By S.E. Waters, Shitlist Staffer
Anyone who lives in D.C. knows that a major component of the city is political activism.
Photo from Flickr user Labor2008
Even if you’re not interested in the whole Capitol Hill scene, this is D.C., and assuming you have half a brain, you know that calling this city home will undoubtedly surround you with advocacy, and, in the case of Occupy D.C., people who don’t shower in the name of advocacy.
That’s fine…I live here, I get it.
Which brings us to canvassers.
While standing on Connecticut Avenue asking people to sign up for a cause or organization isn’t exactly my cup of tea, I completely respect the people who do it.
What I don’t respect, however, is the way some of these canvassers deliver completely leading questions to make you feel bad and stop walking.
“Excuse me sir? Are you in favor of children dying?”
Well of course not, who is? That doesn’t mean I want to sign up for your anti-abortion organization though. I’m actually going to Starbucks.
“Do you want to see animals killed?”
Absolutely not, I have a dog and I love animals. However, that doesn’t mean I want to give you my contact information for your save the whales campaign. Not that I don’t like whales, I just don’t feel compelled to get “involved”.
Only a handful of canvassers practice this, but when you encounter one, it’s irritation to the max.
It would be nice to walk the streets of D.C. without passing some guy in a bright middle school crossing guard vest who calls my basic ethical and moral values into question. Too much to ask?
Do you think canvassers who ask leading questions belong on the D.C. Shitlist? Click thumbs up if you think they do and thumbs down if you think they don’t.