You know those people who ask for donations in the street for Red Cross, Oxfam, or other things like that? Well, I respect them, kindof. Enough to not walk by without brushing them off. I always stop(unless I'm in a real hurry, and then I apologize), and at least hear them out before telling them I have no money to give. They're out there doing something they believe in (I guess) in the hot sun, and I like strangers, so I'll always have the decency to stop.
But today I finally gave in, I agreed to give 5 euros from my bank account, because it shows that they have support and helps them with subsidies and whatnot. Anyway I finally caved. I can't afford to do that!
I think it's worth brainstorming on funny/interesting things to say to them. Like that, you don't just brush them off, and you make the encounter a nice experience for both of you.
Today, the Red Cross girl started towards me from 5 meters, and right when she got next to me I jumped back and said "Ah! I don't like needles!" as if she were about to stab me with one. I continued to make jokes throughout the conversation, which made the whole thing very fun. Yeah I gave 5 euros I can barely afford to give, but it was worth the nice encounter with a stranger. Things like:
her: and we try to get child soldiers out of armies, which as you can imagine isn't easy
me: yeah I know! I tried once, I got three kids but then I had to run away, they kept shooting at me
SO. Ideas for ways to make these street encounters fun? I guess there'd be some approaches that work specifically for certain types of organisations(like the needle thing), and some that work for all sorts. I know a bunch of things to do for telemarketers(sooo much fun), which is similar but still a very different approach. People on the street are often there because they really support the cause, and the face-to-face interaction provides new limitations and opportunities.
I'll start:
-ask them how they are, pretending they're a long lost friend, and that's they reason why they walked up to you
-ask questions as if you thought they were a sort of cult(are there any initiation rites? do I have to pledge my allegiance to the Kool-Aid Man?)
-just start telling an unrelated story(this could be a little rude, depending on where you go with it).
your turn!
Edit: maybe this goes in OM? I never really think about where I post things..
You could ask them if you can join their team and ask them how much they earn. I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me! Often there are quite attractive provision systems. Almost nothing of those 5 Dollars go to the child soldiers etc.
You can say that the Red Cross is selling good conscience on the streets. So ask them about the quality of their good conscience, and if it beats the good conscience of World Vision etc...
Quote from: Weltbürger on July 07, 2010, 03:59:14 PM
You could ask them if you can join their team and ask them how much they earn. I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me! Often there are quite attractive provision systems. Almost nothing of those 5 Dollars go to the child soldiers etc.
You can say that the Red Cross is selling good conscience on the streets. So ask them about the quality of their good conscience, and if it beats the good conscience of World Vision etc...
Have you considered eating lye lately?
Quote from: NWC on July 07, 2010, 03:42:48 PM
her: and we try to get child soldiers out of armies, which as you can imagine isn't easy
Didn't they used to knit socks for armies? I mean, shouldn't they be concentrating on getting these child soldiers the things they need, for victory?
Quote from: Weltbürger on July 07, 2010, 03:59:14 PM
I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me!
Wow. Bit of a parasite, aren't you?
Quote from: Weltbürger on July 07, 2010, 03:59:14 PM
You could ask them if you can join their team and ask them how much they earn. I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me! Often there are quite attractive provision systems. Almost nothing of those 5 Dollars go to the child soldiers etc.
You can say that the Red Cross is selling good conscience on the streets. So ask them about the quality of their good conscience, and if it beats the good conscience of World Vision etc...
You missed the point. I'm aware that not all of the money goes to whatever they say it goes it. I knew that when I agreed.
But I had a great conversation! That in itself was worth the 5 euros.
This is not a thread about how to make them feel bad about themselves or to make them go away. If I wanted to do that, I would just tell them I don't speak French. This is about making people laugh/smile/MAKING PEOPLES' DAYS MORE INTERESTING. Not depressing. I don't need depressing. I don't want to be abrasive.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 07, 2010, 04:27:01 PM
Quote from: NWC on July 07, 2010, 03:42:48 PM
her: and we try to get child soldiers out of armies, which as you can imagine isn't easy
Didn't they used to knit socks for armies? I mean, shouldn't they be concentrating on getting these child soldiers the things they need, for victory?
