As I was walking quickly back to work from an errand today, a man with a clipboard in his hand caught my eye. "Do you care about the environment?" he asked.
I felt rude -- to him and to the environment -- saying "no," but I certainly didn't feel like stopping to chat or signing up for whatever was on his clipboard.
So I looked at him and said, while still walking, "I can't talk right now, but thanks." Thanks for what, I'm not quite sure -- thanks for caring about the environment yourself, thanks for asking if I do.
He looked disappointed. It made me feel really bad for not talking to him. But this happens every day, sometimes twice a day, and I don't want to talk to everyone. So am I an awful person? Incredibly rude? Callous to the social problems these clipboarded-people are promoting? Or is it okay that on my one 10-minute outdoor break of the day, I don't feel like talking to strangers?
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On a more positive note, check out what my friend Christine wrote about the John Adams HBO saga -- it caused her to question whether she, too, could be as strong and supportive as Abigail Adams was for her family. (Her husband says she could.)
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Rude?
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2 comments:
Outside of my neighborhood market is (often)a perky lady from DARE. One day she asked me (on my way out) "Don't you want to talk to me about keeping drugs out of our neighborhood?" I was in fine form that day and said "Actually, I think our country's War on Drugs is a colossal waste of money." She was speechless and I was (a little) shamed at hurting her perky little feelings. I hate being accosted on my daily rounds!
I totally feel the same about those people asking me to support them. I feel so rude. Once I said "no" before I even heard the woman finish her question: "Do you care about gay and lesbian rights?" I felt awful. So I purposefully made myself stop, sign up, and give my email the next time I saw them. But since then- honestly- I just don't have time. And it's like, I feel like I have a few things I devote my money to (causes) and I can't do it all- you know? But they definitely know how to guilt you!
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