the 7th Avenue Gauntlet

Is it just me, or is it suddenly like running a gauntlet along parts of 7th avenue, trying to avoid people canvasing for ASPCA, Human Rights Campaign, Greenpeace, etc etc etc

I tend to avoid 7th Ave except when I'm actually on a shopping or banking mission. In other words, I'm not usually in a "let's hang out and chat about not clubbing the whales and sing kumbaya " sort of mode. Lately I've felt like I have to do a slalom around all the people who want me to sign a petition and/or give them money for some cause.

It's been that way for a while in my experience. Last week I was in a heated discussion on the phone and a clipboarder tried to grab me. I was stunned at the tactlessness. It's nuts. And I'm sure it's been covered here before but why do the deli owners allow the panhandling? You can't go into a deli to grab a Coke without getting the shaker on the milk crate or the pathetic God Bless You's as you pass. Why don't they just let them in? One in each aisle? Opening the fridge door and shaking the cup like the at the bank.
I think the economy has a lot to do with it. Donations are down.

Just ignore them. It's easy to do.

Montague Street is the same way. Also Court Street, in front of Barnes & Noble and Book Court. It's annoying - I'm on my lunch hour and I'm not about to spend a precious segment of it donating money, although I have on a couple of occasions. One time there was this crazy West Indian lady stationed near B&N, ranting and raving and carrying homophobic placards. A block or so later, I ran into a guy from HRC and was inspired to make a donation.

My kid is doing canvassing now, because there are no other summer jobs. And I think that explains a lot of what we're seeing here.

Yeah I feel bad about the kids who canvass. It's a shitty job. But what do these orgs. expect you to do? Give cash to strangers? Because when you tell them you'll donate online they won't have any of it.

The ones I've donated to on the street - HRC and ACLU - take credit cards. I set it up to give a small donation every month. The one that seems like a scam to me is "Children International" or something like that. I see them on Montague Street quite frequently. Their volunteers ask if you want to help stop child abuse. I'm always tempted to say, "Hell, no! I'm in favor of child abuse!"

Planned Parenthood...on Seventh Avenue...go figure.

I always wondered if these same kids go down to a shopping mall in Alabama and campaign for "family values" or "gun owners rights" for a change of pace.

They are all over the city this summer. And yes, it is because those are basically the only jobs college students can get. They are so persistent because they only get paid if they get donations. I did a similar job twenty years ago in a large mid-Atlantic city and the surrounding suburbs and yes, it sucks as a job. I think I lasted one week before throwing in the towel and determining I could make more money hustling pickup basketball games at the park.

antigone wrote: One time there was this crazy West Indian lady stationed near B&N, ranting and raving and carrying homophobic placards.

Was it this one?

eastbloc wrote: [quote=antigone]One time there was this crazy West Indian lady stationed near B&N, ranting and raving and carrying homophobic placards.

Was it this one?


I saw that woman on the train before. I told her that she seems awfully preoccupied with them for someone who "doesn't like them." I think she likes them a LOT.

Just practice the following phrase: "Absolutley not". It's fun. Q: "Do you have a moment for the DNC?" (WTF, in Park Slope? Why bother?) A: "Absolutely not."

Nothing wrong with giving money to causes, etc. but mail harassment is about my limit. I don't want to deal with it on the street.

I find it more amusing to pretend I don't see them and just blow right by them at full stride. Sorry. Ha.

Drano wrote: Nothing wrong with giving money to causes, etc. but mail harassment is about my limit. I don't want to deal with it on the street.

This doesn't even compare to canvasers ringing the bill at dinnertime to try to solicit money in your own home. Makes me crazy.

if there is any peta people, i would be like i love meat and deep fried whale taste good!!

Drano wrote: Just practice the following phrase: "Absolutley not". It's fun. Q: "Do you have a moment for the DNC?" (WTF, in Park Slope? Why bother?) A: "Absolutely not."

I prefer "If you can keep up with me, but I can't stop to talk." I don't mind them giving me their spiel as long as they don't expect me to go out of my way. If you want something, make it convenient for me and I'll hear you out.

I went through a couple of days of people ringing the bell trying to get signatures on petitions to get on the ballots. During my nap time. Do not mess with my nap time if you know what's good for you.

welcome to the liberal slope...every do gooder is around here trying to scam your money... just ignore them i do

Just tell them that you are a registered Republican (they've probably never encountered one). They'll be disarmed and likely become catatonic.

What I don't like is spotting them standing right smack in the middle of the sidewalk half a block ahead, facing me with clipboard in hand, just waiting til I get there. It ruins that entire section (between us) of an otherwise pleasant stroll... just waiting for the ambush.

Oh well, all things in perspective. Should be the worst part of my day. Wait... it is.

I hate to be so cynical, but I'm getting really annoyed at how they aggressively stop me EVERY time I go to the post office, drug store, supermarket, etc. I live right off 7th and can't avoid it altogether.

It sucks that this is the only summer job college kids can get these days, but I don't hand out cash on the street.

(Sorry I posted this topic earlier today without realizing this was already here. My search for "7th Avenue Clipboard" came up with zero results. I guess it was too specific.)

camaysar wrote: What I don't like is spotting them standing right smack in the middle of the sidewalk half a block ahead, facing me with clipboard in hand, just waiting til I get there. It ruins that entire section (between us) of an otherwise pleasant stroll... just waiting for the ambush.

EXACTLY!!!

Jack Krohn wrote: Just tell them that you are a registered Republican (they've probably never encountered one). They'll be disarmed and likely become catatonic.

That's become my go-to excuse for most everyone I encounter but have no interest in talking to: the clipboard people, the random folks running for some local office outside the subway, the beggars, etc - "Sorry, I'm a Republican." It's like announcing you've got the plague!! Works like a charm.

Or an Ayn Randian. Then they will RUN.

As would I!

As would I!

ljnd wrote: Or an Ayn Randian. Then they will RUN.

do they know who she is?

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=ljnd]Or an Ayn Randian. Then they will RUN.

do they know who she is?

They'd probably at least know that as good liberals, she's something they're supposed to hate out-of-hand, like Rush Limbaugh or Walmart. The who or why doesn't really factor into it.

ljnd wrote: Or an Ayn Randian. Then they will RUN.

This would be called the Randian Walk phenomenon, whereby the changes of aghast retreat direction and speed observed of clipboard people have the same distribution and are independent of each other, such that the past retreat of any given clipboard person cannot be used to predict the nature of their next retreat in shock and horror.

Over time the larger pattern of RUN AWAYYYY holds, but it is nearly impossible to predict where and how any given clipboard person will react and retreat in pronounced shock, disgust and fear.

So long as they retreat, the immediate goal is achieved. (To my daughter the canvasser: I KID, I KID.)