Reminds me of a sketch I saw once, a fake commercial, don't remember where it was from. Went something like:
-there are thousands of children fighting wars in Africa, with no other means of supporting themselves. for just 62 cents a day, you can make sure that these children get the supplies they need, like body armor and new weapons, to ensure their safety
Quote from: NWC on July 07, 2010, 04:29:28 PM
Quote from: Weltbürger on July 07, 2010, 03:59:14 PM
You could ask them if you can join their team and ask them how much they earn. I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me! Often there are quite attractive provision systems. Almost nothing of those 5 Dollars go to the child soldiers etc.
You can say that the Red Cross is selling good conscience on the streets. So ask them about the quality of their good conscience, and if it beats the good conscience of World Vision etc...
You missed the point. I'm aware that not all of the money goes to whatever they say it goes it. I knew that when I agreed.
But I had a great conversation! That in itself was worth the 5 euros.
This is not a thread about how to make them feel bad about themselves or to make them go away. If I wanted to do that, I would just tell them I don't speak French. This is about making people laugh/smile/MAKING PEOPLES' DAYS MORE INTERESTING. Not depressing. I don't need depressing. I don't want to be abrasive.
You have to remember that Weltburger is driven to be antisocial. He has a very limited set of responses to anything, and they all have to do with making sure nobody likes him.
There's probably a name for that (making sure everyone hates you, presumably out of a total lack of self-esteem), but I'm too lazy to google it. Nigel might know, she's a veritable font of information on screwed up headcases, and she has helped me out on many occasions, in describing the horrible shitnecks I work with.
Quote from: NWC on July 07, 2010, 04:31:50 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 07, 2010, 04:27:01 PM
Quote from: NWC on July 07, 2010, 03:42:48 PM
her: and we try to get child soldiers out of armies, which as you can imagine isn't easy
Didn't they used to knit socks for armies? I mean, shouldn't they be concentrating on getting these child soldiers the things they need, for victory?
Reminds me of a sketch I saw once, a fake commercial, don't remember where it was from. Went something like:
-there are thousands of children fighting wars in Africa, with no other means of supporting themselves. for just 62 cents a day, you can make sure that these children get the supplies they need, like body armor and new weapons, to ensure their safety
That sounds like something Stang would write. :lulz:
A full 80% of the Red Cross's income goes directly on charity spending. Only 20% is kept for administrative purposes.
Quote from: Cain on July 07, 2010, 04:41:23 PM
A full 80% of the Red Cross's income goes directly on charity spending. Only 20% is kept for administrative purposes.
Weltburger was probably just keeping the money that people gave him. I wouldn't put it past him.
Quote from: Weltbürger on July 07, 2010, 03:59:14 PM
You could ask them if you can join their team and ask them how much they earn. I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me! Often there are quite attractive provision systems. Almost nothing of those 5 Dollars go to the child soldiers etc.
You can say that the Red Cross is selling good conscience on the streets. So ask them about the quality of their good conscience, and if it beats the good conscience of World Vision etc...
Also, at least this person has a job! It's pretty hard to get a job these days, I'm more likely to ask them where to apply than to shit on them for taking a job like this. It doesn't look like a fun or easy job, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the organisation does more good for the world than Walmart.
If I want to feel good about myself, I would have to make them smile, not get defensive and/or bothered. For me, this is a type of OM thing: you make people smile/laugh, think differently for a second, you don't just try to be an asshole.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 07, 2010, 04:42:34 PM
Quote from: Cain on July 07, 2010, 04:41:23 PM
A full 80% of the Red Cross's income goes directly on charity spending. Only 20% is kept for administrative purposes.
Weltburger was probably just keeping the money that people gave him. I wouldn't put it past him.
That was my thinking as well. The Red Cross are highly scrupulous about this, to the point they even refused to build a museum about their work through history until someone did special fundraising for it, because they didn't want to direct money away from their primary purpose as an organisation.
