OK these days I walk WAY too slow, worse than the tortoise, but I'm on crutches, its allowed. When I decide I have to go out into town it takes a lot of careful planning and a simple trip to the bank can take around 1 and a half hours!
Now picture this: I am hobbling down the street on my crutches, obviously looking like I am struggling. In the distance is a man with a clipboard. SH*T. He's spotted me. Here we go...
"Excuse me Madam can I just ask, have you been injured in an accident?"
Over here in the UK there are a lot of companies who advertise offering to help you claim money if you have been injured in an accident or at work etc etc all done on a No Win No fee basis.
What annoys the hell out of me is:
1. These people expect me to go through MY medical history in the street with a total stranger!
2. I obviously look like I am struggling but instead of letting me pass by they take it upon themselves to stop me and the expect me to want to talk to them.
3. When I say no, they then walk along beside me and try to start a conversation about my leg.
This happened 15 TIMES in a 2 and a half hour period today. In the end I gave up trying to get to the bank, turned around and went home.
Carry a bunch of cards with you that say "Piss off, you moron, or I'll sue you for harrassment!" (or the equivalent in proper English), then hand them out when these guys come at you. It'd be amusing at the very least.
Carry a bunch of cards with you that say "Piss off, you moron, or I'll sue you for harrassment!" (or the equivalent in proper English), then hand them out when these guys come at you. It'd be amusing at the very least.
LOL excellent idea!! Now that would make me smile! :o)
Carry a bunch of cards with you that say "Piss off, you moron, or I'll sue you for harrassment!" (or the equivalent in proper English), then hand them out when these guys come at you. It'd be amusing at the very least.
Good one!! How about a t-shirt saying the same thing?
You could turn the tables on them and also carry a clipboard with a bunch of stupid questions on it. Go up to them and start asking the questions first : )
Just wear this when going downtown:
(I couldn't find a meaner one)
Incidentally, soliciting has a different meaning in the UK. Soliciting for business is something that "working women" do! Although solicitors in the UK are very respectable - it is the name for a type of lawyer. Indeed, I am a solicitor!
Just wear this when going downtown:
(I couldn't find a meaner one)
Incidentally, soliciting has a different meaning in the UK. Soliciting for business is something that "working women" do! Although solicitors in the UK are very respectable - it is the name for a type of lawyer. Indeed, I am a solicitor!
LOL Matt, I didnt say anything...I assumed it was an American thing lol
Apologies to your profession for my thread, but think you can understand its those who 'tout for busines' on the street that annoy me!! (And I'm not referring to "working women" here!)
ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).
ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).
So you guys have these people wandering the streets too?
ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).
So you guys have these people wandering the streets too?
Not usually carrying clip boards, though. Those we call surveyors....or temporarily between jobs....or just plain (hired to be) annoying....and they're frequently found in shopping malls (which can easily be avoided) :)
ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).
So you guys have these people wandering the streets too?
Not usually carrying clip boards, though. Those we call surveyors....or temporarily between jobs....or just plain (hired to be) annoying....and they're frequently found in shopping malls (which can easily be avoided) :)
Another 'group' that frequently hassle me are people doing market research! Because I walk so slow I can see them building up to my approach, once I get within earshot they pounce!
I wouldn't mind, under normal circumstances, cos I could just say NO! and briskly walk off. They think they've picked a good 'un when they see me cos I can't walk anywhere quickly.
BASTARDS! Thats all I have to say!!
Another 'group' that frequently hassle me are people doing market research! Because I walk so slow I can see them building up to my approach, once I get within earshot they pounce!
I wouldn't mind, under normal circumstances, cos I could just say NO! and briskly walk off. They think they've picked a good 'un when they see me cos I can't walk anywhere quickly.
BASTARDS! Thats all I have to say!!
Ah, but they target me because I have the kind of friendly face that shows I like helping people....it's the girl scout look, I guess. You must cultivate your escalation of responses, I think. (Make no eye contact while reciting the following.)
Response 1: No. Thank you.
Response 2: I'm sorry, not today.
Response 3: Not interested.
Response 4: (At this point stop dead in your tracks and make eye contact.) Look buddy, I've got crutches and I'm not afraid to use 'em! Kapish?
Ah, but they target me because I have the kind of friendly face that shows I like helping people....it's the girl scout look, I guess. You must cultivate your escalation of responses, I think. (Make no eye contact while reciting the following.)
Response 1: No. Thank you.
Response 2: I'm sorry, not today.
Response 3: Not interested.
Response 4: (At this point stop dead in your tracks and make eye contact.) Look buddy, I've got crutches and I'm not afraid to use 'em! Kapish?
Like you, they usually target me but normally I am pretty good with my responses (1,2,3 above are pretty usual for me!). However at the moment these just dont work. Here's an example...
Today I am slowing hobbling along, minding my own business, heading to M&S for some food shopping (which is a huge task in itself!) when I spy a group of clipboard wielding lunatics. As I get closer they seem to have made the decision who is going to approach me. A middle age man begins his approach..."Excuse me Madam blah blah blah....". "No. Thank you." I reply. Satisfied with my answer I begin to hobble away. However clipboard wielding looney isn't happy he walks alongside me, asks how I hurt my leg then precedes to tell me his 94 year old father was found in his bathroom last week, naked (why did i need to know that??) after having a fall and was in hospital with a broken leg. Even after this incite into his life I am still unwilling to answer his market research questions and he finally gives up. Thats just added another (pointless) 20 minutes to my trip into town. Arrrgghhhh!!!!
Aha! You made eye contact and responded to their (his, her, its) questions. As soon as you see them you must treat them as invisible...walk (hobble, whatever) right through them. They don't know you're not deaf. I have learned to treat check-out personnel in a similar manner. You know the ones...they treat the person ahead as if taking their money was a favor and tell stories about their break-up with their most recent love interest and go on about how difficult their wage-job is? Always smiling, I refuse to give them a verbal response to anything. I think I've got half of them believing I'm a deaf mute...and to them, I am deaf and mute. (I've just found it easier than acting insane.) :-)
"... This article describes such an experiment. Eight sane people gained secret admission to 12 different hospitals. Their diagnostic experiences constitute the data of the first part of this article; the remainder is devoted to a description of their experiences in psychiatric institutions."
"... This article describes such an experiment. Eight sane people gained secret admission to 12 different hospitals. Their diagnostic experiences constitute the data of the first part of this article; the remainder is devoted to a description of their experiences in psychiatric institutions."
Whadda'ya tryin' to say here, Wallace?
:)
Seriously, thank you for an interesting article...we can always count on you for that. In this particular situation, however, we don't want the harassed to end up committed...seems quite "normal" to me, in fact, for despise unwelcome intrusions into her privacy. Much easier to put on a mantle of indifference and let those who will assume what they may. Of course, either tactic will allow one to continue to smile foolishly while frustrating the opponent. :) :o =O !
