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800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
Obviously we can't rely on common decency. So maybe we could pass a law that forbids certain behaviors for solicitors. Such a law should include, at least: do not move your body or limbs to interfere with someone's direction of travel.
Also, it might be a impossible to legislate, but I'd also like it if they would give up after I tell them "no" the first time. And please don't interrupt the conversation I'm having with my friend.
Also, sick of Safeway asking me to donate to whatever that month's charity is by rounding up my change. If Safeway wants to donate some of it's corporate profits, by all means. Have at it. I, however, have my own charities that I care about and budget for, and even if it's "only 36 cents" I don't care. You're not even matching it, and it's not what I'm there for. This goes for all stores that try to get my money for charity at the check out counter.
Also. Apologies for anyone who's ever been aggressive with you. If you need to tell us to fuck off, or hand out a card, or spit or what have you. That's fine. Sometimes things like being asked repeatedly to talk about an issue can be annoying. I'm not being passive aggressive. I really do understand.
I would just ask that you try to be cool about it. It sounds weird saying something like this, but many of you probably have friends that canvass. These consultancies employ a lot of people. Do your best to treat the strangers with clipboards the way you'd treat a close friend who happened to be a canvasser. Be respectful, regardless of their behavior, and either move on or listen. It's fine either way.
I've had a lot of friends who've groaned when i tell them what i do, but many over time have come to be a lot kinder to folks that canvass just because they know that i'm a reasonable, generous, level headed person. if i'm out there, then they probably should be nice to the whole lot, because they wouldn't want to be shitty to someone who could possibly be me (that whole sentence sounds super arrogant. my apologies).
i know. fuck off canvassers. leave me the fuck alone. i know. feel free to say it directly into my face. it's a free country. i'm going to keep working though. i might as well try and help while im young and able bodied. also a fuck off or a sneer or even a punch in the gut isn't nearly as bad as dying from cholera. so i'll probably be ok.
anywho. big fan of the stranger and free papers in general. from chicago and we have one here called the reader. it's nice. shouts out to city pages in minneapolis and all the other free rags. thanks for keeping writers writing. if there's ever a canvass for people who write for free papers, i promise i'll give my $15 a month.
Also. Apologies for anyone who's ever been aggressive with you. If you need to tell us to fuck off, or hand out a card, or spit or what have you. That's fine. Sometimes things like being asked repeatedly to talk about an issue can be annoying. I'm not being passive aggressive. I really do understand.
I would just ask that you try to be cool about it. It sounds weird saying something like this, but many of you probably have friends that canvass. These consultancies employ a lot of people. Do your best to treat the strangers with clipboards the way you'd treat a close friend who happened to be a canvasser. Be respectful, regardless of their behavior, and either move on or listen. It's fine either way.
I've had a lot of friends who've groaned when i tell them what i do, but many over time have come to be a lot kinder to folks that canvass just because they know that i'm a reasonable, generous, level headed person. if i'm out there, then they probably should be nice to the whole lot, because they wouldn't want to be shitty to someone who could possibly be me (that whole sentence sounds super arrogant. my apologies).
i know. fuck off canvassers. leave me the fuck alone. i know. feel free to say it directly into my face. it's a free country. i'm going to keep working though. i might as well try and help while im young and able bodied. also a fuck off or a sneer or even a punch in the gut isn't nearly as bad as dying from cholera. so i'll probably be ok.
anywho. big fan of the stranger and free papers in general. from chicago and we have one here called the reader. it's nice. shouts out to city pages in minneapolis and all the other free rags. thanks for keeping writers writing. if there's ever a canvass for people who write for free papers, i promise i'll give my $15 a month.
if you see the same people on a daily basis, why not make a new friend with a fundraiser instead of being a condescending bitch? that way, you'll have real humans to complain to instead of queefing your first world problems all over the internet! "oh, you're actually awesome! previously i had to walk an entire extra block to avoid talking to you about doing something AWESOME so i could go get my sandwich!"
as for seattle's lunatic wet brain population, it blows my mind that people have sympathy for addicts and people who are "just down on their luck!" what a sick guilt complex.
however, you can not stand people who are gainfully employed who have a direct impact on things like your reproductive system (you're welcome!), disaster relief (you're welcome!), people in the developing world who don't have alternate routes to sandwiches to bitch about (YOU'RE WELCOME!), your civil liberties (YOU'RE WELCOME!), etc.
get oooooooooover yourself.
