Broken Wing

Why yes, I have plenty of time to talk about the environment!

If you've been walking around on the U of M campus at all recently, you've probably run into the scourge of the sidewalks: those people who want to talk to you about the environment. Now, I've never stopped to talk to them, but I'm assuming they're pro-environment.

When the summer started, I would just politely decline, and pretend I was busy. Then, I just started giving a curt "No," with no explanation. But now, it's getting out of control. I walked by one, said no, went in and got some food to go and walked right by that person again. She asked me again and I said "Still no." You just asked me two minutes ago! How much could my schedule have possibly cleared up in the meantime? The next day I pledged to ignore them. This is more difficult than it sounds. Have you ever just completely ignored someone that you could see looking directly at you, trying to talk to you? It's a good way to feel like an asshole. So, the next day I decided I didn't want to feel like an asshole, so I planned this circuitous route by which someone else would always be closer to the environment guy. It must have been a slow day at the corner, because the guy went out of his way to talk really loud at me, so I was forced to ignore him again. It's getting to the point where one time I'm just going to go batshit crazy, cover my ears and yell "No! I don't want to talk to you about the environment! Ever!" Doing this would probably help those people to remember me, so that they would know not to bother me the next time I pass.

Here's the deal: I like the environment as much as the next guy, maybe even more. I just don't think the environment stands to gain much by me talking to either 1) a college dropout or 2) a college student not industrious enough to get a decent summer job. And by "help the environment" they definitely mean "give my organization money." I don't think the person holding the clipboard would be too pleased if I said, "I would like to help the environment. I'll sell my car and start riding my bike everywhere." Also, a person holding a clipboard is not likely to be able to do credit card transactions. Since I am not 90, I don't bring my checkbook with me. Which only leaves cash donations. I'm supposed to entrust my cash with someone just because they have a uniform on (and by uniform I mean t-shirt)? Not bloody likely.

Posted by mill1991 at June 17, 2005 1:29 PM | TrackBack