The craziness has followed me

[smileyeagle1021]

Even 550 miles away, they follow me.

Bell ringer from hell
Now, I don't know anyone who actually likes the bell ringers... debates over the efficiency of donations to the Salvation Army aside, I think we can all agree that ringing noise is annoying beyond belief, how the bell ringers don't lose their sanity is a... oh never mind, they apparently have started losing it.
I was walking into Wal-Mart and saw one of the bell ringers approach a shopper walking out, the shopper said, "I already donated to (other homeless assistance organization), I can't afford to donate to you too."
This apparently was the wrong answer because the bell ringer followed the poor bloke towards his car, and I couldn't hear everything, but the final bit I did hear loud and clear when the bell ringer shouted "You're just a greedy pig who cares more about buying cheap made in China crap than helping the less fortunate" (note, the man had nothing but groceries in his cart that I could see) and he told her to off.
I don't know what happened between then and when I exited the store, but about the time I was leaving I saw an LP person telling the bell ringer that she was being evicted from the store and that she wasn't permitted to return, to please have Salvation Army send someone else in the future.

Make up your mind already!
I love Port of Subs, I love them for two reasons. The first of course being that they fresh slice everything to order (unlike a certain other "Sub" chain), second reason being that they follow the keep it simple rule... yes, they do have 15 meat combination on the menu, but they only have three breads (wheat, white, and sourdough), three sauces (mustard, mayo, and a combination of the two), six vegetables (peppers, olives, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and onion), and of course oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano, that's it. What they lack in unnecessary variety, they more than make up with the high quality of the ingredients that they do use. So, why in the name of Zuess's butthole does it take longer than 30 seconds to decide what you want on your sandwich after you've chosen what meat combination that you want?!?! Seriously, I got stuck behind this woman who took no less than 3 minutes heeing and hawing over what toppings she wanted... YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT OF PORT OF SUBS!

A puzzling trend
Twice in 5 minutes today I saw people move out of lanes that continued and into lanes that were going to end within a few hundred yards. They weren't trying to make a jack ass pass around someone, they just calmly moved over and a few hundred yards when the lane ended, moved back. Seriously,

on a (mostly) completely positive note
My mom has started physical therapy (which sucks, but is still positive because originally they thought she wouldn't be ready for it until January, so this is great news that she is able to start so soon). Where she is going to therapy is where UNR sends it's athletes that suffer sports injuries
Why hello soccer player... I'd be glad to help you stretch your muscles

[kpzra]

I've already told hubby we have to leave 2 hours early tomorrow to deal with Reno traffic instead of the usual hour (we're near the NAS) and be ready to deal with the holiday idiot traffic. We have to go to Bordertown and I'm hoping it won't be too bad.

A bell ringer at Walmart was escorted away by police here the other day, I would have found it funny if he wasn't swearing up a storm in front of my 2 year old. I could smell the booze on him from 10 feet away though.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

I've noticed the bell ringer near my Shop after you Stop. He only rings the bell when someone is approaching, and when you've clearly moved past or aren't going to donate, he stops ringing and just gives a nice greeting "Good Morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening." Doesn't bother anyone, doesn't chase people down. That's how you bell ring people!

[MystyGlyttyr]

There's a bell ringer here locally who doesn't ring a bell...he plays a trumpet or sings. And very good at both, heh. So far he seems to get way more attention than the bells.

[Dreamstalker]

I've noticed the bell ringer near my Shop after you Stop.

The bell ringer at my store just stands there, but as the exit door is frozen in the open position the front end gets to hear the ringing all. damn. day. I've never heard him speak, just ding-a-ling.

[Chromatix]

A puzzling trend
Twice in 5 minutes today I saw people move out of lanes that continued and into lanes that were going to end within a few hundred yards.

This is probably because they haven't been trained to look ahead in traffic - a key defensive-driving technique.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadcraft
Worth reading even outside the UK.

I have a very old edition of the linked book - so old that I don't think it knows about ABS. The advice in it is, aside from that single oversight, is still valid today.

