Good morning. Can I ask you a question?

Messy

Messy

Senior Member
I walked out of the grocery store this morning. There were some young boys and one around 20 I think. That guy greeted me. Good morning! Good morning!
Can I ask you a question?
Eh no hear.
The boys were laughing. I just walked straight to my bike. Ain't nobody got time for that. He looked well dressed. He was not a beggar. More the seller type who wants you to be bound to pay for a Newspaper for months, which you never read.

The last time I listened and talked back was years ago with a Newspaper seller. Do you want this Newspaper? No thank you. I have no money for that. But it's for free! You really have to take this Newspaper. Okay then. After a month it's 20 a month or whatever. Okay then I don't want it.
YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT EVERYTHING FOR FREE!!!!
NO!!!! I ALREADY SAID I DON'T WANT A NEWSPAPER!!!!

So to avoid such conversations I say: hm no hear.

What do you say? You don't have to pay if you answer lol.
 
I politely say “No thank you” and keep walking. If they persist, I either ignore them or just repeat “no thank you” and keep going.

I’ve learned, the hard way, that they want to engage me in conversation. The moment I engage is when they then have the upper hand, so I simply don’t allow that to happen.
 
They once got mad at me and said loud that I was rude. Just because I didn't answer. They were trying to sell something. I don't care. Keep walking.
 
I have never done this coming out of shopping, no one has approached me for years. I did have this happen more than 30 years ago and I just pulled a bat out of the trunk of the car.

I had my infant son with me at the time and was not going to let anyone get to close. I think now I would just pull out the phone and dial 911 for help. I think that would send them running.

It seems now too often that people like this can just bully us grey folks. Not acceptable. Now, I do not hesitate to just call the police if someone gets to close. Even if people come and knock on my door and won't leave. I don't open the door but if they don't take no for an answer I am already dialing.

for the most point they do not even have a permit going door to door, They are surprised that we know they have no right on our property. I have gotten less and less of these people. They may hang something on the door or in the mailbox but they never knock after hearing the big dog send a warning.

At the least I go to the front window and pull back the drape so they can see him, big dog and they leave. What a blessing this dog is for me!!

We can't brandish a gun but we can show a serious animal is on alert for protection. I will always keep a big dog for that just that reason.
 
I'm glad I live in a flat. I can look through the hole in the door or on the screen and just don't open if it's not someone I know or a mail deliverer.
 
Ronni said:
I politely say “No thank you” and keep walking. If they persist, I either ignore them or just repeat “no thank you” and keep going.

I’ve learned, the hard way, that they want to engage me in conversation. The moment I engage is when they then have the upper hand, so I simply don’t allow that to happen.
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This usually works for me too.

The little strip shopping center within walking distance of my apartment usually has more than one panhandler or sketchy acting person trying to engage with people but fortunately they are not aggressive.

After a while it becomes pretty routine to just offer a polite but firm no thank you and keep moving.

I would never make a sarcastic or disrespectful comment that could trigger a confrontation.
 
I don't have any problems with that. I've even bought things from strangers if I needed it or a good deal. A lot of times those interactions are very interesting and fun.
 
I keep walking past them and some say something complimentary. I suppose they might think I am deaf.

My husband being a veteran and having a license plate with his service in Vietnam decals on it, attracted some men at one gas station asking for money and trying to be friendly with him as being another veteran. It probably was a hoax but my husband would give them a few dollars. We, however, do not buy gasoline from that station anymore as we use one closer to where we live now and no one approaches us.
 
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