tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post5258554827000326403..comments2024-02-03T06:01:53.090-08:00Comments on Noe Valley SF: Rant: Clipboard Brigade On 24th StNoe Valley, SFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996607013124379881noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-78815619887235242722010-05-06T14:29:44.968-07:002010-05-06T14:29:44.968-07:00First off, stop commenting anonymously. It's c...First off, stop commenting anonymously. It's confusing and it marks the reader as a careless douche who can't be bothered to type in a name.<br /><br />Second, I'm an SF resident. I'm a gainfully employed digital media professional. I'm also a petitioner. I'm a volunteer. I'm <b>NOT</b> doing it to raise money. <br /><br />Sweet Jesus, I would rather do anything than petition. I'd rather dig ditches. I hate it. I hate interrupting you during your activity. I hate soliciting your attention. I hate disrupting your book or your conversation, or, hell, just precious moment's peace. I hate hate hate that I'm lumped in with those who are paid to collect signatures -- a vocation I hold slightly higher than pond scum. ($1 per signature? Really? Geez.)<br /><br />But I do it anyway because I (yes) passionately believe in my cause. Because the thing that I care about isn't gonna happen any other way.<br /><br />Yes, you loathe me. I kinda loathe me, too. But I'm willing to incur that loathing to get the buses in this city to run on time. Just a thought.<br /><br />Fixmuninow.comgenerichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182960243270387079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-23453546816177781732010-05-06T14:26:52.567-07:002010-05-06T14:26:52.567-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.generichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182960243270387079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-50530370973312987842010-04-27T17:36:05.345-07:002010-04-27T17:36:05.345-07:00Sorry, I got to point out that canvasser's smu...Sorry, I got to point out that canvasser's smug point about people just being socially awkward is at best oblivious, and rather ignorant. Many people have social anxieties and phobias and prefer to dictate the terms of engagement to manage this anxiety. When they've shown clear intent to not engage, and the canvasser engages anyway, you can be triggering one of their phobias or anxieties. The cumulative effect of this, particularly day after day, when the canvasser makes NO ATTEMPT to recognise that they've already engaged with this individual and received a negative AND further still attempts to circumvent their "do not engage" signals can be very taxing. It's *great* that you can brush this off as "socially awkward", and feel superior to those folks. (Sarcasm, yes.)<br /><br />Some of the little mind-games canvassers play, such as pretending to be a friend, or ordering you to "smile" or "stop right there" are not really friendly. Getting into people's personal spaces and/or touching them is also inappropriate. If you are a canvasser who doesn't do this, that's awesome, but so many of your ilk do, and those that play these games represent their charities poorly. <br /><br />If you want to be treated politely, encourage your fellow canvassers to also be polite. A simple, "Do you have a second for X?" without impeding foot-traffic should suffice. (And if a foot traveller has thrown off clear signals of do not engage, it is polite to abide by those signals.)<br /><br />PS. Interrupting conversations among friends is also rude.PixelFishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14663536968452455022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-46274680551848617782010-01-15T06:09:27.079-08:002010-01-15T06:09:27.079-08:00These clipboard carrying grifters are probably the...These clipboard carrying grifters are probably the same people who roamed the country scamming the elderly and the naive out of non-existant magazine subscriptions. I have never been stopped by them. It is probably because I am not a liberal. I believe charity begins at home and I work hard enough at a job I don't care for to value money above social approval. If asked if I care about children etc. I would have no problem telling these little Acorn stooges that I only care enough not to be burdened by children I was reponsible enough not to bring into the world without adequate support.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-54918693477660571682009-12-13T08:29:19.950-08:002009-12-13T08:29:19.950-08:00It's been a while since I've seen a better...It's been a while since I've seen a better response than canvasser's. He/she is right. The twits who cross the street or talk to themselves on their cell are beyond socially awkward. Hopefully they show more respect to the dogs sitting on the sidewalk.<br /><br />Look, it works like this: You smile and shout HEY to the next canvasser you see. They'll remember you as the friendly neighbor willing to give em the time of day. You might have to repeat this a couple times, but HEY don't hurt, so deal with it.<br /><br />And another thing, you "so-called liberals" who aren't even tolerant enough to let others do what it takes to improve our quality of life - your picture should be in the dictionary under the word "hypocrite".<br /><br />Have a great holiday and try not to step on Santa! -MicI like "canvassar"noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-49846298968433415682009-11-02T21:55:28.080-08:002009-11-02T21:55:28.080-08:00To start, I just got home from canvassing.
