Dawn of the Geeks

I was coming home from a long road trip to Idaho and in Vegas getting gas when some guy starts washing my windows. I told him “that’s not necessary, we’re leaving.” I refused to give him anything. My wife thought I should have given him a couple bucks. The reason I didn’t is simple; I didn’t ask him to wash anything. He volunteered. If he wants people to pay him for his efforts then he needs to get a sign that says “Get Your Windows Cleaned $2″ or something. Maybe it was the long road or the late hours but I was particularly cranky that night. I do not care to be extorted for money.

I’m really tired of people expecting money out of me. When we first moved into our house it was virtually non-stop. We had the same paper boy come by wanting us to subscribe at least a couple times. Every time I told him I wasn’t interested. I finally got rude and he hasn’t been back. Apparently for some people that’s what it takes. The reason we can afford a house is because we don’t just give money to everyone who asks.

My wife donates money to various charities and that I’m okay with. These are established organizations going about things the right way so I don’t mind giving them some money. What does bother me about them though is that once you give them money they start sending you expensive looking mailings. At that point we stop giving them money. Obviously they’re just wasting it. If they wanted more money they could have sent a cheap post card. I don’t need a bunch of mailing labels; I have a pen.

It’s the same schtick that the window guy pulled: give people something and then act like they owe you something.

Maybe I’m wierd but when people offer a gift of actual value in exchange for a donation I refuse to give them anything. I don’t mind getting some cheap sticker that I know only cost a few cents and advertises their charity. I do mind when I see what they’re giving out costs more than a buck and does nothing to advertise the charity. Most charities can do a lot with a dollar. I don’t need a cheap trinket bought with money that was donated for a good cause.

Maybe some people will only donate if you give them something of real value in return. And that’s sad really. The whole point of donating is to help out without demanding something for yourself.