Quote: EllieJP @ August 3 2011, 3:48 PM BSTIt's pretty solid... reckon I can do some damage.
Getting good at wanking off sailors one handed too.
There's not many with your dedication to your profession!
Status report Page 3,952
Quote: zooo @ August 3 2011, 4:03 PM BSTI hate chuggers.
What's a chugger?
Quote: DaButt @ August 3 2011, 5:38 PM BSTWhat's a chugger?
Charity muggers - basically people who pester you in the street to try to get you to sign up for their charity. It is the one occasion where I think we should be allowed to carry guns.
Quote: KLRiley @ August 3 2011, 5:44 PM BSTCharity muggers - basically people who pester you in the street to try to get you to sign up for their charity.
So they're not panhandlers? That's all I ever see around here but they're typically working stopped cars at traffic signals so you can always run them over if they annoy you.
Technically not but similar irritation factor. Most people actively despise them. I won't give to any charity that uses them. If I'm feeling really mean I'll cross question them about the charity which they want me to spend money on. Usually these guys are out of work actors so you can see the same person wearing different jackets in a short space of time. I left one of them weeping about 18 months back. He was trying to sell me a disability charity and launched into the patter about the poor deal disabled people get in this country. This was a bad move because I know a bit about it. Actually I know a lot about it as I'm an activist for disability rights.
It'd be okay if there was just one. But there are usually 4 at various points up one high street, every one of them tries to physically stop you and talk to you (sometimes more than once each). And it actually becomes quite an offensive/anger inducing thing that you have to fight your way down a street when you just want to mind your own business.
Some of them just say okay or thanks when you say no, but some actually have an attitude about it and make little sarcastic comments. I'm surprised the rude ones don't get punched more often to be honest.
I always offer to explain the law on assault and battery to them and that I'd also be happy to call 999 to also explain it to a copper. They back off most of the time. I did actually take one guy's name and wrote to the CEO of a charity after I'd been pushed by the chugger.
What makes it worse is the time they are out - rush hour. 'Have you got two minutes to help sick children? No, I'm trying to catch a train home.'
It feels very much like they're taking advantage of a human aversion to being rude and combining it with the knowledge that the British are unable to talk comfortably to strangers and will sign anything to be able to get away.
I wonder, has the proliferation of chuggers correlated with the increasing popularity of headphones?
Quote: AJGO @ August 3 2011, 6:22 PM BSTI wonder, has the proliferation of chuggers correlated with the increasing popularity of headphones?
Ha, probably.
I would never even think of stopping and talking to one. I shall start pretending I don't speak English, I think.
But if you're not on-guard and someone says excuse me or similar, then all of a sudden you're trapped and even if you have no intention of giving money, and you have getaway lines rehearsed, it's still suprisingly difficult to interrupt someone before they've had their say. I tend to wear headphones now even when I'm not listening to anything.
Quote: AJGO @ August 3 2011, 6:28 PM BSTBut if you're not on-guard and someone says excuse me or similar, then all of a sudden you're trapped and even if you have no intention of giving money, and you have getaway lines rehearsed, it's still suprisingly difficult to interrupt someone before they've had their say.
Yes, true. I think I must be naturally quite rude though, cos as soon as I see what they are I just say 'No, sorry, no time,' and walk off. Like when I answer the phone to someone selling something.
Quote: AJGO @ August 3 2011, 6:28 PM BSTBut if you're not on-guard and someone says excuse me or similar, then all of a sudden you're trapped and even if you have no intention of giving money, and you have getaway lines rehearsed, it's still suprisingly difficult to interrupt someone before they've had their say. I tend to wear headphones now even when I'm not listening to anything.
I usually head them off by saying that I already give - via payroll - to whatever charity they're plugging/chugging. Works a treat.
You're both obviously much more prepared than me. I'm alright at completely ignoring them but terrible at extricating myself when I do get trapped. Will go and practice snarling in the mirror
If it's Age Concern I ask them to give me some; any of the others I ask how much - as "resting" actors - they are getting paid.
I don't take no shit from them. I smile politely and say "No thank you". Works for me.