How to avoid sidewalk organizers, every time.

There are many plusses with living in D.C..  There are also many minuses.

One of these minuses is generally in the form of what I’ve termed “the sidewalk clipboard people,” who like to bother you to give money.  It’s never time or volunteerism.  It’s always money.  And I’ve tried asking if I can do the volunteering — they’re just not interested.

Lately, the main culprits have been Greenpeace.  They stand there in their blue Greenpeace shirts (why are they blue, by the way?  That doesn’t seem to make sense at all…), and like to ask me for money.

As I pass them, I generally start to try avoiding eye contact.  I like to pretend that the most amazing thing ever has just happened on my iPhone, which is why I need to keep intensely staring at it for the 20 seconds needed until I pass them.  But occasionally, they’ll get me anyway.

So, today, I came up with the winning “I’ve got to go, I don’t have time for the environment” excuse.

“Oh, sorry, I have to go.  My girlfriend’s waiting for me.”

I tried it a few more times after, and it definitely works.  Apparently people seem to sympathize with any possible causing of domestic strife, even if it means the degradation of the environment.

Jess is pretty amused by this, especially considering that she’s the most harmless person, well, pretty much ever, and would never get mad at me for anything like that.

So thank you, Jess, for both your kindness and your willingness to let me to use you as an excuse to strangers.