Salvation Army are Bullies
8They ring the bell because they want my milk money, the change in my pocket. The last time someone asked that, I was in the middle school lunch line.
The worst part is that they hire people with disabilities to stand outside in the cold to ring the bell.
You don’t have to ring a bell to get me to give. They’re a buzz kill too – I’ll be in the holiday spirit walking into Sears. Then I’m reminded of my own selfishness because I didn’t have any pocket change.
/giphy guilt charity
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I always feel bad because I hardly ever have change anymore.
@f00l They take bills.
@rockblossom I hardly ever (one day in ninety maybe) have cash anymore. Do they take Samsung Pay?
@jbartus I have the same problem - don’t use cash for anything, so usually don’t have any. They do take checks.
@rockblossom Rubber ones?
/image bounce check
/s
(Please don’t, folks. That’s fucked up.)
@jbartus My response: “I’m sorry - I have a Windows Phone.”
@rockblossom I haven’t carried a checkbook in half a decade and even then I was the weird guy who had his checkbook with him. (age: 26)
@jbartus even THEN you were the weird guy?? Has that changed recently???
@mikibell the point was nobody else in my age group probably even knew how to fill out a check never mind carrying a book of them in their pocket.
@rockblossom I don’t have cash or cheques… Just cards. I could perhaps give them pocket lint.
@jbartus I got your point
I was just yanking your chain, I think you are adorable…
@mikibell @jbartus
Agree, adorable fun.
@f00l
And this is why I got out of the racket. My father would end up coming home with a few thousand and I’d be lucky to break even if you count man hours.
I blame Coinstar, and the 3rd cup holder that has since replaced the coin purse.
So far, not one bell-ringer has chased me down, punched me, then forcefully taken my milk money - so not like school bullies at all.
@rockblossom they want your money and they’ll incessantly ring a bell to get your attention. No matter how much you give them, they always want more. Seems like a bully to me.
Everyone suffers when their holding out a hand
@rockblossom @Kevin
All this talk about high school bullies makes me feel like I missed out.
Yay online shopping.
I don’t deal with this stuff.
@PlacidPenguin You don’t shop for groceries? Those are the stores I see them at most often.
@pitamuffin
They don’t go to where I get groceries.
I offer to pay them for peace and quiet… I won’t give them money until they stop ringing the bell and promise not to start again until I clear the doors.
They really should have a sign that says: “Pay me to stop ringing my bell! $1/minute.”
I was waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store last night, listening to that f’ing bell-ringer outside and it was driving me nuts. DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDING nonstop. I was starting to lose my grip and was definitely starting to get angry. Then I realized that it’s infinitely worse for the poor checkout workers and just felt sad. Well, still a little angry, but mostly sad.
I still hate the bell-ringer, though.
@DaveInSoCal it doesn’t matter how much you give them, they’ll keep ringing the bell.
@DaveInSoCal I have actually offered that up on a few occasions and once had a bell-ringer take me up on it. I can’t state for certain whether I got my full 15 minutes, but it stopped long enough for me to do my quick shopping, get in my car and drive away,
Luckily my grocery store has two entrances at the front. They usually stand by the door I don’t normally use for entry. As long as I remember when I’m leaving to go the way I came in, I’m fine.
I don’t hardly ever carry cash, and don’t carry checks. I only use a check to pay my rent and for lawn service. If my landlord had a way to pay with a card, I’d do it.
Using cards for everything has simplified my life. Makes it much easier to track finances.
@RiotDemon You sound like one of my kids. She will purposely park on the side of the store that does not have the bell ringer (or the girl scouts/boy scouts/Peewee ball players) and use that entrance instead.
We keep a spare change jar so it’s easy to grab a fist full money if we can remember to do so before making a grocery store run.
@LaVikinga I traded in all of my change last year to pay for my prescription sunglasses. Since then, I’ve only collected a small plastic container of change that fits in the palm of my hand. That’s how little I use cash.
The only change I keep in my car is to pay for a shopping cart at Aldi.