I hav...To start, I just got home from canvassing. <br /><br />I have had this job for about 4 months now. In that small amount of time I have managed to raise close to $20,000 for the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage. The only reason I show up every day is because I know that I am having an impact for gay rights. Had I chosen to not do this job, hundreds of people from all over the country would not be involved in legalizing same-sex marriage for us Californians.<br /><br />I have been spit on, yelled at, called a fagot, even hit once. Most have been by people who claim to be a “Christian”, but it hurts more to be ignored. Especially by people who claim to be liberal. Let the crazy conservatives have all the anger and hate, just smile and say “No thanks.”<br /><br />For all those people who HATE me, realize you HATE me simply because you are socially awkward, and don’t have the ability to kindly and respectfully say, "No thank you." You allow a literal 5 second interaction with another human being make you so enraged that you make a blog so that you can feel some sort of social or community acceptance, behind your computer, in the comfort of your home. <br /><br />If one of the challenges in your life is being asked to help a child, or to help allow same-sex couples marry, then you should be a very grateful person. <br /><br />To all those people who pretend to speak on the phone, or cross the street:<br />Were not dumb, we know what your doing. You look stupid and very awkward and weird. If you don’t want to talk to me, just say "no thanks." There’s really no reason to be a bitch. People are rude to me all day long, you obviously know this, and you still decide to say a rude or homophobic comment. It's not ok to be mean. No matter what. So stop all this "hate blogging" and get a "real" hobby. <br /><br />Peace <br />mgcanvassernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-48536793519322900962009-10-22T19:41:46.517-07:002009-10-22T19:41:46.517-07:00Good lord, let her do her job, and you can do your...Good lord, let her do her job, and you can do yours which is just walk on by if you're not into it. I mean, I see petitioners on the street, but it's far from aggressive or accosting in my experience. Relax.mullshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555260456979411953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-90885229721962803082009-10-20T19:19:39.430-07:002009-10-20T19:19:39.430-07:00Okay. The clipboard girl from above is back.
Lan...Okay. The clipboard girl from above is back. <br /><br />Laney, I only mentioned that I went to a $40,000 a year school to agree that I need the money, or I wouldn't be out there. I have loans to pay off. I assumed, upon entering college, that I would graduate in an economy that would allow me to pay them off. Boy was I wrong, eh? I'm not "whin[ing]" about it, I was merely conceding the point. <br /><br />Anonymous poster above, this is a real job. I've learned more skills applicable across the board doing this job than I have at any of my others. It has helped me with everything from my law school interviews to renting apartments. I stand on a street corner and take abuse from people all day and still manage to raise money. I feel comfortable asking for just about anything at this point. It is a difficult job that requires a lot of energy, discipline, and patience. Please explain to me how that's not a real job. <br /><br />Laney, I know the statistics are out there about canvassing being a waste of money. That, however, isn't the case for all organizations that canvass. We make money. We get people involved. We would stop going to these sites if they stopped doing well. They haven't. When we stop making money, the canvass shuts down. That's just how it works.<br /><br />And again, I don't make claims about other canvassers. But my coworkers don't harass you. Really. We don't all suck, I promise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-51127803335250350572009-10-19T21:55:06.057-07:002009-10-19T21:55:06.057-07:00If you just graduated from a "$40k/year colle...If you just graduated from a "$40k/year college and you cant find a job and you're doing this..well, then........ah..<br /><br />you went to the wrong school.