Save the chillldruuun, two for one special

[firecat]

I hate campaigns and advertising efforts that send children door-to-door. There's one that's been very active in my neighborhood for a couple weeks now. Now, I have a policy of never buying anything as a result of door-to-door soliciting or telephone soliciting. So I do my best to show them what the adult world has in store for them once they're no longer cute enthusiastic babies, by saying "I'm not interested" and closing the door whether or not they continue with "But it's for my future," or whatever. But it's not a role I have any fun playing, and it usually puts me in a crabby mood for a while afterward.

Comments

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

I do the same, though I try to put a positive spin on the interaction by saying "Thanks!" or "Good luck!" right after the polite-but-firm "I'm not interested". I'm not cranky at them, I'm just not interested. Same with the religion salesmen.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, does this include Girl Scout Cookies and similar fundraisers?

[firecat]

Yes, it does.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

I'm much happier now that I can buy Girl Scout cookies direct from friends or in the parking lot at the grocery store. I like the cookies, and I sure don't mind supporting the Girl Scouts (who don't have their heads up their asses, organizationally, the way the Boy Scouts do) -- but I seriously dislike door-to-door soliciting of any kind, and I don't think it's a good idea to send kids around unsupervised to do this. They never did get a conviction in the Marcia Trimble (http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2925583&nav=SfT6WBgU) case, although they're pretty sure they know who killed her...

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

I'm with you about buying the cookies in parking lots or from friends. These days I mostly don't answer the front door at all unless I know who's coming over, because of door-to-door soliciting.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

They really aren't supposed to be unsupervised; they should be accompanied by a parent or other adult. (I wasn't, generally, and I was a Scout for 10 years, but we lived in small towns and knew the neighbors -- we also played all over the neighborhood without direct supervision.)

[usqueba.livejournal.com]

We haven't had a kid come to our door in *years*, but when they did, if I knew what they were talking about (organization-wise) and they were polite and coherent, I'd buy something out of sympathy. I had to do that stupid #$%^ thing so I feel for them.

In recent history, tho there have been many more organizations I've never heard of OR they're rude, etc so it's "No thank you" and "good luck".

"But it's for my future,"
;) Have you seen Napoleon Dynamite?

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

We haven't had so many door-to-door solicitors since we got Petey. He does a fine job as a scary-sweet animal.

Girl Scout cookies! I hated selling them! Rejection at almost every doorstep! Probably because behind half the doorsteps, another Girl Scout lived!