We all know who they are, they come to our doors and stand on the street with caring looks on their faces and lock eyes, sweetly saying "do you care about the environment?" Hook line and sinker if the canvasser is good looking, total ignorance if not. I myself fell for the canvasser outside my downtown office just last summer and some how ended up giving him the money intended for the farmers market. Honestly, I think local strawberries would have made me happier in the long run. These canvassers tell us in a perfectly constructed manner their cause and why we should not only care about the environment, or whales, or school lunch, but why we should empty our pockets and pay up. Research has shown that canvassing is effective, It raises money, yes. I suppose that is one thing. However canvassers are trained specifically not to take no for an answer, and the good ones have you somehow writing over your checking account. So is the money canvassers raise really an indicator of success? Its all in the script, everything you say to me has a well constructed comeback, that is designed to knock you off your feet and then make you go get the twenty in your sock drawer. That's the goal at least.
After my short stint as a canvasser I ask myself this, are canvassers appreciated in society today? The answer from most people is probably going to be a solid "no." They are invasive at the very least and are downright solicitors when going door to door. They interrupt during family dinner, or during an important phone call, or right after the baby is down for a nap. However annoying as this is, credit needs to be placed. There's no denying (in most cases) that the cause isn't worthwhile. The causes are admirable and even the canvassers themselves are admirable, "it's tough to do a job that sucks that much." I have taken to saying that to canvassers on the street." Not a typical response, but appreciated nonetheless, more than the cold shoulder at least. I've also said "Been there, done that, good for you, I know how much that job sucks."It is at least somewhat comforting, and also said "no I won't give you any money but I know your pain, I've done that job."
Canvassing organizations like Environment Minnesota and the Sierra Club do care about the environment and the people that work there do too, they are an idealistic bunch. Quirky to say the least and care deeply about "change" and "saving the world." The millennial generation, I was born smack in the middle of it, and am well aware of our self-righteousness towards every type of cause. Come on, no one wants to see the Boundary Waters polluted. We need these types of people, they are taking some form of action and its comforting to see people care, or at least to see people that pretend to.
The life of canvasser doesn't revolve around living green and picketing outside wal-mart however. It instead, revolves around when they can take their next cigarette break and with each step up to each door a sort of "hate my life" mantra builds only to be calmed by the smoky inhale of a Natural American Spirit or Marlboro Red. It is indeed like candy for a canvasser. mmm Canvassers care and they want you to care too. However, chances are, canvassers are talking about what a jerk you are all the way home and how indeed your behavior pushed them further towards quitting than that jerk yesterday. Who cares about those student loans that need to paid back by this canvassing job, the only one I could get. Shows how much my Italian Major did for me. It's a fact that the majority of canvassers hate their jobs. Anyone who says they don't is lying to you, I promise. Canvassing organizations have the highest rate of turnover in any industry in the United States and it is completely understandable why.
Young college students lose their canvassing virginity and then suddenly become disinterested. The pay is solely based on amount of money raised, with a rather fictitious base pay, and unreachable goals place canvassers in the hole. "I signed up for a job that promised making up to 4,000 dollars this summer. Right....? "
I made 62 dollars and 43 cents for my time at Environment Minnesota and apparently owed the Fund for the public interest about 145 dollars. Good thing I didn't have to make that up. I quit after breaking down in tears on someone old man's doorstep, His wife came to the door asking her husband "what have you done? what did you say to her?" Its comical now but its unbelievable how rude people are. Hurtful even. He started grilling me on exact facts about sulfide mining. He was an engineer, wanting to see if I had my story straight. How do you compete with that? Due to the fact that turnover is so high for people that canvass, training is not the highest priority in organizations like Sierra Club, Environment Minnesota, ect. Therefore, chances are, if its not on my script, I don't know how to answer your questions or respond when you call me stupid, incompetent, and arrogant. I assure you I'm not stupid, arrogant sometimes of course, who isn't? I am merely trying to do my job, a job which I hate. I both hate the job and hate myself for doing it, but have to do it because I need an income.
I guess my my message is this, Suck it up. I will not stop coming to your door. If you want to rally because you hate canvassers that much, talk to the city, make your neighborhood an anti-canvassing neighborhood, push for legislation so that can be done in the first place, or contact the people at the top of the organization. I assure you being rude to a canvasser won't stop us from coming. It will only assure getting your roses trampled or get you talked about incessantly by caddy canvassers at your neighbors house, when they are actually nice. "Thank you so much for not being like your neighbor," while a canvasser is on the verge of tears. Turn us down maybe but I guarantee if you do have even 5 dollars give it to a lowly canvasser and take one less trip to Starbucks that week, then put up a no soliciting sign. Their job sucks, they deserve it.
Wishing to go fishing
Stitches
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