Social avoision: Escaping the gaze and gawp of chuggers

Ethan Switch - Friday, 18 May 2007 - 13:40:03 - print it raw

City walkers and the charity muggers, of good causes and not so not-for-profit organisations. Walking and beating the streets with hands out and clipboard at the steady ready. Walk too close and be caught into the spiral of spin, watching on as the others around find themselves passing by, sweating off their brows, saved for another day.

Looking like a jerk and saying "No thanks you mung bean muncher" is one thing. A skill for those with no compunction for the workers below the ever breaking leather belt line. Talking with an excuse to not talk, a hard effort for some.

Another avenue is to fall in line behind a group and hope for the best, that they will offer the lamb to slaughter with an open run away from the scene. Eye contact kills opportunity for escape and it's the smart traveller who navigates away from the scene, even crossing the street.

Another tact is to steer directly into the face and ask a simple question to misdirect and flumble. One such as, "Where is the local tea palace?" or a more subdued, "Can you tell me how to get to the library?"

Take one ready at all times and face the onslaught never more with a hint of fear. Given the prospect of helping another, the gammy requistioner will invariably forget about their cause and look to help.

Crashing can make easy work of avoiding a certain situation.