Now We're Getting Political Evangelists

[Cooper]

I don't want to talk about Obamacare. Let's avoid fratching. I'm just talking about a guy bothering my father/boss for non-work reasons (which he really hates.)

However, a guy came into my father's work today. We're a largely-known small business in the area, so it makes sense someone would do this.

Guy: Hey [P.]
P: Yeah?
Guy: Would you help me with something?
P: What?
Guy: I'm trying to get people together to prove Obamacare is bad for small business.
P: Oh, I can't help you.
Guy: Why not?
P: We'd like to get insurance for our employees, but we can't because one has a pre-existing condition.
Guy: Oh.
*P heads back to work*

[raudf]

At least he gave it up after being told "no." I've seen a variation of the type were "no" would only set them on a rant of why their chosen crusade of the day was absolutely correct and why any other way/idea/topic was absolutely wrong.

[bainsidhe]

A vaguely similar example are those folks who post fliers all over a business wall to promote their personal business/political group/religion/etc. It's one thing if it's a public board that invites postings, but it's frustrating to see people taping things up where they don't belong and without the business's permission. Actually saw one SC getting upset about it when the manager told them to take it down.

[JustShootMe]

Oh, I had a fun one yesterday.
Background: I work at a large, inner city located supermarket. We have a large mixture of customers, including a large Muslim population.
FIRST, let me state, for the record, the local Islamic Center provides me with FREE healthcare. No questions asked. No religious topics ever brought up. In fact their sign says, "Free Healthcare For All Mankind."

With that in mind, we get a lot of women wearing the hijab & veil. I overheard this little gem at the register behind me.
"That terrorist bitch needs to uncover her face so we can see her. After what they did on 9/11 you would think they'd have the decency to be ashamed of their religion. This is AMURRICA! I bet they're in with that Obama fella to shut down the government."
He then proceeded to rag on her for paying with WIC.

The so-called "terrorist bitch" was at my lane & in tears. I just reached out & squeezed her hand, letting her see the tears in my own eyes. What I wanted to do was turn around & call the man an ignorant, brain dead motherfucker & tell him to shut his pie hole. But that would have been bad customer service...

GOD, I LOVE WORKING IN RETAIL!!!

[ADeMartino]

With that in mind, we get a lot of women wearing the hijab & veil. I overheard this little gem at the register behind me.
"That terrorist bitch needs to uncover her face so we can see her. After what they did on 9/11 you would think they'd have the decency to be ashamed of their religion. This is AMURRICA! I bet they're in with that Obama fella to shut down the government."
He then proceeded to rag on her for paying with WIC.

The so-called "terrorist bitch" was at my lane & in tears. I just reached out & squeezed her hand, letting her see the tears in my own eyes. What I wanted to do was turn around & call the man an ignorant, brain dead motherfucker & tell him to shut his pie hole. But that would have been bad customer service...

Isn't it odd how all that hate makes HIM sound like a terrorist?

People like this are ignorant and closed-minded, and because of this they don't understand ANYTHING in the world, and the only response they are capable of is hate. The paradox here is, they often consider themselves to be religious and 'enlightened'. The sad part is this is exactly how they were raised, and it's how they're going to raise THEIR children.

No, I'm NOT bashing religion - just pointing out the stark contrast in their own beliefs.

[XCashier]

"That terrorist bitch needs to uncover her face so we can see her. After what they did on 9/11 you would think they'd have the decency to be ashamed of their religion. This is AMURRICA!...."

Yes, asshat, this is America. We have freedom of religion here in the USA. She's free to be a Muslim, that guy over there is free to be Jewish, that lady there is free to be Pagan, I'm free to be a Christian, and you, unfortunately, have the freedom to be an Ignorant Asshat. Wait, that isn't a religion? The way you're living your life, it must be your religion!

Pick a group, any group of people. 90% of them are okay. 5% are some of the most wonderful people you'll ever meet. And the remaining 5% are ignorant, obnoxious jackasses who get all of the attention and make the rest of the group look bad.

[MoonCat]

Different = scary/bad.

Glad that guy in the OP left without trying to start an argument.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Different = scary/bad.

We fear change.

[shopgirl15]

Oh, I had a fun one yesterday.

SNIP!!!

Where's John Quinones when you need him?

[Mr Hero]

When I think of political evangelists, I think of Butters. He went to the DMV and confessed all his sins!

[Cooper]

As for the OP, I think that was largely due to my father. My father would have ended the conversation by leaving even if the guy wasn't done talking yet!

(He's the type of person that, when he got those 'we have a message about your account' scam calls at work, and nobody would let him say 'take me off your list' he programmed their number into the fax machine, which tried three times if the first time didn't work, and pressed the 'send fax' every time he walked by it for a few days.)

I think the worst Political Evangelist had to due with a huge issue around here: eurasian milfoil in the lake.

Our lake has two major ecosystem-problems. Eurasian milfoil, and this creature--whose name I cannot recall--where if you step on it, it will cut you. Neither one are indigenous.

Well, there was a campaign that went on for the second time in my lifetime to do a 5-year pesticide treatment plan of the lake to try and kill off the milfoil. It succeeded, but not after lots of 'it'll kill off all the fish!!!' 'no pesticides in mah lakez' and other stuff like that.

(The pro-pesticide took quite joy in pointing out there weren't an increase of dead fish.)

One guy was extremely insistent, going from door to door, not taking no for an answer. He actually broke into our neighbor's house, because they didn't answer the door, to try and get them to sign his petition.

Since I live in Hickland USA, the neighbor grabbed his gun, told him he was totally within his right to shoot him, and then told him to GTFO.

[mikoyan29]

Based on my visit to the fishery at the Hydropower Center at the Soo, I believe there are pesticides they can make for specific fish. They've been using one that targets the lamprey, I believe. It will never totally eliminate the lamprey but it has cut down thier numbers considerably.

[RichS]

Different = scary/bad.

Easy way to prove-try to change something technology-wise in a company that was in use for a long time, even if the new tech is better...and watch the complaints begin!

[Mr Hero]

Or just log into Facebook for long enough.

[OfficeSlug]

I'm surprised he left w/out a fight.

I work at a Biiiiiig Grocery Chain up the east coast of U.S., and we're getting political evangelists (stealing that, btw) who rant and rant and rant during the ENTIRE transaction, not getting that I'm. Not. Agreeing. With. Them.

I would LIKE fricking health insurance that Biiiig Grocery Chain only offers to full-time employees.