rude people

[simba928]

Saturday I had to do some fundrasing things for my marching band. A few friends of mine and I sat outside a local store and sold raffle tickets, spaghetti dinner tickets, and took donations. The majority of people were really nice. Most people either made a donation or bought a raffle ticket. One guy stopped to talk to us and when he found out we were raising money to help with our Florida trip next year, he started telling us how we should do the College Program and his daughter did it and blah blah blah. Really nice old man, but one of those guys that once you got him started, there was no stopping him. He would tell you his entire life story before he left. We figured out a few tricks that got a lot of people to donate, even some loose change. We asked one lady if she would like to buy a raffle ticket to support X band. She was definitly the rudest woman there that day. Her reply (in a real stuck up, rude tone as if she was so much better than us petty little teenagers) "No. I can't. I support Y school cheerleaders. Buh-Bye" WTH??? Why can't you support that school's cheerleaders and our school's band? Wouldn't supporting the cheerleaders make you more likely to support other school groups? The two groups have absolutely nothing to do with eachother, we're not even from the same school! I mean if you can't or don't want to donate money or whatever, thats fine. Just say "No thanks" or "Not today, sorry." and we would be fine with it. I think it just has something to do with rude people coming from that town. When we played their team last year, we walked into the stadium (yes, it was the marching band, not the football team) and they booed us! All my friends and I laughed because we thought it was the funniest thing. They were booing the marching band! Ummm, we have nothing to do with whether we win or lose and if it were up to us we wouldn't be here right now.

ETA: I might not have been clear on this earlier. We were selling raffle tickets (4 box seats to a baseball game and a parking pass) and tickets to a spaghetti dinner that the band/orchestra students and band parents are organizing/hosting/working. Many people thought the tickets were too expensive or didn't want to buy either, but wanted to donate, so they just put money in a box sitting on the table. We had one person tell us they didn't want a raffle ticket, but gave us the equivalent of one and told us we could buy ourselves one. Another person gave us the equivalent of 2 raffle tickets, but didn't want an actual ticket. We thanked every single person that donated or bought a ticket and told just about everybody that walked past, even if they didn't donate to have a nice day or thanks anyways or something to that effect.

 

[cepmom]

sorry you had to encounter rude people! I understand ~ I do tons of fundraising with my DD for her HS dance team and we get it too unfortunately. One time the girls were competing at a rival school and they got booed too! The dance team!
I like your style though ~ just laugh at them when they are rude instead of letting it get to you!

 

[Hannathy]

Unless she said it very nastily I don't see where she was so rude? And guess what I see her point! I only have so much disposable income and I'll give it to my child's school not another if I am giving it to a school. $.50 may only be fifty cents but it is going to a school I support, If I gave it to all the schools in the area it would add up quickly and leave less for our school.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm with Hannathy -- I wouldn't take it the wrong way if I were you. 9 times out of 10, I prefer to give my pocket change to my local school district. When I can, I definitely help out kids who are selling or asking for donations, but my kids' schools come first. Although I do see your point. I'd never outright tell the kids that.

 

[EthansMom]

There's really no excuse for people to boo at your marching band while you're performing.

But, personally, I don't like being "hit up" for donations or raffle purchases as I'm entering/leaving a store. I just want to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. Like other posters have mentioned, I prefer to make donations to things that will benefit my family and/or community... I tend to make donations to our local library and the kids' PTO.

 

[disykat]

While I agree booing at a performance is wrong, I see nothing rude about someone not donating stating the name of another organization that they support. While there's no reason to give that info, they were probably trying to let you know that they do support high school activities but are already tapped out.

I also don't see anything "rude" about an older gentlemen being chatty with you. While it may be irritating, it's part of the parcel if you're going to be out in public soliciting donations.

 

[sugarpie]

I also find it pretty annoying to be hit up for donations in public areas, and I might find it rude that you're using "tricks" to get people to donate.

 

[debden]

Giving money so someone can take a trip to Florida??They didn't have that in my day so when I wanted to go on a trip I had to do it the old fashioned way and work and save.
And I still do it that way as an adult too!!
Debbie

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I'm sorry but I don't see what was so rude about the womans comment either. Maybe she didn't want you to think she was too cheap to give you any donation and felt the need to tell you she does donate to a cause, just not yours.

My son attends a Catholic school and I do fundraising out the wazoo. So if kids do ask me to donate outside of a store for their cause I have been known to say sorry but I have already donated to my sons school. Sorry don't see the rudeness there.

 

[cepmom]

Giving money so someone can take a trip to Florida??They didn't have that in my day so when I wanted to go on a trip I had to do it the old fashioned way and work and save.
And I still do it that way as an adult too!!
Debbie

more than likely the band is taking a trip to FL for a competition or something....not for pleasure. We fund raise for DD's dance team to travel to WDW for the Nationals competition. It's not uncommon to fundraise for school/team events like that

we get quite a bit of money "canning" in front of stores, but I do agree that listening to chatty people tell their life stories or having to deal with rude people is part of fundraising. I don't thinkthe woman was rude because she said she donated to another school ~ I totally respect people not wanting to donate for whatever the reason, but there's no need to be rude or snotty. A simple "no thank you" will suffice.

