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

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

The truly insidious thing about these solicitors is that they exist to harvest direct marketing information. Give them a donation, sign their petition, and then see how long it takes before you start receiving mailings from the "Ingrown Toenail Relief Foundation" or the "People for the Ethical Treatment of Tollbooth Operators" asking you for even more money.

The one perk is that you'll have enough personalized return-address labels to last a lifetime (provided you never move).

So I do suggest that if you ever feel compelled to donate, you do it anonymously, with cash. Sure, it might give the kid a chance to pocket your money and not report it. But don't you think they should? They work a shit job where everyone crosses the street to avoid them. And you're a sucker who stopped to talk to them.

True!

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I have a drawer FULL of nice stickies with my address. Too bad I almost never mail stuff.

Hee

[shadow1869.livejournal.com]

I work for a group that solicits donations, but never ever gives out stuff like that (we believe in spending the donation on, y'know, the cause) and people complain about it all the time! I've had several people refuse to give another donation for the explicitly stated reason that we "didn't give them anything" I usually hope that they're saying it just to get rid of me because otherwise I find it pretty silly.