As a person from seattle who's signed up for EVERY charity i donate to on the street because of my good experiences and my research of their efficiency, you mr holden, make me laugh and want to punch you in the face at the same time.You are a very small percentage of seattle. this is the most generous city in the USA. Most people i know who donate have done so on the street very happily and have been proud supporters for years both of our local fundraisers, their passion, and their causes, and I happily greet them when I see them.
There are street canvassers out there who are actually really fun and respectful, I talk to them regularly.
They're non-comissioned and most of them fully support their cause and don't treat you badly no matter what, you're just blowing up your frustration. How is it such a progressive city has people lumping all professionals into one category, i'm so sorry to burst your bubble guys but there are bad businessman and supreme ones in every field. And every one of you who is going to refuse to talk to ANY street rep because of bad experiences, u obviously are not serious about wanting to help anyway and will use this as a crutch rather then telling the aggressive ones to fuck off and listening to the respectful and RESPECTED ones. Some of these issues are actually very pressing, and we can do our part to solve them, but we also should choose wisely which charities and fundraising companies to support. That's my thought on street fundraisers.
I actually looked up the way the non-commissioned fundraising companies work, they have a zero tolerance policy for rude behavior, and these guys never cost the charity money, in fact they bring in more help than any other type of fundraising. use your head, if they did do you think a NON-PROFIT would have them out on the street as representation? COME ON. I don't however support the commissioned fundraisers, their companies do actually cost the charity money.
So mr. holden Way to encourage a healthy society, way to battle passive aggressive bs with a coupon, that's not passive aggressive at all. do u feel your balls shrinking? i think u announced the answer to that yourself in your stinkin article. yes. some are fundraisers are good and some are bad. so how dare you try to speak for all of seattle just because you can't stand up for yourself. take your own passive aggressive bs and eat it. that's putting it nicely. u wanted to battle aggression with aggression.
Meanwhile, I will continue to support the people who do their job well in representing a cause i support, because they are sent out there BY THAT CHARITY precisely to talk to the people who do give a shit. I will continue to tell the assholes to fuck off, and address the problem where it matters, just like in any other situation. I encourage the rest of the WORLD, not just this city, to do the same. Please don't shun an entire organization/cause because of a personal day-to-day discomfort that can easily be overcome. That's just so so selfish. and petty. and you're a jackass and a sheep if you do.
To all of you who are upset or feel misinformed- do your research and grow a pair. u live in the land of the free.
And to you mr. holden, next time you deal with a shitty fundraiser, find out who their employer is, contact said employer AND the charity, and DO something productive about it.
Don't you dare try to represent the good people of seattle with the very passive aggressive, hindering bullshit that u bothered to complain about, the well-mannered fundraisers are good people just like us to take the job very seriously actually make a huge positive change for the charity that hired them, so you are also saying you won't support their number one way of sustainability. Congratulations, you are a hypocrite and it bothers me that u even live in my beloved city. You obviously just wanted to complain, and didn't really want to solve the problem. You have lost any respect I could have had for you as an individual, and i know I'm not the only one who's pissed you opened your mouth and threw up rather than being constructive. way to go. And you, Stranger, i used to respect your newspaper, lately I've seen more and more self-centered emotional bitching articles that I wish I hadn't taken the time to read. This one takes the cake.
As a person from seattle who's signed up for EVERY charity i donate to on the street because of my good experiences and my research of their efficiency, you mr holden, make me laugh and want to punch you in the face at the same time.You are a very small percentage of seattle. this is the most generous city in the USA. Most people i know who donate have done so on the street very happily and have been proud supporters for years both of our local fundraisers, their passion, and their causes, and I happily greet them when I see them.
There are street canvassers out there who are actually really fun and respectful, I talk to them regularly.
They're non-comissioned and most of them fully support their cause and don't treat you badly no matter what, you're just blowing up your frustration. How is it such a progressive city has people lumping all professionals into one category, i'm so sorry to burst your bubble guys but there are bad businessman and supreme ones in every field. And every one of you who is going to refuse to talk to ANY street rep because of bad experiences, u obviously are not serious about wanting to help anyway and will use this as a crutch rather then telling the aggressive ones to fuck off and listening to the respectful and RESPECTED ones. Some of these issues are actually very pressing, and we can do our part to solve them, but we also should choose wisely which charities and fundraising companies to support. That's my thought on street fundraisers.
