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 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 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.
 
I can't remember the last time any stranger on the street or a parking lot tried to initiate conversation with me, and never a time when anyone specifically said, "Can I ask you a question." I usually walk at a fast clip and with purpose, even if there is no hurry. If I am stopped, I would pause to see what they had to say. I don't get rude just because someone speaks to me, but my posturing and expression would show I wasn't fully paying attention and was ready to move on. If they asked for money, a simple "no," or if they tried to sell me something, also a simple "no."
 
These people who approach us in the street or publicly anywhere hoping for money to whatever they're selling... charity subscriptions, time share properties.. whatever., and are a real pest, . are called ''chuggers'' here...

"Chuggers" (a portmanteau of "charity" and "muggers") are paid face-to-face fundraisers who approach pedestrians in public spaces to sign them up for ongoing direct debit donations. While used by charities to gain consistent, long-term funding, the practice is often criticized for being aggressive, invasive, and for high commission costs that may consume the first year of a donor's contribution.
Key Aspects of Chuggers
  • Definition & Origin: The term is a pejorative slang for professional street fundraisers. The practice was introduced in the mid-1990s, often involving third-party agencies rather than direct employees of the charity.
  • Targeting Strategy: They operate in high-footfall areas like town centers and train stations, using "cold approach" tactics to stop pedestrians.
  • Tactics: Common approaches include using closed questions (e.g., "got a minute?"), offering compliments (e.g., "cool footwear"), or emotional appeals.
  • Controversy & Criticism: Critics argue that the tactics are intrusive, and that the high commission paid to agencies means little money goes to the charity initially.
  • Regulation: While street collections often require licenses, face-to-face fundraisers asking for bank details for direct debits do not always fall under the same legal restrictions.
 
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