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August 17, 2011
Roger, 19
Has sidewalk canvassing changed the way you approach dating/meeting people?
I think it gives you more of a presence, and it makes it easier to talk to people. I've always been good at figuring out people pretty quickly, but this also helps with that.
And I know rejection is a huge part of being a sidewalk canvasser…
Yeah. For every ten people I see, maybe two will stop and talk to me.
That's still pretty good, though! Do people ever stop to ask you out?
Yeah, it happens. I meet friends this way, too. It's how I met my roommate.
What do you say when someone's clearly flirting?
It depends on the situation. I talk to them first to see if there's a connection. But on the job, we're not allowed to make the first move. I mean, we're working.
So what should I do if I want to pick up a sidewalk canvasser?
Just be yourself, and be interested in whatever charity or cause the canvasser's talking about. And if you walk by at first without stopping and then come back, I'm open to that.
I've gone on a few dates with a friend of a friend. We really click and I want to get to know him better, but I initiate everything. What's going on? Is he just not into me?
Probably! Or maybe he's boring or shy. It could also be that you have an overpowering personality.
How do I find out?
Ask. Start a conversation. "Do you like me or not? Is there something I'm doing wrong?" It's a hard conversation, but how else will you find out?
I recently ended a long-term relationship. My ex-girlfriend and I both agreed we fell out of love with each other, so I thought it was mutual. I bumped into one of her friends recently, and the friend had no idea we'd broken up. I'm beginning to think my ex hasn't told many people. Why wouldn't she tell people close to her that we're no longer together? Should I confront her?
With Facebook relationship statuses, people always find out about this stuff so quickly. It's heartbreaking. Maybe your ex-girlfriend was going along with the breakup because you wanted it. But it sounds like she didn't really want it. Maybe she's hoping you'll get back together. I wouldn't confront her about it in an upset way, but you might need to talk to her.
I've been with my boyfriend for a while, and he's suddenly become more sexually adventurous — like a totally different person in bed. Should I suspect he's cheating?
That's cynical. He just wants to try new things. But you can ask what's inspired him. It's normal to want to switch things up.
I recently met my good friend's college boyfriend. They haven't been together for years and are good friends now. He asked me out, and I'm interested. Should I okay things with my friend before I say yes?
Yeah. Run it by her.
Even if this was more than five years ago?
What do you believe in more: going out with this guy or your friendship?
What's the better story: meeting your boyfriend or girlfriend through sidewalk canvassing or online dating?
They're both good ways to meet people, but I think it's probably more fun having that first encounter on the sidewalk.
Commentarium (18 Comments)
Laura had the best answer for the long term break up question. If I don't tell everyone I know about the break up right away, I want to get back together? Bull.
Fucking charity muggers.
yea fuck these reformist charity pimps. acting all smug, "you wanna save the world today?" these non profit organizations use most of the money to pay salaries of E.D s and staff. how much is left over.
These people suck. They ambush me when I'm trying to do some shopping downtown. I'm like, so did you buy those clothes you're wearing, or does all this money you make go to the charity. Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm way more likely to give my money to a homeless guy. I've got my own charities I support. Fucking charity muggers is right.
Roger's way cute!
They only talked to Save the Children canvassers. As a canvasser, that's a little annoying.
@ Katie: Yeah, normally canvassers are dishing out annoyance, rather than receiving it.
Canvassers are telemarketers in the street. We hated them on the phones, now we hate them to their faces. If you are a canvasser, you're not supporting a cause, you're just adding another element in the bureaucracy of dividing up charity money instead of simply putting it towards the cause.
Self-righteous assholes getting in my way.
Want to know what happened? see for yourself: bisi.pl/gl5
One time a canvasser tried to get me with "Do you want to help feed the children?" I ignored him but half an hour later I realized I should have said "feed them to what?"
Damn you, l'esprit de l'escalier!
Does Nick have Downs?
Canvassing is a job. You get paid for your job, don't you? Why shouldn't canvassers get paid?
For the record, they're not making a hell of a lot of money, and for most organizations, the money made through canvassing dwarves the money paid to canvassers. Like the first canvasser said, if you're not doing your job and bringing money in, you're fired.
I would add to what these three said by saying that canvassing builds character and helps you become a better judge of character. People can talk all they want about stopping the climate crisis or world hunger or hate crimes, but until they put their feet on the pavement and their money where their mouths are, then it means nothing.
Activism is sexy as hell. Apathy is a bore and a turnoff. Show the world some love.
for me, the annoyance is not being left alone when I gently decline to give money. I am a broke college grad, but I still have a couple charities that I donate to on a yearly basis. I was stopped by someone who works for one of those charities the other day, and I said "honestly, I support your cause and I do donate to [charity] every year. I also just spent a month of unemployment volunteering for [charity] so I do care, but I just don't have the money to be giving out money to canvassers." She continued to badger me to try to get money from me. Caring about causes doesn't mean that you are interested in being made to feel guilty every single time you don't give money to a particular charity.
tVKtXb As I have expected, the writer blurted out!!!
XDDjx4 Develop the topic further! It is interesting to know more details!!!
I like to ensure my donation actually reaches the target destination without being pared away by blood sucking leeches, so I actually pull the cork and shove the bottle into every homeless drunk I donate to, and wait till the suckling instinct kicks in before I slope off into the midnight fog.
No more s***. All posts of this qiuatly from now on