Quote from: Cain on July 07, 2010, 04:45:53 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 07, 2010, 04:42:34 PM
Quote from: Cain on July 07, 2010, 04:41:23 PM
A full 80% of the Red Cross's income goes directly on charity spending. Only 20% is kept for administrative purposes.
Weltburger was probably just keeping the money that people gave him. I wouldn't put it past him.
That was my thinking as well. The Red Cross are highly scrupulous about this, to the point they even refused to build a museum about their work through history until someone did special fundraising for it, because they didn't want to direct money away from their primary purpose as an organisation.
Also, it's just the shitty sort of thing Weltburger would do.
So - ideas?
I like my needle idea and old friend idea, but I want more.
Yes, and that.
NWC, I usually let them try out new pitches and things on me. I did this for my University's Christian Society a lot because...well, if you'd see the female membership, you'd spend your free time with them as well. So critiquing, in a helpful and positive way, how they do their job.
NWC, you want a thread split?
A friend of mine used to do the long-lost friend angle until it backfired on him. He actually did run into a long-lost friend and didn't remember him. :lulz:
I like this idea, and it's something that I sometimes just wing. There was this guy fundraising for the DNC and he was standing on a fire hydrant, saying how he was stuck up there and he's afraid of heights. I told him that it was ok, it only looks higher up than it is because he was taller than most. My roommate does this sort of thing, so I have a certain amount of respect for it. He works for MassPIRG I think.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 07, 2010, 04:59:44 PM
NWC, you want a thread split?
Nah, the same discussions are bound to come up anyway.
Quote from: Nephew Twiddleton on July 07, 2010, 05:02:15 PMI like this idea, and it's something that I sometimes just wing.
Yeah usually I just wing it, like today, but I figured someone on here is bound to have a damn good idea.
Quote from: Cain on July 07, 2010, 04:59:12 PM
Yes, and that.
NWC, I usually let them try out new pitches and things on me. I did this for my University's Christian Society a lot because...well, if you'd see the female membership, you'd spend your free time with them as well. So critiquing, in a helpful and positive way, how they do their job.
I would have asked for this girl's number if I didn't have a girlfriend. I mean, she wasn't a model, but she was cute and very friendly.
Preach the way of Khorne to them.
"Donations" collected for the Blood God all go 100% to the Blood God, as does any blood spilled or life taken, regardless if it was done in his name or not. Can the Red Cross boast that sort of efficiency?
Also, if you're canvasing and collecting in a metropolitan area, likely one (or both) of two things is likely happeneing:
-a percentage goes to getting people organized and on the street. Clothed, watered, and equiped with paperwork
-a fee or soemthign is required to participate as a volunteer form each rep.
If you are out collecting in Khorne's name, ONE thing happens
-You collect fucking heads. It ALL honors Khorne. You only have to bring you own axe. (BYOA)
(Pussy spellcasters need not apply. If you can't get up in someone's grill to do Khorne's work, stay home.)
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 07, 2010, 04:34:08 PM
Quote from: NWC on July 07, 2010, 04:29:28 PM
Quote from: Weltbürger on July 07, 2010, 03:59:14 PM
You could ask them if you can join their team and ask them how much they earn. I once worked for the Red Cross and I've earned circa 70% of the money the people gave me! Often there are quite attractive provision systems. Almost nothing of those 5 Dollars go to the child soldiers etc.
You can say that the Red Cross is selling good conscience on the streets. So ask them about the quality of their good conscience, and if it beats the good conscience of World Vision etc...
You missed the point. I'm aware that not all of the money goes to whatever they say it goes it. I knew that when I agreed.
But I had a great conversation! That in itself was worth the 5 euros.
This is not a thread about how to make them feel bad about themselves or to make them go away. If I wanted to do that, I would just tell them I don't speak French. This is about making people laugh/smile/MAKING PEOPLES' DAYS MORE INTERESTING. Not depressing. I don't need depressing. I don't want to be abrasive.
