I hate charity braggarts...

This thread could also be entitled, "That's it, I'm renewing my subscription Monday."

A while back, I let my subscription lapse because the local mail carrier would always beat up my copy and it seemed like I'd end up buying a second copy of the mag to save for the articles I really wanted to keep. So I just started getting my mag at the book store.

So yesterday, after a rather irritating day at work, I cruise into Borders and find the newest issue of GRM on the shelf and make a beeline for the register. Of course, this is Borders, you can't just pay for something. You have to deny or supply your discount card, and listen to whatever pitch the cashiers are forced to say this week.

So after denying the application for a discount card, they ask if I'd like to donate a book to local schools. I'm told it's about 10 bucks, but it depends on which book I get. I politely decline, and get an irritated huff from behind me.

"C'mon, cough up a few bucks for the kids."

Now, I'm not exactly in the poor house, but I'm not eating steaks and drinking wine every night either. My main recreational purchases are a new video game every couple months and the occasional used book and new car mag.

I'm kinda pissed, but I tell her that I don't really have the money for it now, and leave it at that.

"You have more money, I saw it!"

Angry Matt is starting to surface, so I turn and face her. Naturally, she's wearing a Red Cross "I donated blood" shirt or something to that effect, and looks like the type who drove down in her hybrid. Perhaps she's a bored housewife who has plenty of time and resources available to devote to charity. Nothing against that, but I'm not broadcasting to the world exactly what I do to try and help out.

I just tell her if she'd like, go ahead and buy two books to make up for mine.

"Well, someone has to!"

My parting shot was courtesy of Top Gear and Jay Leno.

"Yep, you have to let everyone know about all the good you're doing anonymously, right?"

The cashier grins at me, and I leave before I say anything I'll regret.

The whole thing really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't really think it's charity if you expect credit for it, but that's how I was raised.

Anyway guys, expect a call Monday.

I have a problem with stores asking for donations because I assume that they either take credit for what is my charitable contribution (as in " we, Borders, hereby donate $XXXXX to our favorite high profile charity".) or they want to appear to do a good thing, but use the rest of us to aid and abet their doing good.

I'd be more inclined to give if I knew what the store's (in this case, Borders) percentage of the contribution is. Besides, a store like Borders can use this as a way to dump unsold books and get a tax write-off.

Sorry, I 'm not always a cynical S.O.B.

Well done on staying composed. I'd have said something stupid then thought of that 'zinger' in the car on the way home.

integraguy wrote: I have a problem with stores asking for donations because I assume that they either take credit for what is my charitable contribution (as in " we, Borders, hereby donate $XXXXX to our favorite high profile charity".) or they want to appear to do a good thing, but use the rest of us to aid and abet their doing good. I'd be more inclined to give if I knew what the store's (in this case, Borders) percentage of the contribution is. Besides, a store like Borders can use this as a way to dump unsold books and get a tax write-off. Sorry, I 'm not always a cynical S.O.B.

I guess I'm as cynical as you are, as I thought along the same lines last night.

I'd much rather buy a bunch of books myself and drop them off at the school, knowing that my money went towards what it was supposed to, then trust a corporation to do it.

Sometimes they hit me up at Walmart. I might hit it up at Speedway Gas Station since the money goes to a charity I like, but not Walmart.

In my head I often want to suggest they call the Walton Family for a donation......I think they are on the top billionaire list?

I usually go with, "Sorry, my charity budget is maxed out at the moment, contact me next year."

You handled it better than I would. Which would have been something along the lines of,

"Since you seem to know whats in my wallet, I must assume you are a thief or a stalker. {looking at the clerk} Please call the cops to detain this person so I can check and see if my valuables have been undisturbed. Since they know the contents of my wallet that means they know my address I must assume my family, including my 6 and 3 year old, are now at risk. I will stand here till law enforcement arrives."

Then file a report, it's legitimate, not a false report, and have them detained. Will anything become of it, no, but it will teach them a lesson they won't soon forget.

As long as so many large corporations, like Wal-Mart, report HUGE profits....I won't help them donate to charities, either. Good point. Tho, the NON-cynic in me hopes that the Walton family, for an example, do give a large sum to charity but do it anonymously.

The cynic in me says don't donate to any organized charity, there's too much lost in translation and I have no control over how my money is used,

The non-cynic gives $20 to the guy on the side of the road who really looks as if he's lost his job and just trying to feed himself &/or family.

It's a little annoying to have the Borders clerk go through the same spiel every time, but it's part of their job so I don't think much about it - I just say "no thanks", and move on. The shiny happy person who was standing in line behind you was a different story...fortunately, I haven't had that happen to me.

The ever flexible "Shut you berkeleying hole" or "mind your berkeleying business" doesn't work for you guys? Hmmm... I guess I should put in more time thinking up clever stuff to say in case I encounter busybodies at the checkout.

There are some of us prefer to use a little tact and civility, especially in a place where children are present.

Racer1ab wrote: There are some of us prefer to use a little tact and civility, especially in a place where children are present.

Eh... I learned all the bad language I know from little kids anyway. (when I was a little kid)

Joey

I learned from my best friend, Dickie ! And repeated in to my mother, starting with the F-bomb. I was 6 and got to taste the Ivory.

I support single moms at the strip club

Sheesh. Dunno where you guys are from, but around here not many people would be ballsy enough to razz a total stranger about not giving to charity.

I would have called security on her for looking that close at my wallet.

I usually tell the clerk that I bought one the last time I was there... solves that

While I don't agree with how this went down I will say some of the big companies donate a lot of money to certain causes and even stuff you wouldn't think about. All I have to do is mention that my students need something and big corporations will come up with it. No stupid news paper article or pictures.
One of my students had a fit at target in January. While waiting for it to end I had to show up and talk to security and various other executives within target they all wanted to know "what was wrong with him and if he was ok" I told them he has sever autism and he would be cool in a few min. We talked about sensory issues and what we do at school when this stuff happens. Fast forward 2 months a 3,000.00 sensory swing is delivered to my class room complements of target. I didn't know about it in advance or anything. they got the address off of the paper work. S yes giving to corporations such as Walmart actually does something sometimes.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: The ever flexible "Shut you berkeleying hole" or "mind your berkeleying business" doesn't work for you guys? Hmmm... I guess I should put in more time thinking up clever stuff to say in case I encounter busybodies at the checkout.

This. But I look poor, so I rarely get hassled for not giving to the charity du jour.

Racer1ab wrote: There are some of us prefer to use a little tact and civility, especially in a place where children are present.

If you listen to the chirrens in public places, you'll find they often swear more than anyone you know. I'm gonna be 25 in a week or so, and I still wouldn't dare telling my mother to go berkeley herself*, yet I saw a preteen do it at a bookstore last week.

*Just to add, I wouldn't ever have a reason to, because I have a good mother who raised me properly. ^

^Added just in case she finds out about this post. Clarification is wonderful.

sadly... far too true. I swore like a sailor when I was a teen.. but gave it up as being immature. The problem is.. a lot of people I work with still do it.. so it is hard NOT to

I learned pretty early to limit my swearing. It has a lot more effect when you save it for special occasions.

I still remember the time my coworkers paused when they heard me refer to someone as a "bitch". I try to remain professional wherever I work. It was the first time they'd heard me "swear".

^^^ exactly! If you save it for when you REALLY mean it. It makes a big impression

I work in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay.

I call Christmas Season "filthy beggar season"...you can't just walk into a store and grab some milk without having to wade through a barrage of people wanting handouts. Cities ban panhandlers, but Wal Mart encourages them.