People who get approached

[alexl]

I wondered why certain people get approached more by strangers than others? e.g. canvassers targeting people, or people asking for directions; I wondered why they approach some people but not others. The reason I ask is they always seem to ask me.
Cheers.

[Buenchico]

Having recently had to ask 500 people (in various age and gender categories) about taxi services in their council area, I can tell you that it's not a case of looking for people who'll answer your questions. It's simply a matter of avoiding those who won't!

For example, I wouldn't waste my time trying to ask anyone who is:
(a) having a row with their partner ;
(b) shouting at their kids ;
(c) deep in conversation with their companion ;
(d) making a mobile phone call ;
(e) staggering with a load of shopping ;
(f) clearly trying to avoid eye contact with me ;
(g) obviously in a hurry ;
(h) drinking from a can of extra strength lager ;
(i) clearly too young for me to speak to without 'arousing suspicions' ;
(j) clearly too old to stand still in the cold without collapsing ;
(k) conversing with someone else in a foreign language. (Yes, I know that they might speak perfect English but why take the risk of having to struggle with sign language?) ;
(l) acting in any way that silently shouts "Beware of the loony!"

So, if you're on your own, neither very young nor very old, not drunk, mad, foreign, burdened with shopping, in a hurry or on the phone, there's a very good chance that I might want to speak to you. So, please, please, please, don't avoid eye contact with me! ;-)

Chris

[sara3]

they don't often stop me. I'm wondering which heading Chris would put me under.

hopefully (i)

I wish!

[weeal]

lol well done Chris
what a list

[Jan1957]

They always seem to pick me as well. I must start carrying a can of extra strong lager with me!

[B00]

Haha, this reminds me of when I got approached the other week in my local town centre. The poor woman looked frozen and bored to tears, but bless her she gamely stopped me and asked if she could ask me a few question, I took pity on her and said "alright, s'pose"....

Sadly for her, her questionaire was about the area's local leasure (sp?) facilites, and as I'm allergic to any form of exercise (unless it involves ambling into Greggs for a cake), all my replies seem to be... "no", "good God never"....."theres a local swimming baths here?" and "you mean getting off my ample backside?" And so on and so forth.

I think I saw her heading in to the nearest pub after she'd finished with me, I was the straw that broke the camels back.

I do hope she's since recovered :-(

[dot.hawkes]

'looking like they are in a hurry' never works for me, i am always being asked if i can spare a minute when i am on my luch break, and bearing in mind that i very rarelky actually do out in my lunch hour, it is certainly true that i seem to get approached every time i do! what are the odds? Hi Chris, maybe i should try the foreign language talking into my phone in a hurry combo!

[alexl]

Thanks that answers it.

[Buenchico]

Lunch break, Dot? I can 'grab 'em' in a lot less time than that!

For example, many of those taxi user questionnaires were carried out near to a Tesco store. The staff kept 'nipping out' for smoking breaks. I succeeded in getting every single one of them to answer my questions ;-)

There was also a pub just across the road. Once again, the smokers could be found outside. A big smile and a friendly greeting of "While you're enjoying your fag, would you mind . . . " nearly always did the trick ;-)

I carried out those questionnaires over 8 days. I had a target figure (provided by my employer) of 60 surveys per day. If I completed 60 surveys within that time, I was asked to complete a few 'spare' surveys but I could then go home (while still getting paid for a full day's work). I managed to go home over 3 hours early (while still doing my job accurately and professionally0 on several occasions. There's definitely a 'knack' to doing the job ;-)

Chris

[Buenchico]

Oh, and thanks for the reply (and the stars) Alexl.

[B00]

Ey up Chris, flash that smile at me and I'll answer any questions you want ;-)

[andy-hughes]

Interesting - I am never stopped for surveys, but regularly for directions.

I guess i fill the criteria - I am usually in town alone, and rarely in a rush, and I appear to be trustworthy and helpful, so i get stopped often for directions from cars and pedestrians.

A few months ago, a seriously gorgeous young woman pulled into the area where i park, and asked me where the local long-stay car park was. It is litterallly yards down the road, so i offered to jump in her car and show her - and she agreed (I do look trustworthy!).

She needed change for the carpark, so I walked her to the local newsagents, and on the way back, I showed her where her destination in the town was.

In sight of the car was the turning for my office building, so as she thanked me for my help, I said "You are really beautiful, and spending fifteen minutes with you has really brightened my day." and I walked away before she could feel embarassed, or thought I was trying to come on to her.

[Buenchico]

Andy:
You're 'on the wrong side of the fence'. You shouldn't be answering questions. With your obvious 'charm' you should join me in asking them ;-)

Chris

[wolf63]

I was once stopped by somebody in our High Street and they asked me if I had 5 minutes.

I blurted out the truth - that I was only out of Xhospital (a psychiatric hospital) for the afternoon and I had loads to do. The lady walked, or ran, away very quickly.

So - the loony t-shirt might work!

I worked pretty close to the main city centre and trying to get your shopping done and dodge the canvassers and chuggers is a nightmare.

[flip_flop]

I never get stopped - presumably because canvassers and chuggers can see that I've got headphones in my ears.