I actually looked up the way the non-commissioned fundraising companies work, they have a zero tolerance policy for rude behavior, and these guys never cost the charity money, in fact they bring in more help than any other type of fundraising. use your head, if they did do you think a NON-PROFIT would have them out on the street as representation? COME ON. I don't however support the commissioned fundraisers, their companies do actually cost the charity money.
So mr. holden Way to encourage a healthy society, way to battle passive aggressive bs with a coupon, that's not passive aggressive at all. do u feel your balls shrinking? i think u announced the answer to that yourself in your stinkin article. yes. some are fundraisers are good and some are bad. so how dare you try to speak for all of seattle just because you can't stand up for yourself. take your own passive aggressive bs and eat it. that's putting it nicely. u wanted to battle aggression with aggression.
Meanwhile, I will continue to support the people who do their job well in representing a cause i support, because they are sent out there BY THAT CHARITY precisely to talk to the people who do give a shit. I will continue to tell the assholes to fuck off, and address the problem where it matters, just like in any other situation. I encourage the rest of the WORLD, not just this city, to do the same. Please don't shun an entire organization/cause because of a personal day-to-day discomfort that can easily be overcome. That's just so so selfish. and petty. and you're a jackass and a sheep if you do.
To all of you who are upset or feel misinformed- do your research and grow a pair. u live in the land of the free.
And to you mr. holden, next time you deal with a shitty fundraiser, find out who their employer is, contact said employer AND the charity, and DO something productive about it.
Don't you dare try to represent the good people of seattle with the very passive aggressive, hindering bullshit that u bothered to complain about, the well-mannered fundraisers are good people just like us to take the job very seriously actually make a huge positive change for the charity that hired them, so you are also saying you won't support their number one way of sustainability. Congratulations, you are a hypocrite and it bothers me that u even live in my beloved city. You obviously just wanted to complain, and didn't really want to solve the problem. You have lost any respect I could have had for you as an individual, and i know I'm not the only one who's pissed you opened your mouth and threw up rather than being constructive. way to go. And you, Stranger, growing up i used to respect your newspaper and it's sharp progressive opinions, lately I've seen more and more self-centered emotional bitching articles that I wish I hadn't taken the time to read. This one takes the cake.
Activism, Inc: How the Outsourcing of G… Stanford University Press, 2006.
When I ignore a canvasser or tell them "no thanks," I'm rejecting invasive, objectionable, high-pressure sales tactics. I'm rejecting making snap decisions about handing over personal information and/or money to a random stranger on the street. If I choose to give to a charity or support a cause I can do that all on my own, without being heckled by a canvasser.
Also, a lot of these people's tactics do border on street harassment. Putting your hands on someone? Blocking their path? Following them down the street? Fundraising for charity does not make any of those things okay.
ALSO, NOT ALL CANVASSING ORGS ARE THE SAME, A LOT OF THEM GIVE ALMOST ALL THE MONEY THEY RAISE TO THE CHARITY AND ONLY KEEP ENOUGH MONEY to ALLOW THEMSELVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP STAYING ON THE STREET RAISING MONEY, DO YOU THINK THE KID WHO GETS WATER AS A RESULT OF THESE PEOPLE GIVE A FUCK ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONAL DISCOMFORT AT HAVING TO SAY NO TO A PERSON ON THE STREET, THIS IS ABSURD AND A PERFECT EXPRESSION OF OUR SOCIETY AND ITS SELFISH LACK OF EMPATHY TOWARDS ITS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. WOW
It only takes a few bad apples to ruin the bunch - Children International canvassers are aggressive, rude, and pushy. I will NEVER give them money. There are better ways to help children in need.
Real grassroots organizing is about volunteers getting together and taking action--not people who are paid to carry out street harassment.
I could cite the numerous studies from think tanks like Guidestar and the Center on Philanthropy that have pointed out that direct solicitations (telemarketing and canvassing) are NOT the most effective, but ARE the methods likely to deter and irritate potential donors.
I could also point out that money used to pay canvassers is money that is taken from the cause itself. Successful charities generally have large numbers of volunteers to assist in fundraising efforts; canvassers are an extra expense.
It doesn't matter, though. The ends do not justify the means. Canvassers in person tend to have the same entitled attitudes they show here: that they are the center of the world, that people are just waiting to hear their wisdom, and that anyone who refuses them is a Bad Person (tm). It gets old very quickly.
