uncharitable

[MAPLEMAN]

So I go into town today to visit my local 'car parts' store
As I approach the entrance of the shop,i am approached by a charity worker asking for money
I said 'no way' and continued my way to the front door of the shop
Only to then hear him call me a f#@%en maggot dog along with a chorus of other expletives
I turned to him and said 'mate,you can't talk to me like that...I am off the have a chat to the police about this
He crossed the line of decency I.M.O...a totally inappropriate rant!
So I start making my way across the road to the local police station and he follows me closely,abusing and threatening me with the most vicious diatribe imaginable
Unfortunately the police station was closed but he did retreat as soon as I walked through the gate!
Still hurling abuse at me though
Was and still am rattled by the ordeal...my friend was witness to everything and made her feel quite scared and unsettled also
What recourse do I have? Has an offence been committed?
Any advice welcomed...MM

[Pat]

Chris, what "charity" does this person supposedly work for? Did they have any identification?

[Pat]

Well, Monday morning, ring the "charity" head office and verify that he is actually a "collector" and request that the "charity" revoke his employment.

[ian]

you probably could launch a civil prosecution -- but you'd need very deep pockets and at the end of the day the other party probably doesn't have any money so what's the point?

Probably bets to ignore him.

Once I found out that that the people who employ on the street "charity collectors" pocket around 70% of any funds donated, I now only donate directly to the charity.

[Mr Brush]

Sounds to me like he's collecting for himself.......

As stated above, I never donate to street collectors either. I pick a couple of charities each year (and I do a bit of research into how they spend their $$$), and donate directly.

[MAPLEMAN]

you probably could launch a civil prosecution -- but you'd need very deep pockets and at the end of the day the other party probably doesn't have any money so what's the point?

Probably bets to ignore him.

Once I found out that that the people who employ on the street "charity collectors" pocket around 70% of any funds donated, I now only donate directly to the charity.

This bloke gets around on a brand new Harley...he's not short of money...but he is short of manners!
Sorry but will not ignore him Ian...he will lose his charity job at the very least...no one deserves to be intimidated whilst going about their daily duties and he has chosen the wrong person to abuse
Will talk to a legal brain on Monday...MM

[FenceFurniture]

I agree with Pat and Ian. Talk to the charity he was representing on that particular occasion, and don't give to any charity on the street - at least not without asking how much of your donation they will keep!

Katoomba Street (in a holiday destination town just out of Sydney) used to be a mega-magnet for backpackers to represent "The Charity of the Day" (aka whoever has the highest commission). They were SO keen to know how I was going, I thought they must have been my best friends.

What they didn't know is that I can (note: not always, not even often) be a crusty old bastard who has been well trained in sales and obfuscation (although the latter comes somewhat naturally...) and who is an world expert in wasting the time of untrained dickheads (if I feel so inclined of course).

BPTAC = Back Packer Trying A Con
COB-SIAB-WTMT = Crusty Old Bastard-Seen It All Before-Waaaay Too Many Times

BPTAC: "HI! How are YOU!"
COB-SIAB-WTMT : (still walking) "Yeah mate, nobbad. You?" (still walking, BPTAC taking a couple of paces towards a quarry who seems receptive/stupid)
BPTAC: (COB-SIAB-WTMT slowing a little to apparently listen) "Do you care about yap yap yappity yap?"(aka Charity of the Day)
COB-SIAB: "Oh yeah, course I do - who doesn't eh?"
BPTAC: (deciding to stroll along, as this MUST be a mark!) "Well, yap yap yap, yap blah yap yap. What do you think of that yap? And could you slow down a bit? Pretty good speed for a COB-SIAB!"
COB-SIAB: "I think you undoubtedly want some money from me to support you holiday addiction."
BPTAC: "Sorry, my English suddenly not so good - what was middle bit again?"
You can prolly imagine the ending.......something along the lines of "FOYI".


Heh heh. Do it enough times and word spreads (Katoomba is a small town). They just point and leave me alone



*The above is of course a complete fabrication - I have never been known to string along the completely unaware BPTAC.
Only the partially unaware (PUBPTAC).

[MAPLEMAN]

Will definitely be contacting 2 of the charities that I know for certain this bloke collects for
He apparently raised $100,000 for Heart kids Qld only a couple of years ago
Last year it was Cystic Fibrosis
Assuming he is still collecting for them now
A very aggressive creature this one
By the way I did manage to speak to the police from another branch and they took all my complaint details
Will be making a written statement on Monday at Woodford
Thugs of this ilk should be placed on notice...fortunate I had a witness with me too
Yes normally I would ignore these sort of encounters but what was said was way too nasty and threatening...MM

[FenceFurniture]

He apparently raised $100,000 for Heart kids Qld only a couple of years ago

So let's say his comm is as low as 25% - that's 25K just from that one. If, as been suggested, it's as much as 70%, then that's $70k. O'course, if the $100k is nett to Hearts for Kids then his 25% would be $33k, or his 70% would be .....only $233k. Reckon that would support a new Harley every 6 months or so. Can't possibly be 70% with $100k going to them....can it?

Thugs of this ilk should be placed on notice...fortunate I had a witness with me too

Indeed, on both counts.

[rustynail]

Gees Chris, harden up a bit. The world is full of less than desirable morons, mostly drug induced personalities and a chip on their shoulder. You have just had the pleasure of meeting one.
Was recently in the city, stopped at the lights, bloke comes up wanting to clean the windscreen, I say "No thanks, its fine." He spits the dummy and tosses the bucket of water at me through the open window. Guess he had had one too many knock backs for the day. A few years ago, I would have gotten out of the car and knocked him into the middle of next week. Now I just laugh them off and laughter is good for the soul.

[Bohdan]

But it doesn't teach him that such actions may have consequences and a knuckle sandwich may result in more respect for the next customer.

[MAPLEMAN]

But it doesn't teach him that such actions may have consequences and a knuckle sandwich may result in more respect for the next customer.

Exactly right...MM

[ian]

But it doesn't teach him that such actions may have consequences and a knuckle sandwich may result in more respect for the next customer.

or a whole world of pain for yourself

[MAPLEMAN]

I'll say this...tis a very fine line to walk away from a situation when your life and that of your friend(s) is being threatened
This bloke followed/stalked me for about 50 meters...I repeatedly told him to get away from me
He continued verbally spraying me with threats and obscenities
Laughing at him would have sent him into a psychotic orbit
Thankfully my arrival at the police station worked wonders...MM

[ian]

Just imagine ...

in Texas you probably could have shot him