Charity pests in Stafford? AKA Chuggers

Really?

Well-Known Forumite
but if a person could convince a charity that they would raise them a million but wanted to get paid £300,000, how many would turn it down as excessive?, not many I am guessing - do they want to be £700,00, better off than they were? - that's why there are so many professional fund raisers out there - it's simply "return on investment".
 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
I was disappointed to see Amnesty International chuggers today. Commissioned street hassling always makes me feel a bit less benevolent towards the charities engaging in it. It's sad because amnesty international is one of the charities I think is particularly worthwhile.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I was disappointed to see Amnesty International chuggers today. Commissioned street hassling always makes me feel a bit less benevolent towards the charities engaging in it. It's sad because amnesty international is one of the charities I think is particularly worthwhile.

Saw them today also, avoided at all costs.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Bollocks.
That one's been in widespread use for ages..
In the C14th there was even a 'side arm' specifically known as a 'bollock dagger'.

It was called that because it was a dagger designed specifically to aim at your bollocks. There was little time, or inclination, to appeal to niceties at that particular time.

Interestingly, as the appetite for appraising articles 'from the past' intensified in Victoria's reign, that most uptight of eras, such naughty articles were re-classified as 'kidney daggers'.

Even coming at the whole thing blind it doesn't take much imagination to evaluate the relative vulnerabilities of the kidneys as opposed to those of the bollocks -

  • Kidneys - housed handsomely within the body, on the whole behind the primary point of contact, also generally found, at the time, behind a rather effective back-plate as a primary line of defense
  • Bollocks - housed inconveniently outside of the body, facing potential points of contact, on the whole below another piece of bodily apparatus that ideally needs to be frequently accessed, usually entirely unarmoured

I thought I might as well offend everyone: I don't give to charity. I feel we pay enough tax in this country and that all the fantastic work done by these people should be paid for out of our taxes.
I don't find that offensive in the slightest, in fact i think it's worth making the point more obvious to people who don't see things in that way.

Nobody in this country doesn't give something of their earnings to charity.

From Income Tax to National Insurance, the Value Added Tax you pay on anything that isn't food or kiddie clothing, Inheritance Tax, Vehicle Tax, whatever, these are essentially charitable contributions. There is not a man woman or child among you that doesn't pay one or more of these things.

That you do not choose to pay them does not make them any less charitable, for that is their object, their purpose. To make us all charitable beings.

We pay in, we get out. To all according to their need, from all according to their ability to contribute.

Of course the demands upon those that contribute will ebb and flow according to the prevailing winds - and that is what politics is.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
i think it's worth making the point more obvious to people who don't see things in that way.
Nobody in this country doesn't give something of their earnings to charity.
From Income Tax to National Insurance, the Value Added Tax you pay on anything that isn't food or kiddie clothing, Inheritance Tax, Vehicle Tax, whatever, these are essentially charitable contributions, that is their object, their purpose. To make us all charitable beings.
We pay in, we get out. To all according to their need, from all according to their ability to contribute.

I have to disagree with your notion that paying tax is equivalent to charitable giving.

I personally think that the definition of charity is a VOLUNTARY donation given to a non profit organisation, or to someone in need, given out of kindness without expecting anything in return.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
I personally think that the definition of charity is a VOLUNTARY donation given to a non profit organisation, or to someone in need, given out of kindness without expecting anything in return.
Whilst i recognise and accept your definition, one would argue that in a 'civilised' society taxation is tantamount to a codified, systemised and ultimately formalised system of, for want of a better word or two, unconcious charity.

Being unconcious, it is something that we ergo do not ascribe as such. This does not mean that it is any way less so 'after the fact'. In some ways it adds an extra element of joy to our lives, knowing that every pint you quaff strengthens the collective bond of our brotherhood. Or sisterhood. Or both. We give, whether from kindness or not, regardless.

As @PeterD alluded to earlier in this thread, this line of argument has its limitations, and i personally subscribe to the giving of what one is capable of giving to cover whatever 'blind spots' may arise.

Still think the operatives on the street are a busted flush, though. It just doesn't work any more - and if local testament is to be trusted, they may now do more harm than good.
 

zebidee

Well-Known Forumite
Whilst i recognise and accept your definition, one would argue that in a 'civilised' society taxation is tantamount to a codified, systemised and ultimately formalised system of, for want of a better word or two, unconcious charity.

