RSS FeedNo Thanks, I Gave At The Office
You’re walking down the street minding your own business when you spot trouble at the end of the block; a group of young people harassing passersby. Do you pretend you don’t see them? Grab your phone and pretend to be on a call? Go an extra block out of your way to avoid them? Or just charge through, eyes straight ahead, pretending you can’t hear their calls?
“Do you have time for sick kids?”
“Let’s talk about how you can save the environment!”
“Will you help our push for equal rights?”
The 600 block of 11th Street NW appears to be a particularly active spot for these direct solicitations. It’s a corner with a lot of hustle and bustle between trains and buses at Metro Center, and slew of retail options. If you live and work in PQ and this is a main route for you, it is possible to run into various groups looking for your support two or three times a day.
We thought perhaps the painfully cold weather of late might have kept them at bay, but their convictions must keep them warm. We’ve continued to fend off requests for our time, signature, money throughout the week.
With all that’s wrong in the world maybe we shouldn’t feel so put out at having to say “no thank you” to eager young people. It’s all part of the fun of living in a popular neighborhood in DC.
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Comments
i am generally glad to be the one asked for help ..as opposed to the one in need…
and havent had any trouble with ..”not today but good luck and god bless”
xoxo
I can appreciate their interest in helping a good cause. But some are downright nasty if you don’t stop. I had one guy say to me, “Do you have a minute for the environment?” I replied “no thanks.” He replied “That’s great! Hope you feel good about yourself.”
I mean, seriously? I live downtown in a rather small apartment, don’t own a car and walk to work. My actions prove I have “a minute for the environment.” lol
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Just say no thank you and move on. Though it’s not really much about living in the city than it is the human condition. If you live in a non-condo/co-op building, you’ll likely have to say no thank you when people knock on your door as they go through the neighborhood soliciting for donations / votes / encyclopedia sales. If you have a landline and are not on a do not call list, you’ll likely have to say no thank you to telemarketers.