http://www.laferle.com/2008/08/trust-no-one/ a window on the writing life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:25:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.laferle.com/2008/08/trust-no-one/comment-page-1/#comment-2096 Cindy H Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:35:42 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=413#comment-2096 Cindy, I understand how you feel. The solicitor you encountered was particularly slick, but you learned from your first encounter with a con artist. I've walked door-to-door in our area for informational causes, and I've appreciated when people have opened the door for me -- but I understand well why they might not. One time after a suspicious encounter with a solicitor, I called the police and asked about it. They advised me to ask: "May I see your permit to solicit in (name of town)?" Then you could ask, "Would you care to wait while I verify that with the police?" For solicitors who call or come to the door, I might not answer if I don't recognize the person. If I do pick up the phone or open the door, I try to be respectful, but I never open the screen door despite their attempts to hand me something. If I say "no" and they keep talking, I tell them, "I said 'no.' Bye." Then I just hang up or close the door. Cindy, I understand how you feel.
The solicitor you encountered was particularly slick, but you learned from your first encounter with a con artist. I’ve walked door-to-door in our area for informational causes, and I’ve appreciated when people have opened the door for me — but I understand well why they might not. One time after a suspicious encounter with a solicitor, I called the police and asked about it. They advised me to ask: “May I see your permit to solicit in (name of town)?” Then you could ask, “Would you care to wait while I verify that with the police?” For solicitors who call or come to the door, I might not answer if I don’t recognize the person. If I do pick up the phone or open the door, I try to be respectful, but I never open the screen door despite their attempts to hand me something. If I say “no” and they keep talking, I tell them, “I said ‘no.’ Bye.” Then I just hang up or close the door.

]]> http://www.laferle.com/2008/08/trust-no-one/comment-page-1/#comment-2082 Pam Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:40:40 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=413#comment-2082 Hi Cindy, Thanks for sharing openly the dilemma of a solicitor's spiel at your doorstep. It raises so many mixed feelings in me--particularly the magazine salespeople. My brother got caught up in a magazine "crew" once. They prey on needy kids and then treat them like indentured servants, making it very hard to quit the crew. I always imagine the kid at my door could have been my brother, and try to think of a way to help with a little cash they can hide in their pockets--without supporting the system. But it's so hard to think on the spot when your privacy has been invaded. Hi Cindy,
Thanks for sharing openly the dilemma of a solicitor’s spiel at your doorstep. It raises so many mixed feelings in me–particularly the magazine salespeople. My brother got caught up in a magazine “crew” once. They prey on needy kids and then treat them like indentured servants, making it very hard to quit the crew. I always imagine the kid at my door could have been my brother, and try to think of a way to help with a little cash they can hide in their pockets–without supporting the system. But it’s so hard to think on the spot when your privacy has been invaded.

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