bcmark

I fucking hate salesmen. And while I realize that this doesn't make me especially rebelious or even moderately different, I REALLY fucking hate religion salesmen.

For three days in a row now I've been accosted by the same Hari Chrishna (or however you spell it). Anyway, I'm assuming that's what he is because he's bald, mid-twenties, and carrying a stack of books that he looks like he's about to hand me at any moment. I've never given him a chance to start his pitch, because I have no compunctions about being a dick.

But yeah: THREE DAYS. IN A ROW. SAME GUY.

I usually wear headphones when I walk downtown for this very reason, and I usually just say "No thanks" in a very brusque manner and continue on my way. But today, this fucker's got a shit-eating grin on his face as he steps into my path, and I know, I JUST FUCKING KNOW, that he understands how much this is pissing me off. He recognizes me, and he KNOWS.

"Christ, dude, this is the third day in a row you've bothered me, and I'm just as uninterested in whatever you're selling now as I was back then!"

"But I just want to say hi."

Yeah. Right. And the guy before that just wanted me to register to vote... for his party! And the guy before that just wanted some change... so he could buy more liquor and drugs and continue to abuse himself instead of getting real help. And so on and so on.

Am I being a jerk for not standing there and letting him tell me that my world view is wrong and here read these books and oh please give me a donation? Am I an idiot for believing in a world where I'm not constantly surrounded by people begging me to spend, give, relent? Billboards, banner ads, TV, radio, the homeless, the sick, the needy, churches, environmentalists, community leaders, the president.

I'm just one fucking guy with a shit job and a rapidly expanding college debt! Fucking leave me alone!