A good day

[pch1.livejournal.com]

So I knew yesterday was going to be a good day when I was able to walk by both Starbucks and Diesel Cafe without being approached by any of the kids repping Save The GreenPeace Children from Masspirg.  Then I started to wonder, why is it that these guys can so relentlessly solicit donations everyday, yet if they were to put down their clipboards and strap on a guitar and play for donations they could be ticketed or asked to stop for performing without a permit.

What's up with the priorities around here.  I'd much rather be passing by a street performer than a political missionary.

Comments

[ron_newman]

In Cambridge, the issue was more amplified noise than density. One purpose of the permit system there is to ensure that every performer is familiar with the noise regulations.

[ron_newman]

if the canvassers were soliciting petition signatures they would be absolutely protected by the First Amendment, but that's a little less clear-cut when they are asking for donations. And even less so if they are engaging in aggressive panhandling.

[808.livejournal.com]

I agree. I tend to put on my headphones when walking that side, even if I'm not listening to anything.

[ifotismeni]

yeah i agree. their kind of strategy preys on people like who feel bad about saying now =/ they hope we'll get weak and give in

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

but that's a little less clear-cut when they are asking for donations.

To my knowledge, political fundraising is covered under free speech. Certainly any cases I've aware of where people have tried to boot fundraisers have failed on those grounds.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

Its a hell of a lot better than Turkey. Its Davis Square, what do you want? Move to Gardner.

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

I do the fake phone call move.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

So perhaps the folks at Brueggers are paying them to hang in from of DD??

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

HA! Very possible, though evvvvvery once in a while, there's someone there too, and that makes me even CRAZIER. NOWHERE IS SAFE. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK, THAT I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK TO ANYONE ON MY WALK TO WORK!? I HAVE TO DO THAT ENOUGH AT WORK!

Phew, had to get that out.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Turkey is really effing awesome, so I don't get the comparison.

[ron_newman]

But I'm not sure that 501c3 nonprofit fundraising is equivalent to political fundraising.

[ron_newman]

I'm not understanding the references to either Turkey or Gardner.

[miss-lisa-ma.livejournal.com]

ICON LUST!

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

.. And if it was a different terrorist organization, such as, say, hamas or al qaeda soliciting, they'd be federally fucked!

Hey, hey, hey....

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I bitched about Jehovah's Witnesses harassing people in Davis Sq a few days ago and some people implied I'm an anti-religious monster (which I am). Things are just getting a bit out of control with all these folks trying to get a piece of us while we take a nice walk!

[anyee.livejournal.com]

I actively walk in the street to avoid these guys. I'm at the point where I inform them I hate children and the environment and hope everyone dies!

Do you hate puppy seals too?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Nobody does.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

you cant walk 5 feet without being poked & prodded by a cadre of beggarrs, buskers, and merchants. At least in Davis you can go 15 or 20 feet.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

Gardner is not known for having a surfeit of buskers.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

I have to say that crossing the street or putting on headphones or going through the trouble to fake a phone call to avoid these people isn't going to make anything any better.
I hate this form of advertisement/solicitation/consciousness-raising.
When they speak to me, I inform them as politely as possible that any organization that can afford spare either paid or unpaid workers to solicit support on the street in not in need of my contributions. This invariably make the person I'm talking to instantly angry at me but their anger does not change the way I feel about this particular method of activism. If everyone who feels this way shared their feelings with the organization (whether at the street level or by calling/emailing) then the message will get through and the organization can decide if the return is really worth it.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

We mostly ignored that. It was part of the atmosphere.

Re: Hey, hey, hey....

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I totally thought you just said you were a jehovah's witness.

Re: Hey, hey, hey....

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Oh NO! Never :)

Istanbul is not that bad...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Lots of people and crazy drivers, but I am almost never harassed by beggars. Perhaps because I can spot them from far away and walk in a different directions. Or perhaps because I look evil. No idea.

Re: Hey, hey, hey....

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I bet they have openings.