@RiotDemon
I only keep change for a few ancient parking meters that have not yet been put to pasture.
I will walk a long way to avoid those guys.
I refuse to give to the Salvation Army, since they treat LGBTQ people like garbage. There’s so many better charities that are less obnoxious in their fundraising, and don’t deny their support based on gender or sexual orientation.
@sanspoint
Did not know. Thx.
@sanspoint How do they treat LGBTQ people like garbage? You think it would be or is part of their mission to treat all people in need. I haven’t heard ofany problems, and in the past my city has been conservative when it came to equal rights.
@growyoungagain Here’s just one example: https://thinkprogress.org/salvation-army-refuses-housing-shelter-to-transgender-woman-2660c79b4cd4#.tt5x2kgk4
I have a longstanding policy to only give money deliberately. For a lack of guilt at bell ringers and other change seekers, follow these easy steps!
Pick a few charities and organizations whose mission resonates with me.
Give them some money. On purpose.
Smile and wave at anyone else - organizations or people - asking for money from me right this instant.
Salvation Army can go to hell. I like their stores though. Now if only it wasn’t for charity. I hate charity.
I don’t feel bullied by a guy ringing a bell. And due to my cold, dark heart, I don’t feel guilty either. I just nod hello and continue walking.
No guilt at all walking by if you donate to them or another charity directly in both money and goods.
They should use slide whistles instead.
/youtube slide whistles annoying
There was a time in my life when I needed a place to stay and a meal to eat, and the Salvation Army provided all that, with no questions asked, even though I was a young, scruffy, long-haired punk. I obviously didn’t fit the mold of their target audience, but they were really hospitable, the place was warm and clean, and the food was filling (albeit very high carb).
No group is perfect, but they’re better than most.
Of course, I shop online and I donate by payroll deduction, so bell ringers don’t really bother me.
I gave $15 to wikipedia last night.
@getkind oh good, now myself and 3 of my friends don’t need to give to them
Place I used to work would operate a salvation army spot outside a Barnes and Noble. I would volunteer each year to go ring the bell and stand out there for a few hours. (Got me out of work)
It gives you quite a unique perspective being on the other side. It’s really obvious to spot the people who are walking as far around you as possible, and those desperately trying to avoid eye contact.
It’s almost like having leprosy. Only I wasn’t offended by everyone scurrying to avoid me, I found it pretty amusing.
Would always get a few old people dropping in a $20 (and making it obvious to you they were giving that much).
@OnionSoup Interesting perspective. I always greet the bell ringers as I pass, even if I’m not putting anything in the kettle. If feels silly to pretend they aren’t there when they are ringing a friggin’ bell!
Oh, and - maybe the whole “bell ringing” thing is actually a bad idea. In the medieval world, it was lepers who rang the bells, and that became a signal for most people to give the bell-ringer a wide berth. So your “like having leprosy” may be more apropos than you realized. Some nice, cheery dance music might bring in more donations.
I don’t give money to organizations that try to convert people and are anti-LGBTQ. Missionaries are not my favorite people.
@Fuzzalini i love the missionary position, tho.
My parents used to donate until when I was five our house burned down a couple weeks before Christmas and we lost everything. Even the presents my parents had to save up for through the year. We were nowhere near rich and when mom contacted them for help they said we could go to their store and buy stuff. I guess a young, homeless family of four didn’t meet their criteria.
@ws6tester Totally sucks. Any help from the Red Cross?
@ws6tester No, the best neighbors in the world (even without this topic in mind) let us live with them for a few months and their church came together within a couple of days of the fire and filled in all the blanks until we got back on our feet.
I donate to the Salvation Army.
The store by us has a guy that sings instead of ringing that damn bell. They also have a guy that plays guitar. It’s kinda nice!
The Salvation Army helps during disasters, bringing food, clothing and assistance. They also help feed the hungry, the homeless and many other things here in America and other countries.
Luckily, I always carry cash, especially for with I buy stuff at little shops and don’t want to risk an electronic purchase.
I’ll keep tossing change & bills in their kettles…