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Do you avoid the "gimme money" Santa outside of stores?

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Do you avoid the "gimme money" Santa?

  • No. I stop and pay the toll every time.

  • No. I walk right past, make eye contact and sneer at Santa.

  • Yes. I sneak around to another entrance.

Results are only viewable after voting.
FelixDeKat said:
You think giving to the Salvation Army is like funding terrorism? You win the award for most annoying atheist of the day! Congrats!

ps. Surprise me and tell me you are not a 9-11 truther or a homosexual vegetarian democrat.
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My thoughts exactly. Out of all of the religious organizations out there they are one of the least pushy about their beliefs and the most helpful to people that don't share their faith. They've got some of the most succesful programs out there to get people self sufficient.

And the red cross is a religious organization? That's laughable. I hope that if you ever get stuck in a disaster area or need a blood transfusion you tell them to take their aid and shove it because it's been tainted by their 'religious affiliation'.
 
I give to the salvation army. they have done a lot of good in its history.

when we see them outside of stores or whatever we let the kids give them some change or a dollar or two.

oh and equating the salvation army to terrorism? you are nuts.
 
1. The Salvation Army bell ringers don't even talk to you, they just ring their bells. You really need to avoid them?
2. The American Red Cross is not a religious charity.
 
I make eye contact, smile, wave, say hello. If they ask for money I say "No sir/ma'am, but I'll pray for you" - and walk inside/outside. Granted I'm praying to the FSM that they don't attack me, but I wasn't lying right?

Now thats different than what has been going on in our grocery store parking lots by some "youth" organization. That is a single or sometimes a group of "urban" (yes, they are black kids OK) - youths run up behind and most of the time scare the shit out of soccermoms in the dark parking lot, carrying a big bin full of who knows what, and start up the sales pitch "we are gathering money for disadvantaged families", etc. They do that because the grocery has run them off their property and I don't think the kids understand that the soccermoms they pull this on think they are about to get robbed or worse. I even told this kid that he really needs to wear a bell or at least whistle.
 
bobdole369 said:
I make eye contact, smile, wave, say hello. If they ask for money I say "No sir/ma'am, but I'll pray for you" - and walk inside/outside. Granted I'm praying to the FSM that they don't attack me, but I wasn't lying right?

Now thats different than what has been going on in our grocery store parking lots by some "youth" organization. That is a single or sometimes a group of "urban" (yes, they are black kids OK) - youths run up behind and most of the time scare the shit out of soccermoms in the dark parking lot, carrying a big bin full of who knows what, and start up the sales pitch "we are gathering money for disadvantaged families", etc. They do that because the grocery has run them off their property and I don't think the kids understand that the soccermoms they pull this on think they are about to get robbed or worse. I even told this kid that he really needs to wear a bell or at least whistle.
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I had that happen, they were selling candy in regular retail boxes (not the special fundraiser packaging).

What annoys me is when they sit outside stores (with permission) and raise money so their softball team can have spring training in Florida or so their high school band can go to a band competition in Hawaii or something like that. I don't want to pay for someone else's kid to go on vacation.
 
mugs said:
I had that happen, they were selling candy in regular retail boxes (not the special fundraiser packaging).

What annoys me is when they sit outside stores (with permission) and raise money so their softball team can have spring training in Florida or so their high school band can go to a band competition in Hawaii or something like that. I don't want to pay for someone else's kid to go on vacation.
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So true. Its not my problem if they plan shit they can't afford
 
mugs said:
I had that happen, they were selling candy in regular retail boxes (not the special fundraiser packaging).

What annoys me is when they sit outside stores (with permission) and raise money so their softball team can have spring training in Florida or so their high school band can go to a band competition in Hawaii or something like that. I don't want to pay for someone else's kid to go on vacation.
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/agree

I actively avoid grocery stores that let kids setup shop outside their doors and harass people.
 
I'm surprised that any store allows charity solicitors to operate on their property, Especially when they have a 'no soliciting' sign on their entryway. I would think it would allow the floodgates to open and they would be sued by any crackpot who decides they want to ask for 'donations' and were denied. Lawsuit crazy americans would be all over them.
 
Dude no one is forcing you to do anything. Of course this becomes a P&N thread with the partisan bickering, but charity is VOLUNTARY. How much more simple does it get?
 
I'll toss in any change that I have on me, or a buck or two. Most of my charitable giving is to local places. We donated money to buy new computer equipment for a local full-time foster home. We also bought Christmas gifts for a needy family with 4 kids. We donate items we don't want anymore to a local hospice provider.
 
tallest1 said:
You people offended by people seeking money for the poor MUST be republicans.

I just can't think of any logical reason beside that... I mean, come on, santas funding terrorism?

PS: Where is the "No. I walk right past, make eye contact, and smile/greet" option?
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Quite the contrary Republicans, conservatives, and libertarians generally encourage private charity. And I have been giving my change to the Salvation Army kettles since I was a kid, they do a lot of good with that money.
 
mmntech said:
.

I can't say I approve of the religious aspect (lifelong atheist here), but the money collected from those kettles does go to a lot of good things. They use it to buy clothing and food for their foodbank, and also to provide family services and education for new immigrants.
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Ah, but there's the rub. Regardless of whatever altruism they are performing with that money, it is backed, however subtly, with a religious, missionary agenda. It is essentially saying "here you go, but remember what we (whatever religious organization) is doing for you and come to our way of thinking." True altruism has no agenda other than doing good. These do not qualify.
 
The Sauce said:
I have made a policy of avoiding the Santa since they are usually collecting for religious organizations (Salvation army, red cross)...it's like funding terrorism. There is like this peer pressure to give money to this shmo in a red suit even though the cause is completely fvcked up. Now rather than walk past the Santa I will park in different spots and walk around to another entrance to avoid him/her. Anyone else?
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The Salvation Army and Red Cross are terrorists?

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHH
 
mugs said:
1. The Salvation Army bell ringers don't even talk to you, they just ring their bells. You really need to avoid them?
2. The American Red Cross is not a religious charity.
Click to expand...

Ok, really? Red Cross. Think about it. If you have two words in your name and one of them is Crucifix, you are a religious organization.
 
tallest1 said:
You people offended by people seeking money for the poor MUST be republicans.

I just can't think of any logical reason beside that... I mean, come on, santas funding terrorism?

PS: Where is the "No. I walk right past, make eye contact, and smile/greet" option?
Click to expand...

LOL Another idiot.
 
The Sauce said:
Ok, really? Red Cross. Think about it. If you have two words in your name and one of them is Crucifix, you are a religious organization.
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😀 Wow. What agenda are they pushing? Have you actually read the history/origin of the Red Cross?

Being one of the first to assist during Natural Disasters? Or is it when they run blood drives? Or is it when they hold classes in CPR/First Aid?

THE RED CROSS
in the case of the modern humanitarian and
environmental organizations, it is most commonly
associated with aid and protection that transcends
national borders and religious differences.

a red greek cross is the logotype adopted by the
‘red cross’, established as an international organization
in 1863 at the geneva convention.
according to the red cross, there is no record
of intent to confer religious significance to itself,
and it is interesting to note that there is no record of
why the cross was chosen as an emblem.
the copyright of this symbol has been protected
as a registered mark.
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