 

[Sherri]

Saturday I had to do some fundrasing things for my marching band. A few friends of mine and I sat outside a local store and sold raffle tickets, spaghetti dinner tickets, and took donations. The majority of people were really nice. Most people either made a donation or bought a raffle ticket. One guy stopped to talk to us and when he found out we were raising money to help with our Florida trip next year, he started telling us how we should do the College Program and his daughter did it and blah blah blah. Really nice old man, but one of those guys that once you got him started, there was no stopping him. He would tell you his entire life story before he left. We figured out a few tricks that got a lot of people to donate, even some loose change. We asked one lady if she would like to buy a raffle ticket to support X band. She was definitly the rudest woman there that day. Her reply (in a real stuck up tone) "No. I can't. I support Y school cheerleaders." WTH??? Why can't you support that school's cheerleaders and our school's band? Wouldn't supporting the cheerleaders make you more likely to support other school groups? The two groups have absolutely nothing to do with eachother, we're not even from the same school! I mean if you can't or don't want to donate money or whatever, thats fine. Just say "No thanks" or "Not today, sorry." and we would be fine with it. I think it just has something to do with rude people coming from that town. When we played their team last year, we walked into the stadium (yes, it was the marching band, not the football team) and they booed us! All my friends and I laughed because we thought it was the funniest thing. They were booing the marching band! Ummm, we have nothing to do with whether we win or lose and if it were up to us we wouldn't be here right now.

I have sat outside of wawa many times raising money for travel soccer with dd (when she played). Because of that, NO MATTER what the cause, if I see kids fundraising, I give.
I think its great that you took your time to do this and if someone chooses not to give they should not be rude about it.
Good luck with the rest of the fund raising, and don't let anyone get you down, your doing a great thing.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I also do not see the rudeness. As others have posted, she was probably just letting you know that as she won't be donating to you, she does give to others.

And, I too do not give to those raising funds outside of stores. Sorry, with 2 kids in Catholic school, I'm just about tapped out.

 

[nuke]

I have sat outside of wawa many times raising money for travel soccer with dd (when she played). Because of that, NO MATTER what the cause, if I see kids fundraising, I give.
I think its great that you took your time to do this and if someone chooses not to give they should not be rude about it.
Good luck with the rest of the fund raising, and don't let anyone get you down, your doing a great thing.

I never realized how many out right mean people there are in my community until I sat outside of stores selling Cub Scout popcorn! We had people yell at the kids, yell at us, and just basically be rotten.
For that reason I always give something anytime I see children fundraising. I also tell them what a great job they are doing.

It's really an easy thing to say "no thank you", or "sorry we can't give at this time" instead of "go away".

 

[okeydokey]

It really irks me to be hit up for money every time I enter or leave just about every big store in town. Usually at the end of the week I am barely scraping up enough to get milk or something for the kids lunch, I don't like to have to have to weave my way through the 4 kids standing blocking the exit to the supermarket asking for cash that I just don't have. I do say, "no thank you" or "not today thanks". No sense being rude to them.

 

[Sherri]

I never realized how many out right mean people there are in my community until I sat outside of stores selling Cub Scout popcorn! We had people yell at the kids, yell at us, and just basically be rotten.
For that reason I always give something anytime I see children fundraising. I also tell them what a great job they are doing.

It's really an easy thing to say "no thank you", or "sorry we can't give at this time" instead of "go away".

I agree, it is so much nicer to say "no thank you" or sorry we can't give at this time". It takes so little effort to be nice to someone.
This is someones self esteem were talking about.
I admire their drive and the fact that they are involved in something.
And for the record I always buy cub scout pop corn .
Just like I buy girl scout cookies.
That purchase can make someones day.

 

[Tybug]

I don't find any of that rude. There are those that will/can give and there are those that won't/can't. I've sat many a day in front of the grocery stores selling all kinds of stuff with the kids and have heard and seen it all. The fact is you don't know these people and you don't know what kind of day they have had. Fundraising gives you many skills as well as an insight to different careers. It can take a thick skin at times. Take it for what it is and move on.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

While I agree booing at a performance is wrong, I see nothing rude about someone not donating stating the name of another organization that they support. While there's no reason to give that info, they were probably trying to let you know that they do support high school activities but are already tapped out.

I also don't see anything "rude" about an older gentlemen being chatty with you. While it may be irritating, it's part of the parcel if you're going to be out in public soliciting donations

agreed

 

[marlasmom]

Putting on my flame suit here. While I always buy cookies and popcorn and I do contribute to various community endeavors, I admit I get irked at kids soliciting for trips - whether for competitions or otherwise. My kids have been involved in many car washes. My son's football team contracted out to do various chores for people in the community (mostly leaf raking but whatever the client wanted) to raise $ for the team. That appeals to me because it's the kids working for what they want or need. I fully realize that some parents can't raise the $ for the kids to go on some of those trips and I have paid all or part for a kid to participate that wouldn't have been able to. However I have always felt that it was up to me as a parent and to my kid to take care of such things by ourselves and not solicit others to pay their way. Just mho

 

[Cool-Beans]

I think it is a little rude to ask strangers for money. Setting up a table is one thing, but forcing people to turn you down is another. The woman was probably saying she supported something else because she thought she needed a reason to turn you down.

However, I just ignore people who ask me for money. I don't say anything, rude or nice.

 

[hentob]

I think it is a little rude to ask strangers for money.

I agree. If you are selling something (that I like) I will buy from you. If you shove a can at me and want me to give you straight cash--I think that is a bit lazy.

Do a carwash, a gift wrapping service, mow lawns, etc. Don't just put a slogan on a can and beg for money