[bainsidhe]

A puzzling trend
Twice in 5 minutes today I saw people move out of lanes that continued and into lanes that were going to end within a few hundred yards. They weren't trying to make a jack ass pass around someone, they just calmly moved over and a few hundred yards when the lane ended, moved back. Seriously,

They may simply be unfamiliar with the area. Roads around here are notorious for saying exit XYZ is coming up in 1/4 mile, so you move into the right lane and suddenly realize it's ending and the exit doesn't appear until immediately after.

[dalesys]

they just calmly moved over and a few hundred yards when the lane ended, moved back. Seriously,

I do this... It's a concatenation of "Old Coot Syndrome" added unto "Keep Right Except To Pass"...

[PepperElf]

I don't know what happened between then and when I exited the store, but about the time I was leaving I saw an LP person telling the bell ringer that she was being evicted from the store and that she wasn't permitted to return, to please have Salvation Army send someone else in the future.

Good. Acting the way he did only makes his organization look like shit.

when the derby team i'm involved with does their bake sales outside of convenience stores, they never insult people who don't want to buy stuff. they may try to convince people but they always stay polite. it's one of the reasons why they never have trouble when they ask permission to set up.

A puzzling trend

I wonder if they're from out of town? I did that a few times in Virginia Beach when I first moved there, not realizing that some lanes - especially on Independence Blvd - either end altogether, or turn into on-ramps for I264.

[AlmightyALT]

There's a guy who plays electric violin instead of ringing the bell in one of the towns in my area.

http://www.kltv.com/story/20233054/e...holiday-season

[PepperElf]

mom once saw a man playing a horn instead of ringing a bell

[Skarredmind]

I was walking into Wal-Mart and saw one of the bell ringers approach a shopper walking out, the shopper said, "I already donated to (other homeless assistance organization), I can't afford to donate to you too."
This apparently was the wrong answer because the bell ringer followed the poor bloke towards his car, and I couldn't hear everything, but the final bit I did hear loud and clear when the bell ringer shouted "You're just a greedy pig who cares more about buying cheap made in China crap than helping the less fortunate" (note, the man had nothing but groceries in his cart that I could see) and he told her to off.

This kind of thing always makes me laugh. I mean less so when it happens to me, but wtf does the beggar think is GOING to happen?

"Oh! You're a jerk!? Well why didn't you just say so! I always donate to causes championed by jerks and douchebags!"

I had this happen when I was in college, certain greek organizations made a deal with the school where a student could voluntarily skip a lunch, and a portion of that meal's proceeds would be donated in the greek organization that got you to sign up's name.

I ALWAYS did this. They were good causes, and I skipped a LOT of meals at school. At least until the day I saw a fratboy yelling at someone for not signing up for the Shriners... just being flat out rude and abusive. The other people at the table knew me (I'd been signing up once a month for it for 2 years) I just looked at the boy having a tantrum raised my eyebrow at them and cruised straight past.

[Merriweather]

Years ago, the bell ringers were almost always church members, in uniform, who were very aware that they represented their church, and strived to give a positive image. Nowadays, most are non-member volunteers from other organizations, who apparently aren't always motivated or coached on how to behave (or even, in some cases I've seen, how to dress).

[PepperElf]

I ALWAYS did this. They were good causes, and I skipped a LOT of meals at school. At least until the day I saw a fratboy yelling at someone for not signing up for the Shriners... just being flat out rude and abusive. The other people at the table knew me (I'd been signing up once a month for it for 2 years) I just looked at the boy having a tantrum raised my eyebrow at them and cruised straight past.

I wonder how many other people they lose because of him.


And you know... that brings up a good point - how charities behave really does help determine not just who donates but who *allows* them to even set up.

In the next state down, AFAIK it's actually NOT legal to set up donation stations at intersections. Charity stations can only operate on private property, or on public property with a permit. And they don't issue permits for intersections due to safety issues.

However... from the number of charities I see seeking donations (especially over Thanksgiving) at these intersections, it's clear that this law isn't being enforced. These are major intersections so the cops would have to be blind to not see - especially when the workers are wearing bright vests.

I can only imagine (or hope) that this is incentive for the charities to behave. cos, being "evicted" from their stomping grounds would likely involve citations and fines.