<br /><br />life is hard, get a real job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-20751564840810309772009-10-19T15:51:52.093-07:002009-10-19T15:51:52.093-07:00And by the way, please don't whine about havin...And by the way, please don't whine about having graduated from a $40,000 a year college. That should not be part of this argument. That was your choice, and you clearly had the means to do it. If you didn't, and you took out loans, again, your choice.Laney B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-29644702120240601222009-10-19T15:43:00.756-07:002009-10-19T15:43:00.756-07:00For the last anonymous poster, I understand that y...For the last anonymous poster, I understand that you believe that you are being respectful and kind, but I must disagree with you. The petitioners are anything but respectful. Stating that they are is either self justification or delusional. It's not the presence or the mission of the clipboard brigade that is annoying. Everyone has a right to petition of course. What is more disrespectful than annoying and bordering on harassment, are the tactics which are used to attention. First off, there are very few of the petitioners who are graceful. <br />If they simply stood there and caught my eye as I walked by, and then asked if I'd like to sign a petition or donate money for *insert cause... that would give me the opportunity to fairly say yes or no. Another great tactic would be to set up a table or a sign saying, "please stop for a moment to discuss how you can help with nuclear disarmament But the tactics used are not subtle or polite. They are simply annoying. Someone is walking down the street, and clearly does not want to speak to the person holding the clipboard. The person holding the clipboard can tell that, the person holding the clipboard KNOWS that because the person walking by speeds up their step and avoids eye contact. This is an easy to recognize social cue and would only be misinterpreted by someone who did not understand social cues. The clipboard people, (who are most likely not on the autistic spectrum) still proceed to start screaming "EXCUSE ME, HELLO, HEY, HEY THERE, DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO HELP STOP GLOBAL WARMING?" This ignoring of popular societal recognized social cue is beyond annoying. It is harassing. So, here is a person walking down the street who with body language has clearly communicated that they have no desire to speak with you, yet you still insist on engaging with them. Harassment pure and simple. <br />The next, and most obvious point, is that guerrilla clipboard canvasing doesn't work. It's inefficient at best, a waste of time, energy and money. The statistics are out there.Laney B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-32917061240646254962009-10-09T18:24:25.115-07:002009-10-09T18:24:25.115-07:00Okay, guys.
I understand the frustration. I get ...Okay, guys. <br /><br />I understand the frustration. I get it. I see people with clipboards all the time in my own neighborhood. <br /><br />I'm also one of those people with clipboards. Occasionally at 24th and Noe. <br /><br />I can tell you that no one from my organization tries to harass you. If you say "no thanks," we'll just tell you to have a good day, enjoy the sun, whatever. It really doesn't bug us at all. Not the good ones, anyway. <br /><br />But the one thing I wanted to say: I care about the cause I canvass for. Yes, I need the money. I just graduated a $40,000 a year college and it's not a great economy. But I'm paid per hour, not per contribution, and I took the job because I care a whole lot about what I'm out there for. Everyone in my organization does. I can assure you we are all well informed, and we most certainly can hold a conversation with you completely off-script. In fact, most of us are speaking from our hearts and not on script most of the time we're out there. <br /><br />We're out there because it works. If you don't like it, don't stop for us. It's okay. We're not going to chase you down, we understand you see people all the time and we get that you're busy. <br /><br />And we can always tell when the phone call is fake. And it hurts more than a simple "no thank you."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-41588158364564604562009-10-05T15:58:46.099-07:002009-10-05T15:58:46.099-07:00Based on some of the comments I read, we may have ...Based on some of the comments I read, we may have to start calling our neighborhood Nimby Valley...<br /><br />C'mon folks, they're trying to cut gang violence and street crimes just down the hill (Mission), and this is the biggest problem in our neighborhood? We should be so lucky.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-70071666562694847032009-10-05T12:13:38.542-07:002009-10-05T12:13:38.542-07:00HINT:
As soon as you see them in the distance, p...HINT: <br /><br />As soon as you see them in the distance, pretend that you just received a call on your cell phone.<br /><br />Better yet:<br /><br />Use this opportunity to actually call your grandmother/father, mother/father, brother/sister, wife/husband, best friend, etc.<br /><br />This never fails.Steven Leckarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01637353319213431164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-76432580044958502002009-10-04T09:30:03.370-07:002009-10-04T09:30:03.370-07:00Yesterday I crossed the street 3 times to avoid ha...Yesterday I crossed the street 3 times to avoid having to say "no thanks" yet again...it's so annoying...they should move to other neighborhoods.