This is not an issue of civil rights. This is not a Constitutional rant. This is not even a rant about people fucking up their own relationships or being assholes online. This is a rant about something that, in the grand scheme of things, really isn't all that important.
And it pisses me off anyway. It pisses me off to the point of homicidal rage.
So I'm checking out my friends list to see what's going on in people's lives, and I'm just starting to read![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summer_jackel's rant about Door-to-Door Fundies, when my reading gets interrupted by a knock at the door.
So I get up, look suspiciously at the door, ask my housemate if she's expecting anyone, and open it just enough to poke my head out without the visitor being able to notice that I'm wearing boxer shorts and no bra under my shirt.
On the porch is a small hispanic man asking me if I own the white car in front of the house. Now, I know what he's gonna say next, but just in case something actually happened to my car that needs attention, I merely say yes and let him continue.
He then asks what I plan to do with it. I say, very forcibly "keep it" and slam the door in his face before he even has time to translate what I just said into his native language.
Why was I so rude to him, you ask? After all, I *do* plan to scrap the car. It's a piece of shit and I replaced it months ago with a better car. Now it just sits out front collecting dust and tree leavings, waiting for me to get off my lazy ass and finish cleaning it out so I can call one of those "$100 for junk cars!" guys to pick it up.
I was rude to him because I have a bone to pick with unsolicited offers. I absolutely HATE people coming to my door, interrupting my solitude to ask if I need whatever unnecessary service they're offering, leaving unwanted fliers that clutter up my porch and contribute to the waste and other environmental issues. They're worse than pushy sales people - at least when I go to a store, it's a clear indication that I'm interested in checking out their products.
I refuse to give my business to anyone who leaves those fliers on my doorstep, out of principle. It doesn't matter if I actually do require that service, or I do like that food. I won't give them my money for their tactics. I did not ask for their advertisements and I certainly did not ask for them to cut down a tree to print up that damn flier offering me something I didn't want to begin with. Between the internet and the phone book, if I need something, I can go out and find it with very little effort.
I understand times are hard and we're all trying to make a buck. I am too. I have several online businesses and I'm an independent contractor who has to pimp myself out regularly to pay my rent. But I DON'T go knocking on random people's houses asking if they want to buy my t-shirts or if they need a video technician. Even if I've seen them running around their yard in threadbare, worn out, hand-me-down clothing and really could USE some new t-shirts.
No, I push my agenda in arenas where people *want* to hear it. My own journal, for instance. You have to intentionally visit here (or add me to your friends list) to hear my rants. My websites, again, you have to intentionally visit. Even in forums, I join forums whose themes are consistent with whatever I get it in my head to spout off about and those people have to intentionally login to a forum with that theme to read my message. I advertise in MySpace groups, whose theme matches that of my t-shirt businesses.
I don't go 'round interrupting other people's days off in the privacy of their home to push poly t-shirts or leave my resume on their doorstep.
So I'm gonna hang a sign on my front door because the "fuck off" sign in my car window faded:
So I'm checking out my friends list to see what's going on in people's lives, and I'm just starting to read
summer_jackel's rant about Door-to-Door Fundies, when my reading gets interrupted by a knock at the door.So I get up, look suspiciously at the door, ask my housemate if she's expecting anyone, and open it just enough to poke my head out without the visitor being able to notice that I'm wearing boxer shorts and no bra under my shirt.
On the porch is a small hispanic man asking me if I own the white car in front of the house. Now, I know what he's gonna say next, but just in case something actually happened to my car that needs attention, I merely say yes and let him continue.
He then asks what I plan to do with it. I say, very forcibly "keep it" and slam the door in his face before he even has time to translate what I just said into his native language.
Why was I so rude to him, you ask? After all, I *do* plan to scrap the car. It's a piece of shit and I replaced it months ago with a better car. Now it just sits out front collecting dust and tree leavings, waiting for me to get off my lazy ass and finish cleaning it out so I can call one of those "$100 for junk cars!" guys to pick it up.
I was rude to him because I have a bone to pick with unsolicited offers. I absolutely HATE people coming to my door, interrupting my solitude to ask if I need whatever unnecessary service they're offering, leaving unwanted fliers that clutter up my porch and contribute to the waste and other environmental issues. They're worse than pushy sales people - at least when I go to a store, it's a clear indication that I'm interested in checking out their products.
I refuse to give my business to anyone who leaves those fliers on my doorstep, out of principle. It doesn't matter if I actually do require that service, or I do like that food. I won't give them my money for their tactics. I did not ask for their advertisements and I certainly did not ask for them to cut down a tree to print up that damn flier offering me something I didn't want to begin with. Between the internet and the phone book, if I need something, I can go out and find it with very little effort.
I understand times are hard and we're all trying to make a buck. I am too. I have several online businesses and I'm an independent contractor who has to pimp myself out regularly to pay my rent. But I DON'T go knocking on random people's houses asking if they want to buy my t-shirts or if they need a video technician. Even if I've seen them running around their yard in threadbare, worn out, hand-me-down clothing and really could USE some new t-shirts.
No, I push my agenda in arenas where people *want* to hear it. My own journal, for instance. You have to intentionally visit here (or add me to your friends list) to hear my rants. My websites, again, you have to intentionally visit. Even in forums, I join forums whose themes are consistent with whatever I get it in my head to spout off about and those people have to intentionally login to a forum with that theme to read my message. I advertise in MySpace groups, whose theme matches that of my t-shirt businesses.
I don't go 'round interrupting other people's days off in the privacy of their home to push poly t-shirts or leave my resume on their doorstep.
So I'm gonna hang a sign on my front door because the "fuck off" sign in my car window faded:
NO SOLICITATIONS
We do not need our lawn mowed,
our cars towed,
restaurant fliers,
insurance offers, or
religious discussion.
If we wanted your services, we'd call you.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 7/8/08 07:06 pm (UTC)From:We also pick them (and other garbage) up from the sidewalk and streets when we're out for walks. There have been weeks where their fliers are the majority of what we collect. Grrr...
no subject
Date: 7/8/08 08:05 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 7/8/08 07:09 pm (UTC)From:I HATE the people who intrude on my solitude when I'm at home.
They need to fuck off.
no subject
Date: 7/8/08 08:03 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 7/8/08 08:06 pm (UTC)From: