Suffering in the world

[londonlewis]

Hardly ever get people knocking at my door now, based on where I live but I typically have the same polite response when they do 'no thank you'. Door closed.
Maybe because I'm cynical / hard nosed or maybe because I don't get much quality time at home because of the hours I work.

I'm not interested in wasting their time (or mine), or leading them on, or calling them beggars.
There are some good causes out there. There are some terribly run charities too.

For me the worst ones are those that launch into a fast-paced sales pitch as soon as you open the door.

 

[Hobbit]

OK - you lot can keep your cynicism if that makes you feel good and better about things. I get the same door-to-door so I'm not surprised.

I am maybe surprised and certainly a bit saddened at the level of disdain and cynicism expressed by what you might think could be the generally more comfortably off sector of the population who inhabit a golf forum - and who might feel they have something to give to those in very, very much poorer circumstances in developing or underdeveloped nations.

But you know what? The views expressed here are not held by everyone, thank goodness, and many are more than happy to contribute to what they see and understand to be a good cause.

I'm sorry but I find your response disappointing. I've done a huge amount for various charities for many, many years apart from the door to door bit. I disagree with door to door collections, but that's just a personal thing. Simply put, you haven't been invited onto that person's property, or into their space. However, I don't judge anyone's attitude to how they do or don't view/contribute to whatever charities. I'm not saddened by other people's disdain and cynicism because it is neither of those two things. They just have a different view.

In all the charity work I've done I've never wasted time thinking about how other people 'do their bit.' I focus on what I can do for the charity... what someone else does is their choice, and me bumping my gums about it, won't change them and is a waste of time.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm sorry but I find your response disappointing. I've done a huge amount for various charities for many, many years apart from the door to door bit. I disagree with door to door collections, but that's just a personal thing. Simply put, you haven't been invited onto that person's property, or into their space. However, I don't judge anyone's attitude to how they do or don't view/contribute to whatever charities. I'm not saddened by other people's disdain and cynicism because it is neither of those two things. They just have a different view.

In all the charity work I've done I've never wasted time thinking about how other people 'do their bit.' I focus on what I can do for the charity... what someone else does is their choice, and me bumping my gums about it, won't change them and is a waste of time.

Sorry Brian - but as expressed by some on this forum I hear cynicism and disdain directed towards a charity collecting for what I deem a very important cause - and that is a bit upsetting. I'm however not in the slightest bit upset that folk might disagree strongly with door-to-door collections - we all choose to donate to good causes in the way we see fit, and of course everyone has their own view on these things, but I am disappointed in the language used.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Hardly ever get people knocking at my door now, based on where I live but I typically have the same polite response when they do 'no thank you'. Door closed.
Maybe because I'm cynical / hard nosed or maybe because I don't get much quality time at home because of the hours I work.

I'm not interested in wasting their time (or mine), or leading them on, or calling them beggars.
There are some good causes out there. There are some terribly run charities too.

For me the worst ones are those that launch into a fast-paced sales pitch as soon as you open the door.

If I can explain what I do and say.

I go round houses to pick up any donation put in an envelope that will have been popped through their letterbox (not by me) maybe a week before. I knock on the door or ring a doorbell once. If it is answered I simply say "I am collecting for Christian Aid - you will have had an envelope popped through your letterbox a week ago for any donation that you might wish to make" And that's it. If someone does not want to donate. I say "No probs - thankyou - bye" or words to that effect - depending upon the nature of the reception I have had

If the door is not answered I do not knock a second time. I pop a little note through the door - the note has my address on it - saying I called and if they want to drop off the envelope at my house please do so.

And that is is.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Sorry Brian - but as expressed by some on this forum I hear cynicism and disdain directed towards a charity collecting for what I deem a very important cause - and that is a bit upsetting. I'm however not in the slightest bit upset that folk might disagree strongly with door-to-door collections - we all choose to donate to good causes in the way we see fit, and of course everyone has their own view on these things, but I am disappointed in the language used.

Double standards alert - SiLH will be as cynical and disdainful about Brexit, Leave voters, Theresa May, Donald Trump and anything else he disagrees with but don't you dare be cynical or disdainful about anything that he feels is important.

 

[Hacker Khan]

And yet again a thread has degenerated into cheap personal digs and oneupmanship...

 

[SocketRocket]

When the Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on my door I told them I didn't see the accident.

 

[Old Skier]

You are begging and you are doing it for organisations that are extremely wealthy in their own right and also riddled with scandals and disgraceful behaviour- I don’t mind giving to certain charities but there are some that shouldn’t be touched

To be fair and balanced, something that SILH is not overly familiar with, these are accusations that can be pointed at many charities and the forums favorite charity has come up under fire for the pay of its CEOs and muscling in when other military charities have had organized collection days.

This is not an attack on the charity, it has assisted me with a number of cases I have been involved in, but just an unfortunate fact about successful charities.

 

[bobmac]

And yet again a thread has degenerated into cheap personal digs and oneupmanship...

SILH knows there are people on this forum who have strong feelings about religion so when he first raised the subject of christian aid in post no.2 he must have known it would get a reaction and then when that reaction comes, he pulls the upset offended card.

I have no problem giving to local charties eg help the homless and hungry, where you can be fairly sure the majority of your donation gets to the local people who need it.
I do however have a problem giving to large and/or religious charities where your donations are swallowed up to pay for shiney offices, admin costs and overpaid executives.

 

[drdel]

Door to door charity collectors can be intimidating to many people who then feel obliged to be 'nice' and so give money. Tis wrong.

 

[Hacker Khan]

SILH knows there are people on this forum who have strong feelings about religion so when he first raised the subject of christian aid in post no.2 he must have known it would get a reaction and then when that reaction comes, he pulls the upset offended card.

I have no problem giving to local charties eg help the homless and hungry, where you can be fairly sure the majority of your donation gets to the local people who need it.
I do however have a problem giving to large and/or religious charities where your donations are swallowed up to pay for shiney offices, admin costs and overpaid executives.

He argued his point which is fine, other people disagreed which is again fine, he did not degenerate into petty personal insults which is my issue. I believe that anyone should be able to bring up something they are passionate about and not expect the personal stuff.

 

[MegaSteve]

Think, in general, people want to feel their donations arrive at the proverbial coalface and not get hived off to enable those running the charities to live the high life... Can't for the life of me see how six figure salaries [never mind the expense accounts] compute with those doing 'charity work'...

Sally Army is the only big charity I donate to nowadays as I believe they do try and keep a lid on salaries, expense accounts etc...

 

[Simbo]

The CEO of the British Red Cross earned 175k or something last year, whether it’s a charity or not it still needs someone qualified to run it. The Red Cross has 4000 employees. The company I work for has less than half that amount and my CEO earned that in bonuses alone.

 

[Hacker Khan]

The CEO of the British Red Cross earned 175k or something last year, whether it’s a charity or not it still needs someone qualified to run it. The Red Cross has 4000 employees. The company I work for has less than half that amount and my CEO earned that in bonuses alone.

Same for me. I think just looking at the salary in isolation is a bit narrow minded. Something like how much they are paid cross referenced to the amount of money going to the particular cause after wages etc of the staff would be more useful. So extreme example, but for me paying someone 200K to generate 50 million for the recipients is better than paying someone 50K to generate 5 million.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Think, in general, people want to feel their donations arrive at the proverbial coalface and not get hived off to enable those running the charities to live the high life... Can't for the life of me see how six figure salaries [never mind the expense accounts] compute with those doing 'charity work'...

Sally Army is the only big charity I donate to nowadays as I believe they do try and keep a lid on salaries, expense accounts etc...

I'd argue because they are running large organisations with many staff. Yes there should be some different values in some places to a charity then say a hedge fund, with generation of profit being an obvious one. But the skills needed of a CEO to run both large organisations well are probably very similar.

 

[Papas1982]

I'd argue because they are running large organisations with many staff. Yes there should be some different values in some places to a charity then say a hedge fund, with generation of profit being an obvious one. But the skills needed of a CEO to run both large organisations well are probably very similar.

I agree, but i'm sure they lots of them utilise staff (volunteers) and lean on the fact its charity work to get favourable trade agreements. So you could argue that if they expect everyone to work with them at lower rates, they should also.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Same for me. I think just looking at the salary in isolation is a bit narrow minded. Something like how much they are paid cross referenced to the amount of money going to the particular cause after wages etc of the staff would be more useful. So extreme example, but for me paying someone 200K to generate 50 million for the recipients is better than paying someone 50K to generate 5 million.

More often than not it’s the transparencey of the donation, if you donate a quid and find 60-80% is going on admin etc then you would be entitled to question said Charity, more often than not these Charities play the begging bowl while having huge cash reserves.
Some charities take 10p in the quid, some take nothing, it’s human nature to question people on hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum while they tell you how desperate life is.

 

[Hacker Khan]

More often than not it’s the transparencey of the donation, if you donate a quid and find 60-80% is going on admin etc then you would be entitled to question said Charity, more often than not these Charities play the begging bowl while having huge cash reserves.
Some charities take 10p in the quid, some take nothing, it’s human nature to question people on hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum while they tell you how desperate life is.

But on the other hand having too few reserves may well indicate poor planning and having little financial resilience if donations do suddenly drop in the organisation. I suspect somewhere in the middle is the best solution.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

SILH knows there are people on this forum who have strong feelings about religion so when he first raised the subject of christian aid in post no.2 he must have known it would get a reaction and then when that reaction comes, he pulls the upset offended card.

I have no problem giving to local charties eg help the homless and hungry, where you can be fairly sure the majority of your donation gets to the local people who need it.
I do however have a problem giving to large and/or religious charities where your donations are swallowed up to pay for shiney offices, admin costs and overpaid executives.

The subject of those with religious faith knocking on doors was the subject of Tashyboy's OP - I quote "Joey Witness is stood there".

I have simply made the point that I know the feeling

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Door to door charity collectors can be intimidating to many people who then feel obliged to be 'nice' and so give money. Tis wrong.

And indeed RSPCA came a-knocking on my door late yesterday evening. Now I don't support animal charities, but listened to their spiel and then told them that. And off they went. But yes - I admit to feeling a bit uncomfortable listening - knowing I was going to say no thankyou. I could have said no thankyou or that I had no time as soon as I opened the door. But I always choose to listen.

And that I felt a bit awkward is one reason I only knock or ring once; and if the door is answered I only say I am picking up the envelope previously provided if they wish to donate. I do not attempt to sell Christian Aid as a charity or what the donations go to in any way whatsoever.