Excuse me Madam can I just ask....

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/08/2006 06:01:23 AM · #1

NO YOU BLOODY CAN'T!!!!!!

OK these days I walk WAY too slow, worse than the tortoise, but I'm on crutches, its allowed. When I decide I have to go out into town it takes a lot of careful planning and a simple trip to the bank can take around 1 and a half hours!

Now picture this: I am hobbling down the street on my crutches, obviously looking like I am struggling. In the distance is a man with a clipboard. SH*T. He's spotted me. Here we go...

"Excuse me Madam can I just ask, have you been injured in an accident?"

Over here in the UK there are a lot of companies who advertise offering to help you claim money if you have been injured in an accident or at work etc etc all done on a No Win No fee basis.

What annoys the hell out of me is:

1. These people expect me to go through MY medical history in the street with a total stranger!

2. I obviously look like I am struggling but instead of letting me pass by they take it upon themselves to stop me and the expect me to want to talk to them.

3. When I say no, they then walk along beside me and try to start a conversation about my leg.

This happened 15 TIMES in a 2 and a half hour period today. In the end I gave up trying to get to the bank, turned around and went home.

WHAT IS IT WITH THESE PEOPLE?????

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

12/08/2006 06:32:58 AM · #2

Carry a bunch of cards with you that say "Piss off, you moron, or I'll sue you for harrassment!" (or the equivalent in proper English), then hand them out when these guys come at you. It'd be amusing at the very least.

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

12/08/2006 06:43:40 AM · #3

Originally posted by Melethia:

LOL excellent idea!! Now that would make me smile! :o)

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

12/08/2006 07:28:34 AM · #4

Originally posted by Melethia:

Good one!! How about a t-shirt saying the same thing?

nixter

Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 Lens X-Pro1

12/08/2006 07:36:19 AM · #5

You could turn the tables on them and also carry a clipboard with a bunch of stupid questions on it. Go up to them and start asking the questions first : )

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/08/2006 07:57:48 AM · #6

'Accidently' whack them with your crutch. When they're writhing in pain tell them you also suffer uncontrollable spasms in your arms.

12/08/2006 08:01:02 AM · #7

Originally posted by jhonan:

'Accidently' whack them with your crutch. When they're writhing in pain tell them you also suffer uncontrollable spasms in your arms.

LOL LOL LOL !!! :o)

Telehubbie

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/08/2006 08:05:01 AM · #8

Just wear this when going downtown:

(I couldn't find a meaner one)

12/08/2006 08:26:21 AM · #9

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Just wear this when going downtown:

(I couldn't find a meaner one)

Oooh I think I need to get me a T-Shirt with something really mean written on it lol

Message edited by author 2006-12-08 08:27:07.

Telehubbie

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

12/08/2006 08:46:10 AM · #10

Ok, how's this? (offensive, so I couldn't link a pic here). :-)

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

12/08/2006 09:22:42 AM · #11

Standard answer "I have a flesh-eating disease" -- as you're shaking their hand! ;)

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

12/08/2006 10:09:56 AM · #12

Originally posted by idnic:

Standard answer "I have a flesh-eating disease" -- as you're shaking their hand! ;)

"I have a highly contagious flesh-eating disease"

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

12/08/2006 11:00:04 AM · #13

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Ok, how's this? (offensive, so I couldn't link a pic here). :-)

LOL I'm ordering one! LOL

Originally posted by karmat:

Originally posted by idnic:
Standard answer "I have a flesh-eating disease" -- as you're shaking their hand! ;)

"I have a highly contagious flesh-eating disease"

So many good answers, man I wish I thought of these things when I see them approaching!! lol

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/08/2006 11:26:27 AM · #14

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Just wear this when going downtown:

(I couldn't find a meaner one)

Incidentally, soliciting has a different meaning in the UK. Soliciting for business is something that "working women" do! Although solicitors in the UK are very respectable - it is the name for a type of lawyer. Indeed, I am a solicitor!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

12/08/2006 11:29:32 AM · #15

Originally posted by legalbeagle:

Originally posted by Telehubbie:
Just wear this when going downtown:

(I couldn't find a meaner one)

Incidentally, soliciting has a different meaning in the UK. Soliciting for business is something that "working women" do! Although solicitors in the UK are very respectable - it is the name for a type of lawyer. Indeed, I am a solicitor!