You have to remember that Weltburger is driven to be antisocial. He has a very limited set of responses to anything, and they all have to do with making sure nobody likes him.
There's probably a name for that (making sure everyone hates you, presumably out of a total lack of self-esteem), but I'm too lazy to google it. Nigel might know, she's a veritable font of information on screwed up headcases, and she has helped me out on many occasions, in describing the horrible shitnecks I work with.
I tried, but couldn't find anything... I am confident that eventually I will, though. I am thinking of it as a fear of or aversion to social acceptance, much like a fear of success.
There is no particular name for it that I'm aware of, but the link between low self-esteem and antisocial behaviour seems well-established
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/16/4/328.abstract
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V9F-3VV41KB-J&_user=10&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F1996&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1394202341&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=8007bcc55d3163b9b747b36250755fda
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2095720?cookieSet=1
When I did my training here, we were told to assume, when lacking of any other evidence, that when a kid is acting out and being disruptive it is likely self-esteem related.
I recently came to the realisation that I should cut these people off with their promo-talk first and ask if they're looking for a periodic donation, or whether I can just donate 2-3 euros in cash.
Because most of them want your bank account and sign you for a periodic transaction.
Which I never do, because I like to spread my donation among multiple causes and I don't need to automate my charity.
I learned that bit with the Haiti earthquake fund. Saw all the news, realized I could totally spare it and donated 35 euros. But then the next day I read a blog artice that argued, "there is lots of horrible things happening in the world every day, and there are charity organisations that deserve to get just as much, except they dont happen to be in the eye of the media. So if you feel like donating to a big popular current media charity, consider donating just as much to lesser-known, just-as-deserving charities".
Except that I thought 35e was enough already and didn't want to spend another 35 right away, so instead I've been giving random small amounts to random charity things. As varied topics as possible, as long as I thought they were doing "good".
I think the thing about the bank accounts is so they can show substantially, with numbers and shit, that people support them. The girl signed me up to donate 2,50/month, and she said it's no problem if I cancel after one month or two, it just really helps them to show that there's another account supporting them. A vote of solidarity with your money, if you will. Also, because they get subsidized based on donations(the government pays them triple[according to the girl] what someone on the street does), the records probably need to be pretty well kept.
I can't afford to give very often at all, but the fact that I show my support(put your money where your mouth is) and my 5 euros will get quadrupled made it really seem worth it. Plus, like I said, the girl was really cool :p
Otherwise yeah I'm hesitant to give my bank account #, cos the paranoids are always watching you.
There is no fucking way I'm giving my bank account number to some spag on the street with a clipboard and a T-shirt.
That is all.
FUCK THE RED CROSS ITS A HIDDEN SWASTIKA!!!
Quote from: LMNO on July 08, 2010, 01:33:27 PM
There is no fucking way I'm giving my bank account number to some spag on the street with a clipboard and a T-shirt.
That is all.
THIS. All of these operations should have home bases/offices. That is where your donation goes, after meeting them in person and making sure they are legit. Anyone who asks me for money whether it be on the street or over the phone I simply ask them if they can mail me some information about the organization and what the money is for. If they can't comply with that simple request, then no dice.
Quote from: NWC on July 08, 2010, 12:17:27 PM
I think the thing about the bank accounts is so they can show substantially, with numbers and shit, that people support them. The girl signed me up to donate 2,50/month, and she said it's no problem if I cancel after one month or two, it just really helps them to show that there's another account supporting them. A vote of solidarity with your money, if you will. Also, because they get subsidized based on donations(the government pays them triple[according to the girl] what someone on the street does), the records probably need to be pretty well kept.
I can't afford to give very often at all, but the fact that I show my support(put your money where your mouth is) and my 5 euros will get quadrupled made it really seem worth it. Plus, like I said, the girl was really cool :p
Otherwise yeah I'm hesitant to give my bank account #, cos the paranoids are always watching you.
nah it's just that I know I'll forget to cancel after a month or two.
I get enough opportunity to donate (in total) what I'd like to spend in cash anyway.