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-79242977161579223722009-10-03T15:33:42.705-07:002009-10-03T15:33:42.705-07:00Do all you people with comments live in Noe Valley...Do all you people with comments live in Noe Valley? I didn't realize so many Noe Valley people were so uptight and have to scheme just to walk on 24th Street.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-81713309253738060202009-10-03T11:21:20.047-07:002009-10-03T11:21:20.047-07:00Just say "no thanks" and keep walking. I...Just say "no thanks" and keep walking. I'd prefer them on the corner than at my front door at 8:30.mullshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555260456979411953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-40408488334534273232009-10-03T08:52:01.565-07:002009-10-03T08:52:01.565-07:00Give me the good old days when people soliciting s...Give me the good old days when people soliciting signatures were actual VOLUNTEERS. They were getting signatures for something that they believed in. It wasn't a job. I used to enjoy talking with them and understanding their views. Now, thanks to the out of control California initiative system, collecting signatures is just another business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-25739446505762030112009-10-03T07:49:15.931-07:002009-10-03T07:49:15.931-07:00They are very aggressive at times too. There must...They are very aggressive at times too. There must be something that can be done to limit the number of them on a given corner on any one day. Perhaps we can partition that they have a designated spot sort of how they do it in the airport they put all these type of people in a booth off to the side and they can't solicit outside that area? Bevan Dufty what do you have to say about all of this?kitchen bitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11282449281492846398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-58894318972480029522009-10-02T21:41:36.429-07:002009-10-02T21:41:36.429-07:00While it may be a simple mistake, saying that the ...While it may be a simple mistake, saying that the solicitors ask your support to *pass* prop 8 re-inforces my fear that a lot of people voted *for* prop 8 thinking they were supporting gay marriage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-70431779037011574842009-10-02T20:11:09.693-07:002009-10-02T20:11:09.693-07:00Just pull out your cell phone and pretend to be ta...Just pull out your cell phone and pretend to be talking to someone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-25874179753499890322009-10-02T13:29:58.033-07:002009-10-02T13:29:58.033-07:00Agreed completely.Agreed completely.laneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-20946363335100680592009-10-02T09:26:02.611-07:002009-10-02T09:26:02.611-07:00For future reference, not wanting to be hassled by...For future reference, not wanting to be hassled by a paid solicitor with a clipboard is NOT a sign of "turning to the right and becoming intolerant." It's a sign of wanting to walk down the sidewalk without getting hassled. I'd rather be hit up for change by 5 panhandlers than run into one of these annoying kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-52902155155062704742009-10-01T23:10:58.461-07:002009-10-01T23:10:58.461-07:00It's true, the people who stand on the corners...It's true, the people who stand on the corners, though they might have great political ideals, they are not volunteers, and they are generally not there to sway public opinion toward their ideals. They are there to make money. Some get paid by the hour, but many get paid by the signature or they earn a commission based on how much much money they bring in. It is largely driven by self interest. Which is fine, albeit, but totally annoying. I really don't like that I can't walk down my block without being solicited several times a day every single day. I absolutely hate to be rude to the people who do it. However, there are some days that I just want to get my coffee and go to work, or go on my lunch break or go pick up my kid and I don't want to have to deal with talking to people and turning people down several times. It's disheartening and it's stressful. Canvasing in that way is statistically ineffective at best. I'm not sure why they continue to do it. I wish they'd stop. Is there a way that we can change this?laneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6008050911800805999.post-14293497627099513002009-10-01T20:53:19.168-07:002009-10-01T20:53:19.168-07:00Let me guess - you're one of the petitioners.....Let me guess - you're one of the petitioners...<br /><br />There was no mention of banning petitioners AND the city already has a policy on solicitation. I think that the residents are only requesting that the petitioners abide by those laws. If you feel you can’t, then take your case up with the board of supervisors and get it overturned (as well as petition in other neighborhoods). I’m sure that would be a great use of your free time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com