Discover Seattle!

General Category => Discover Seattle! => Topic started by: P.C. on Jul 29 06 09:17

Title: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: P.C. on Jul 29 06 09:17
I'm a charitable person, and do my best to donate wherever, whenever and whatever I can.

However, I am sick to death of getting frisked at every check-out.  I've tried explaining to the stores involved, that asking me to give money IS NOT DONATING.  It's closer to begging.  I did a little shopping yesterday, and made my way through the check-outs 5 times. (twice in one store and 3 others).  

  "Would you like to 'donate' a dollar to .......(charity of their choice)".  First store...."Certainly" I said.

Second store...."Sure, OK".  Back to first store (within an hour....same check-out, same clerk)...."Are you kidding me?  Whatever !"  Fourth store...."Ummmm.......Well, I'm getting a litttle tired of this, but OK".   Fifth store...." NO !!!!"  Needless to say, clerk 5 has no idea I'm a nice person.

  Is anybody else getting annoyed with this form of 'donating', or is it possible I'm not as nice as I think I am ? [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/traurig/a010.gif" border=0]
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: TehBorken on Jul 29 06 10:44
 P.C. wrote:
Is anybody else getting annoyed with this form of 'donating', or is it possible I'm not as nice as I think I am ?

I hate that too. I usually tell them that "I never donate to causes that might fund terrorism". The looks I get are priceless.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: P.C. on Jul 29 06 10:47
LOL, TehBorken.  I'd have to say I've not tried this approach.  Maybe I'll give it a shot.  rofl
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Gopher on Jul 29 06 10:50
This sort of approach always strikes me that I am being subjected to moral and/or emotional blackmail. I  respond accordingly - give nothing at all (even if I would have done under other circumstances).  
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: P.C. on Jul 29 06 10:57
That's exactly what it is Gopher.  Emotional blackmail.  Who wants to look uncharitable to all those people they don't even know in the line-up behind them...lol.  

  There is a liquor store in my neighbourhood, that has a jars on the counter, with a notes taped to them.  One saying 'Working to put myself thru (yeah, that's right....thru) school.'  This is a little different, but twice as annoying.  Is it legal to beg while on the job?????
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: kitten on Jul 29 06 11:00
I never donate at the grocery or any store.  I tell them I have my own list of charities and they're not on it.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Gopher on Jul 29 06 11:01
I doubt it, P.C.

Another things which particularly annoys me is the reaction one gets when one sends in donations to 'ordinary charities'.

I recall sending a cheque to UNICEF for the Tsunami Relief Fund, and that ever after I was solicited for money from one related charity after another (including more solicitations from UNICEF itself). Having decided that the amount of money they spent on sending emotionally/morally  blackmailing letters to me was more or less equal to the amount I'd donated in the first place, I decided that they''d never hear from me again. Pity, as I would have liked to have helped further.    
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: kitten on Jul 29 06 11:05
I gave anonymously to the tsunami relief effort because I knew there would be endless begging letters from everybody and their uncle if I identified myself.  I do donate yearly to the S.P.C.A. because of my love for animals.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Gopher on Jul 29 06 11:06
I didn't donate anonymously as I found a way of their reclaiming money out of the tax I paid if I gave my full details.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: P.C. on Jul 29 06 11:11
HI KITTEN !!!!!!!

  I have my 'soft spots' for specific charities. But I believe I should have the right to choose them myself.  

  People set up outside the grocery stores....shell out before you shop, then shell out before you get out.  It's all just becoming too much.  
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Gopher on Jul 29 06 11:13
Carry some sea shells with you (they used to be a form of currency), that way when they want you to shell you can do so without further qualm.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: kitten on Jul 29 06 11:14
Hi, my friends!  I thought you had to give a certain amount before you could claim it on taxes.  
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Gopher on Jul 29 06 11:15
Well, I DID give a certain amount - however, it was only very small - I just managed to be 'clever' about it.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: kitten on Jul 29 06 11:16
You couldn't be anything but clever.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Gopher on Jul 29 06 11:20
You know but one trillionth of me!
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: kitten on Jul 29 06 11:21
Well.........it's a start!
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Sportsdude on Jul 29 06 02:24
Here's money I've given to:

Sierra Club

Greenpeace

Amnesty International

Oxfam

  Only gave once. Because I'm not rich so I gave them my 20 bucks to become a member and that was it.

The Democratic Party kept sending me letters and letters and letters and one of them said personal feedback: So I wrote I was moving to Canada and starting my life over in a new country. Pops got angry at me for writing it for some reason because I had to mail it and it had his name on it.

  (He got angry again when I wrote a basically threatening letter to Todd Akin seeing if he'd actually respond but alas the whole letter was form letter. But I think my phones were being tapped after I sent the letter.)

  Anyway I sent it and they haven't sent anything since then. So I think it worked. Funny thing is I get the Liberal party's monthly email. Went on there site it asks where you live (I put in my zip code since I don't have a postal code) and it worked. Atleast they haven't tried to mail me yet.    
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Lise on Jul 29 06 07:32
PC - next time say this: "Well, you know, I've donated my kidney this morning............ so what have you done lately?"
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: P.C. on Jul 29 06 07:50
I LIKE IT, Lise !!!!  I'll give it a whirl.
Title: Re: THAT did it !!!!
Post by: Sportsdude on Jul 29 06 10:13
Oh yeah. My dad has a rare blood type and they used to call him every week, even after he gave a bunch of platelets.