On any given weekday, there are parts of the city where you can't walk a block without running into an annoying 20-something working for some progressive group, holding a clipboard, and pestering people with crap like, "Do you want to help put a Democrat in the White House?" or "Do you want to stop global warming?" or "Do you want to see the minimum wage raised?"
Like most people, I completely ignore them, either pretending that I can't hear them, or pretending that I'm a Republican, and simply don't give a shit. I once saw a crazy homeless person get into a shouting match with one of these people for some reason, and was surprised when I found myself siding with the homeless person simply on principle.
But over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed something. Some of these groups have started hiring some fairly attractive girls to work the streets. Not, you know, model hot, but definitely progressive activist chick hot.Granted, this explosion of (relative) hotness is probably just coincidence. But if it is a concentrated effort by liberal groups, it's brilliant. I mean, I'm still not stopping to listen to their pitch or make a donation, but whereas before I would just act like the activists didn't even exist, I'm now finding myself making eye contact with them and smiling as I pass them by, maybe even tossing out a cheerful, "Good luck!" So it figures that the people that were already doing that beforehand are now actually stopping to chat, and opening up their checkbooks, doesn't it? I'd be shocked if there hasn't been a sharp increase in donations.
Who says Democrats never learn?
9 comments:
very interesting blog you have here...
The next step will be to realise it should be illegal to eat Tofu any other way than deep fried, then we may start to see some real achievement.
If I'm in a particularly snarky mood, I say to the clipboard holders, "Your mother wants you to go to law school," as I walk by quickly to wherever I'm going.
as someone who's actually done time as a clipboard girl, in winter no less, i can tell you that it's the worst job in the world that doesn't involve removing your clothes. it's demeaning, it's uncomfortable, and you get paid based on how many people you can sign up to the cause. i tried to make a living like this for three months. a man from the wall street journal told me that i cared more about caribou than the people who died in 9/11. someone else yelled "sieg heil!" at me for an hour. i was insulted, knocked into, and spit at, of all things. all you have to do is say no, and they'll leave you alone. the kids aren't there to ruin your day; they just need the money.
Well, I'd rather it was them than "the other side." I'm tired of waiting on the world to change, too. See my poem based on that song, "Working on the World to Change". It's posted at alt.fan.rawilson, alt.fan.cyndi-lauper, and some others.
PS, "Scotus":
(1.) Is it Duns Scotus, the SCOTUS, or "other" that inspires your name - or is that just your name?
(2.) Is that really your picture? If so, way cool.
bamagirlinVA:
I almost went the activist route one summer during college. After seeing an ad in the paper promising good money, I went to this place near Capitol Hill, listened to the pitch about how important the environment was, and how I'd be going door to door, asking people for their support. I told the supervisor I'd see her the next morning, and never came back.
So I sympathize with needing money, and having to take a crap job. But if you're going to take a job that, by definition, requires you to bother people, you can't be surprised when they're hostile.
I am sorry you were knocked into and spit on, though. But the caribou line was sort of funny.
Neil:
Yeah, I took the name after Duns Scotus. There was something fitting about using the name of the philosopher who inspired the dunce cap.
And no, that's not me, though I dearly wish it was. It's Clinton Portis, appearing as Dollah Bill.
Actually, bamagirlinVA, that's not entirely true. Two of these kids are eternally stationed outside my office, along with the 4-6 I encounter in my walk around downtown for lunch or errands. I used to be polite and say no, but I've been given dirty looks, called names, and, one time, was followed for a block until I told them firmly to "fuck off." I tried to simply walk past one guy once, and he actually stood in front of me and blocked my path, doing a little dance back and forth as I tried to get around him, until I angrily reached for his clipboard (and would have relished smacking him upside the head with it) and he moved aside. I'm an activist liberal and am constantly embarassed by these kids. Wearing my iPod and looking the other way when they speak to me seems to be the only way to not get harassed on the street by them everyday. Way to further the cause. Instead of creating massive email spam lists for your crazy employer, why don't you join the Peace Corps or join a mentoring program or do something actually productive?
You think its bad in DC, you outta try Takoma Park. With our liberal lefty reputation and the welcoming porches of our bungalows, the stream of solicitors is amazing: as many as three in an evening.
But its true, as simple "No thanks" will send them on their way.
I canvassed for a week back in Buffalo...it was that bad.
Some of the places we went to were rural, like Java/Angola, and if there was no bathroom at a restaurant or some place you had to pee in the woods...creepy!
Some of the girls had hairy armpits (ew!) and everyone talked about health and the environment but smoked like chimneys.
I can sympathize with the canvassers because of such, but in the same token I know when to leave one alone and they should do the same.
We got hit with Greenpeace kids over in Georgetown...well, it's better than the Zendik freaks!
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