# Hiding from a Boy Scout! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066 "2013-11-04T16:02:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/41 "2013-11-04T22:03:50Z")
I answer the door if i know you, if you are dressed as a delivery person and carrying something i ordered, if you are covered in blood and not holding a weapon. That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![hkepotat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hkepotat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hkepotat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/42 "2013-11-04T22:22:06Z")
Sign on my door: Attn Solicitors, I am ambivalent. I do enjoy yelling at people, but I do not like to be disturbed. It’s your call. Though I usually just don’t answer the door. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/43 "2013-11-04T22:27:11Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Now I’m kinda wishing I had been nicer to you over the years. The next best Sarah Bernhardts to My Beloved’s can be found at the St. Moritz Bakery in Greenwich CT. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/44 "2013-11-04T22:48:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Confession: I’m a sucker for cheese popcorn. Saturday’s DVD and dinner was hot popped popcorn with melted butter that had cheddar cheese powder and a little garlic and pepper mixed in. Yummers. Of course the DVD was McCarthy’s “The Road” (starving people trying no to bet eaten by other starving people). ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/45 "2013-11-04T23:11:33Z")
To answer the door, I first have to find my pants. Then I have to put them on. That’s a lot of work. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/46 "2013-11-04T23:37:08Z")
I am APPALLED at the number of people who hide behind their children and refuse to pay me for taking up my time. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/47 "2013-11-04T23:47:29Z")
Let’s see… to answer the door first I have to close up the laptop and set it aside, then I have to hold the button to unrecline my couch, which takes a good 30 secs or more, then I have to find the key to the front door deadbolt and hope it’s the one key out of three or four that actually works most of the time, then I by the time I finally do get the door open, you’re precious popcorn poopsie has already given up and gone on to the next house, so yeah, I think I’ll just ignore him instead and stay on the couch. How about instead of whining about it, you use it as a life lesson about how not everyone has to jump at his every beck and call? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/48 "2013-11-04T23:59:42Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > To answer the door, I first have to find my pants. Then I have to put them on. That’s a lot of work. Eh, just answer the door in whatever you’re wearing or not wearing at the time. Bonus points if it’s someone trying to talk to you about God. Whether you stop to grab a weapon is strictly optional, too. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/49 "2013-11-05T00:03:29Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Keebler has a variety called “Grasshoppers” that are basically thin mints. > > They have their own version of Samoas and Tagalogs too. Grasshoppers are awesome, though not quite so minty as Thin Mints. The faux Samoas, however, are…disappointing. More like Carmel Delites than actual Samoas. > [@Ruken](#): > > To answer the door, I first have to find my pants. Then I have to put them on. That’s a lot of work. Precisely. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/50 "2013-11-05T00:31:27Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Whether you stop to grab a weapon is strictly optional, too. I keep telling my friends that the SCA really needs to emphasize this benefit as a selling point to prospective members. Not that I’m implying one should take after door-to-door Boy Scouts with a claymore or battleaxe or flail or whatever is at hand. The parent would be more sporting, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/51 "2013-11-05T00:42:26Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Eh, just answer the door in whatever you’re wearing or not wearing at the time. Bonus points if it’s someone trying to talk to you about God. > > Whether you stop to grab a weapon is strictly optional, too. Indeed, the OP should know that the SDMB comes with lessons about what can befall unwelcome visitors. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4600087&postcount=31](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4600087&postcount=31) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/52 "2013-11-05T19:09:31Z")
Maybe it’s because I live in the south and people are just friendlier down here, but I can’t imagine not opening the door for a neighborhood kid whether he (or she) were selling boy scout popcorn, girl scout cookies, candy bars for marching band, coupon books for the PTO, or whatever. Most of the time I say “no thanks, not today.” But next time I see that kid out riding her bike or at the park, I can smile and wave, you know? Because we’re neighbors and live in community with each other? And if I want to hire someone to mow my lawn or rake my leaves one day, I know some kids on the street who might be interested in the money and at least know who I am and what I look like. I mean, shit, it’s not Mayberry or anything, but it wouldn’t kill people to have a little human interaction with the neighborhood kids once in a while at the cost of 30 seconds of your time. Don’t buy anything, just smile and say no thanks. It makes the world a nicer place to live in. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/53 "2013-11-05T21:51:21Z")
I wonder if the nay sayers have a dog or cat? Or children? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/54 "2013-11-05T23:11:28Z")