LOL Matt, I didnt say anything...I assumed it was an American thing lol

Apologies to your profession for my thread, but think you can understand its those who 'tout for busines' on the street that annoy me!! (And I'm not referring to "working women" here!)

Message edited by author 2006-12-08 11:30:21.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

12/08/2006 12:12:07 PM · #16

ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).

12/08/2006 12:14:01 PM · #17

Originally posted by karmat:

ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).

So you guys have these people wandering the streets too?

12/08/2006 03:36:32 PM · #18

Originally posted by talj:

Originally posted by karmat:
ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).

So you guys have these people wandering the streets too?

Not usually carrying clip boards, though. Those we call surveyors....or temporarily between jobs....or just plain (hired to be) annoying....and they're frequently found in shopping malls (which can easily be avoided) :)

12/08/2006 03:43:36 PM · #19

Originally posted by KaDi:

Originally posted by talj:

Originally posted by karmat:
ACtually, for the most part, "solicitors" in the US are the people that wander around asking for money. Either on the behalf of a charity or themselves (panhandlers).

So you guys have these people wandering the streets too?

Not usually carrying clip boards, though. Those we call surveyors....or temporarily between jobs....or just plain (hired to be) annoying....and they're frequently found in shopping malls (which can easily be avoided) :)

Another 'group' that frequently hassle me are people doing market research! Because I walk so slow I can see them building up to my approach, once I get within earshot they pounce!

I wouldn't mind, under normal circumstances, cos I could just say NO! and briskly walk off. They think they've picked a good 'un when they see me cos I can't walk anywhere quickly.

BASTARDS! Thats all I have to say!!

12/08/2006 03:51:56 PM · #20

Originally posted by talj:

Ah, but they target me because I have the kind of friendly face that shows I like helping people....it's the girl scout look, I guess. You must cultivate your escalation of responses, I think. (Make no eye contact while reciting the following.)
Response 1: No. Thank you.
Response 2: I'm sorry, not today.
Response 3: Not interested.
Response 4: (At this point stop dead in your tracks and make eye contact.) Look buddy, I've got crutches and I'm not afraid to use 'em! Kapish?

12/08/2006 03:59:59 PM · #21

Originally posted by KaDi:

Like you, they usually target me but normally I am pretty good with my responses (1,2,3 above are pretty usual for me!). However at the moment these just dont work. Here's an example...

Today I am slowing hobbling along, minding my own business, heading to M&S for some food shopping (which is a huge task in itself!) when I spy a group of clipboard wielding lunatics. As I get closer they seem to have made the decision who is going to approach me. A middle age man begins his approach..."Excuse me Madam blah blah blah....". "No. Thank you." I reply. Satisfied with my answer I begin to hobble away. However clipboard wielding looney isn't happy he walks alongside me, asks how I hurt my leg then precedes to tell me his 94 year old father was found in his bathroom last week, naked (why did i need to know that??) after having a fall and was in hospital with a broken leg. Even after this incite into his life I am still unwilling to answer his market research questions and he finally gives up. Thats just added another (pointless) 20 minutes to my trip into town. Arrrgghhhh!!!!

12/08/2006 04:09:07 PM · #22

Aha! You made eye contact and responded to their (his, her, its) questions. As soon as you see them you must treat them as invisible...walk (hobble, whatever) right through them. They don't know you're not deaf. I have learned to treat check-out personnel in a similar manner. You know the ones...they treat the person ahead as if taking their money was a favor and tell stories about their break-up with their most recent love interest and go on about how difficult their wage-job is? Always smiling, I refuse to give them a verbal response to anything. I think I've got half of them believing I'm a deaf mute...and to them, I am deaf and mute. (I've just found it easier than acting insane.) :-)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/08/2006 04:25:24 PM · #23

Originally posted by KaDi:

They don't know you're not deaf.

Why didn't I think of that?!!!! Boy am I glad I started this thread, the tips for how to handle these irritations are fantastic!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/08/2006 04:51:18 PM · #24

Originally posted by KaDi:

(I've just found it easier than acting insane.) :-)

It's not that hard ...

"... This article describes such an experiment. Eight sane people gained secret admission to 12 different hospitals. Their diagnostic experiences constitute the data of the first part of this article; the remainder is devoted to a description of their experiences in psychiatric institutions."