutes later...

Beggar: can I please have 2g for a new weapon?

Some people are beyond help. =)