Being unconcious, it is something that we ergo do not ascribe as such. This does not mean that it is any way less so 'after the fact'. In some ways it adds an extra element of joy to our lives, knowing that every pint you quaff strengthens the collective bond of our brotherhood. Or sisterhood. Or both. We give, whether from kindness or not, regardless.

Some might prefer to call that robbery :zoidberg::banana::facepalm:
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Today's (Oxfam) chuggers were more active than the general run of chugger. They were getting a General Patton-style pep-talk when I passed through on my timed walk, so only added a second or two as I diverted round them.

The pep-talk must have been effective, though, as one of them even made an attempt on me, as I returned - something they very rarely do...
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Today's (Oxfam) chuggers were more active than the general run of chugger. They were getting a General Patton-style pep-talk when I passed through on my timed walk, so only added a second or two as I diverted round them.

The pep-talk must have been effective, though, as one of them even made an attempt on me, as I returned - something they very rarely do...

They must have been new ones being far too nice to people , resulting in their pep-talk :lol:
The Oxfam ones were there yesterday as well, and I was only asked once on my walk through the town and back. I didn't even have to result to my usual "F*** Off ", as the young girl said very politely " Good afternoon, can we have a little chat?". I just said "Noooo,noooo,noooooo" as I carried on walking and she replied pleasantly "Ok, have a nice day" with a smile and left me alone.
 

PhoneyGeek

A few posts under my belt
I got approached by one from, I think, Shelter the other day while I was mid-conversation with t'other half. I ignored her, because I was in the middle of a conversation and overheard her say "or you could be rude and ignore me then". Yes love, I'm going to ignore you when you try to insert yourself into my day, uninvited!

...and breathe! :)
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
I got approached by one from, I think, Shelter the other day while I was mid-conversation with t'other half. I ignored her, because I was in the middle of a conversation and overheard her say "or you could be rude and ignore me then". Yes love, I'm going to ignore you when you try to insert yourself into my day, uninvited!

...and breathe! :)
This is my biggest issue with them. They rudely interrupt me and say I am rude for ignoring them.
 

Frontal

Well-Known Forumite
Today's (Oxfam) chuggers were more active than the general run of chugger. They were getting a General Patton-style pep-talk when I passed through on my timed walk, so only added a second or two as I diverted round them.

The pep-talk must have been effective, though, as one of them even made an attempt on me, as I returned - something they very rarely do...

I think I actually witnessed that! They were huddled up around 3.30ish, I walked past them and they were saying "We'll aim to get 1 more contact each before we finish up. Team on 3, 1,2,3 TEAM!" ... before spreading out and moving down the high street, but I was ahead of them :P
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I think I actually witnessed that! They were huddled up around 3.30ish, I walked past them and they were saying "We'll aim to get 1 more contact each before we finish up. Team on 3, 1,2,3 TEAM!" ... before spreading out and moving down the high street, but I was ahead of them :P
That must have been the team meeting for 'extra time' - my camera says that I went past them at around 13:20, judging by the time that I took the Shrewsbury Arms picture - so, I saw the half-time meeting, I presume.

 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Big team of 'heart research' ones down our road at the moment, knocking on doors working in twos for extra pressure. Thought it was the postie at first when I saw the red clothing outside the door so opened it. Soon got closed and locked again with 2 big blokes starting their spiel.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
A friend of mine, no longer with us, would have been very useful in dealing with chuggers. He could talk to people beyond human endurance, to such an extent that he was barred from several places in the area for causing "issues" with the staff..

He could easily occupy one of them for two or three hours.

There must still be other people of this type available, surely?
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
... There must still be other people of this type available, surely?

A dying breed I fear. Also alas gone is a former manager of the Cambridge Corn Exchange. Once in the middle of a beer festival someone with an Irish accent phoned and said that there was a bomb in the building. After half an hour of the manager going on about what an awful day he'd had, with details of probroblems with the wife & kids, the stupid council officials, his bad back, the CAMRA idiots in the hall, etc etc etc, the bomber said "Bugger it, I can't put up this all this, I'll phone again tomorrow"
 
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