Hey! not fair

seriously, they are an absolute nuisance still in the UK, Greenpeace’s withdrawal from the practice notwithstanding. they’re usually canvassing for bank details, as it is illegal to actually ask for a hard-cash donation. but, then again, _anyone_ could print off a fake ID, wear a brightly-coloured tabard, and stand around trying to get people’s bank details… so I do indeed do my donating through the Net.

AmeriCares doesn’t use canvassers to solicit contributions.

Lee, thanks for stopping by. I honestly remembered seeing “AmeriCares” on shirts worn by canvassers, and that’s why I included y’all on the list. However, I note that your organization is a Better Business Bureau Accredited charity, and that you meet the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability.

I’d hate to be responsible for giving your organization (which is doing really good things here and abroad) an undeserved black eye, so I’ve edited the post to remove the reference to AmeriCares.

Occasionally, I will also use the “I’ve already donated” line. Sometimes I just want peace.

There has got to be a better way for these organizations to get their message out. Like one that doesn’t universally piss people off. Yesterday’s Farmers Market in the park blocks was infested with chuggers. It’s borderline harrassment at best.

I never talk to them if I can help it. And when I do I always ask how much they will earn for my signature and contact info.

Whenever anyone approaches me with a clipboard, I stil assume that somehow Bill Sizemore is behind it all.

As an aside, a friend was accosted by one of them a year or so ago, got their name and called the company. The chugger was fired.

But as an AmeriCares staff member, I also wanted to plead innocent of the charge. AmeriCares doesn’t use canvassers to solicit contributions. But thanks for knowing enough about our international relief efforts in places like China, Darfur, Myanmar and the US to include us in a list of recognizable charities – we sometimes worry people don’t know about us at all.

It’s gotten to where they rarely bother me anymore. For one thing, I look poor; that helps. Then there’s the fact that I look like I’m just itching to yell “Fuck the polar bears!” or “When was the last time *you* bought some starving kid a sandwich?”

I also like to visibly count the canvassers, do quick math and say, “Let’s see, four canvassers at $12 an hour each, that’s about $400 a day they could be sending to the starving kids…”

I only get snarky with the pushy ones. Same with panhandlers. Birds of a feather…

Damn, I feel better now! Rant over.

“Can you spare some change?”

“I don’t like children.” They will say, you were a child once. I say “and I didn’t care for me”

“I sold my sports car, live in a leeds certified building, and walk everywhere. How did you get here? What else do the polar bears want?”

“I’m from Philadelphia, we eat people like you”.

“Actually I’m sterile, I can’t have children. Thanks for reminding me!”

And the absolute best one, is:

“I’m already a member!”

That one will get you a high five.