I hate them. Maybe they're perfectly nice people, but I can't stand that they're random strangers who try to talk to me on the street. So I give them nothing, and say nothing to them. Why? Because if we stop giving them money, they will go away. All you suckers who give them money are only making it possible for them to still exist.
It's difficult to get donations as a street canvasser because people don't like being harassed on the street and handing over financial details to random strangers with clipboards. It's that simple. I care about the world and the problems therein. I just don't care about you, street canvassers.
Assuming that someone doesn't care about charity if they refuse to talk to you is disingenuous at best. Assuming that people are so stupid that they won't know about charities unless someone actually stops them on the street is again short sighted.
I personally will no longer give to any organization that uses street canvassers, so approaching me is the very best way to ensure I will never support your particular organization. That's one of the reasons I support Sea Shepherds over Greenpeace; Feed the Children over Save the Children, etc. The bottom line is that there are other charities out there who do not feel the need to use this for of marketing.
Street canvassing is not a new idea. Any newspaperboy worth his salt would do everything he could to sell his stack of papers. It was respected work, child labor yes, but respected work.
Next time you see a young, in-debt, post-college individual that can't get another job opportunity take a minute to put yourself in their shoes and maybe you'll also be compassionate enough to take a minute to hear them out.
Companies like Grassroots Campaigns Incorporated, DialogueDirect (part of The Dialog Group Ltd.) and Fund for the Public Interest Incorporated, (formerly known as the Fund for Public Interest Research Incorporated) provide the service of converting liberal issues which average citizens might care about into a dollar amount. Such issues might include the environment, women's rights, third world poverty, animal rights, LGBT rights, eliminating organizations branded as “hate groups” with lawsuits, and campaigns for Democratic presidential candidates such as John Kerry and Barack Obama. They do this by sending people out on the street with a clipboard to talk pedestrians into giving them contributions.
Not only did I work for all of the companies I just mentioned, I eventually ended up in charge of training people how do the dirty work of convincing good-hearted people to part with their credit card information. I know exactly how it works, because I was counted among the top five best fundraisers nationwide by Grassroots Campaigns Incorporated in 2010. I bought a new couch and a $1200 television that summer because I made GCI enough money that they could afford to match what I had raised above my $140 daily quota up to 30%. It was more money than I had ever had at one time in my entire life, and it was just the crumbs they were throwing my way so I wouldn't think too hard about what they were making for themselves.
Not only do I know firsthand how lucrative working with non-profits, public interest research groups, and politicians can be, I also know how exploitative it is-- and not just of the people being convinced to give, but of the workers they get to go out and do it. These corporations put up tear-off flyers up all over town with “JOBS” written a bold letters, advertising promising paychecks in excess of $1000 to those who can cut it raising dough for the same political leaders who destroyed the job market to the point that people are willing to stand outside bothering strangers in the heat, cold, rain, and snow to scrape by.
They also bombard job message boards for people in creative professions with offers of instant hires, attracting struggling artists, starving students, out of work actors, semi-homeless college dropouts, and recent college grads who have loans to pay and no way to fulfill their financial responsibilities. Most of the people employed to do this fundraising work weren't as good at it as me, or as persistent. New hires were usually too exhausted and used up to continue after the first week or so. Even if they stuck with it, the company would have to let them go if their numbers weren't good enough.
I was part of a class action law suit against the Fund for Public Interest Research for exploiting its workers for unpaid overtime. The Fund unlawfully characterized its employees as “exempt” in order to deprive them of overtime pay. They settled out of court without an official admission of guilt, and I got a check long after the hardship caused by lack of those few, much needed dollars had already come and gone.
This is the true face of liberal political organizing. After these and many other first hand experiences with leftism, I have to say that I have been moving further and further right. Occasionally this puts me in some pretty eccentric company, but I'll take them over my old bosses.
Nonproft organizations hire individuals so that they can give a voice to people who desperately need help, and surprise, there's a lot of people who need help.
It is simply contracting man power because individuals who claim to care like yourself do not seem to have the time to go out and do the asking.
They'll stop when the problems stop. Sorry its annoying for you, but just because privileged assholes like yourself find it annoying to say "no" or "sorry" doesn't mean we should hault the most fruitful form of funding for nonprofits we have.
We can't live in a bubble of our own privledge as cozy and nice as it sounds, and thats a first world problem you're gonna have to learn to deal with.