> [@glee](#): > > I too don’t buy or donate to doorstep visitors. > > When I was a Boy Scout (long ago!) we did ‘bob-a-job’ (e.g. washing cars or mowing lawns) to raise funds. > > As Finagle says "…the boy scouts are selling guilt. No one in the history of the world has ever said “I want to buy tinned popcorn.” > [@DivineComedienne](#): > > Of course. Most people don’t want the wrapping paper, or magazines, or Girl Scout cookies either. Each organization decides on ways to raise funds that they think work best for them. We got many more “Nos” than “Yeses”. So, just say, “No thanks.” Takes 20 seconds out of your life. > > But I do understand the point of view of those who are saying they don’t want to be bothered. Let me sum up the ‘best way to raise money’ that your organisation has come up with: - your son’s Scout troop wastes some money buying an unattractive product - then you and your son buy spend your time trooping around houses of strangers, acting like telemarketers - your son faces repeated rejections - and us homeowners who don’t like this annoyance ‘appall’ you? :smack: Look, I’m all for kids learning to raise money for charity (or for a Scout trip.) But why not do this efficiently and make people happy too? Bake some home-made cakes and sell those. Advertise a car washing service, a lawn-moving service or a shopping delivery service. Get sponsorship for your scouts to pick up litter (folks pay $x for every bag of rubbish collected.) Your local paper will be happy to publish these sorts of constructive fund-raising. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/55 "2013-11-06T01:24:33Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Maybe it’s because I live in the south and people are just friendlier down here, but I can’t imagine not opening the door for a neighborhood kid whether he (or she) were selling boy scout popcorn, girl scout cookies, candy bars for marching band, coupon books for the PTO, or whatever. Most of the time I say “no thanks, not today.” But next time I see that kid out riding her bike or at the park, I can smile and wave, you know? Because we’re neighbors and live in community with each other? And if I want to hire someone to mow my lawn or rake my leaves one day, I know some kids on the street who might be interested in the money and at least know who I am and what I look like. > > I mean, shit, it’s not Mayberry or anything, but it wouldn’t kill people to have a little human interaction with the neighborhood kids once in a while at the cost of 30 seconds of your time. Don’t buy anything, just smile and say no thanks. It makes the world a nicer place to live in. I have no idea who is at the door most of the time. I don’t bother to get up and look. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/56 "2013-11-06T01:54:56Z")
One of my coworkers had a kid who was trying to earn money to go on some field trip or another (apparently something the school district does every year for that grade). He put the order form near the coffee pot and let people choose for themselves. It was some sort of frozen cookie dough that came in a pound (or three) tub. I did it mainly to be nice, but the cookie dough was actually quite good, so I was more than happy to have bought some “overpriced” cookie dough to support a good cause. I have to say, I’ve not lived in a place where any sort of kid’s club went door to door in order to sell, at least not since I was a kid 100 years ago or so. Most clubs in my neck of the woods sell at the doorway to the local supermarkets and such. It’s much more fair to the potential customers, because we’re not a captive audience, we can sweetly throw a “no thanks” and a smile in their general direction and keep on walking. Both this method and the “leave the order form for people to buy, or not, as they wish” are much better than door to door. I agree with the others, it’s intrusive and rude. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/57 "2013-11-06T03:46:24Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I’m not sure why the love for Girl Scout cookies. Every variety they sell has an exact duplicate available at Dollar General for a dollar a box And probably from China, complete with glycol. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/58 "2013-11-06T04:13:36Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I mean, shit, it’s not Mayberry or anything, but it wouldn’t kill people to have a little human interaction with the neighborhood kids once in a while at the cost of 30 seconds of your time. Don’t buy anything, just smile and say no thanks. It makes the world a nicer place to live in. For a number of people who’ve posted in this thread, it does _not_ make the world a nicer place. Is there some reason that doesn’t count? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/59 "2013-11-06T05:15:40Z")
> [@](#): > > I mean, shit, it’s not Mayberry or anything, but it wouldn’t kill people to have a little human interaction with the neighborhood kids once in a while at the cost of 30 seconds of your time. Don’t buy anything, just smile and say no thanks. It makes the world a nicer place to live in.[URL=“[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=16821118](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=16821118)”] Anyone who wakes me up without a damn good excuse (and selling shit isn’t a good excuse) has made the world a less nice place to live in. Even if I’m awake, I’m usually doing something, and a lot of the time, I’d have to stop what I’m doing in order to answer the door. I don’t sit in the living room, watching soaps and hoping that someone rings the doorbell. I have my own life, and solicitors are not a welcome interruption. If I get interrupted, it’s not going to take me just 30 seconds. The best option for me AND for anyone who is trying to sell me something is for me to not answer the door. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066/60 "2013-11-06T08:14:32Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > I wonder if the nay sayers have a dog or cat? Or children? From the responses of some, I sincerely hope they don’t reproduce - the world is quite selfish enough without more of these sorts of spawn [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiding-from-a-boy-scout/673066.md?page=4)