Canvassing

[todayiamadaisy]

A young chap came into our office this afternoon. Random strangers never come into our office unless it's to ask for donations. And so it was today: he wanted to sign people up to give monthly donations to the Heart Foundation (he was unsuccessful). Leeanne, in reception, has to deal with these people. She's much nicer about it than I am, on the rare occasions they catch me alone in the office. If it's a personal request, I say thanks, but I'm not interested; if it's a request for the business to give something, I point out that we ourselves are a charity and perhaps they would like to donate something to us (no-one has ever said yes). Polite but firm. Leeanne, on the other hand, likes a chat before she apologetically turns them down.

Today's chap came in looking all flustered, and this is what he said:

Young chap: I've learnt something today.
Leeanne: Oh, what's that?
Young chap: I'm a canvasser.
Leeanne: You didn't know that?
Young chap: No, I had no idea. I thought canvassing had something to do with politics.
Leeanne: Well, it means asking people for something, so politicians would be canvassing for votes and you're canvassing for?
Young chap (not answering the question, because they don't, straight away, these people): I went in next door and the woman got in a snit and said, 'Can't you read the sign?' And I read the sign that said No Hawkers or Canvassers and I said, 'What's that got to do with me?' And she said, 'You're a canvasser', and I said, 'No, I'm not, I'm asking for donations' and she told me to leave.
Leeanne (trying not to laugh): Well, now you know.