I've heard lots of horror stories about the way they treat the kids in those magazine schemes -- things like holding their pay until the end of the year, so if they leave before that, they get nothing, and a whole bunch of allegations of physical abuse when kids don't sell enough.

I've heard lots of horror stories about the way they treat the kids in those magazine schemes

I can believe it. Both that guy and the girl who once accosted me when I was out for a walk with then-baby Annabel in her stroller gave me a seriously bad vibe. This sounds weird, but it felt like they were trying to threaten or intimidate me into buying magazines, which would totally fit with them being threatened or abused themselves.

I don't hate it, I just think it's overplayed. Especially since there are a lot of great songs on that album.

Like "You Know I'm No Good"

Standard answer for people who try to stop me on the street: "No thank you." If pressed by clipboard people, maybe "I just don't sign anything on the street." But I find walking on by to be very effective.

Like "You Know I'm No Good"

My favorite is "Me & Mr. Jones" or "My Tears Dry on Their Own". Oooh or the title song!

Good grief, hate those schemes. And could never ever be that person on the corner asking for a minute of your time, I'd go crazy.

My friend at work is going for a bra fitting tonight, and invited me along. Yeah, I don't think so. TMI for a work friend.

Hah--I ended up going with a coworker friend to her first bikini wax! Not in the room, though. Just to the spa.

I also like Liese's house. The tile floor looks nice (though I would probably fall down adn crack my head open)

I got hit twice last year and once this year - I am tired of it. next one is getting something alone the lines of leave or go away. And there are a bunch that will claim they are from a local high school. Interestingly, door to door sales are against school policy.

next one is getting something alone the lines of leave or go away.

You people are waaaaaay too nice about the door-to-door ones. As soon as they start their spiel, I interrupt with "No, thank you", and shut the door. I don't care if they're still talking at me.

[link]

Over the next six months, he and about 20 other crew members crossed 10 states, peddling subscriptions door to door, 10 to 14 hours a day, six days a week. Sleeping three to a room in cheap motels, lowest seller on the floor, they survived some days on less than $10 in food money while their earnings were kept “on the books” for later payment.

By then, Mr. Pope said, he had seen several friends severely beaten by managers, he and several other crew members were regularly smoking methamphetamine with prostitutes living down the motel hallway, and there were warrants out for his arrest in five states for selling subscriptions without a permit.

“I knew I was either going to be dead, disappeared or I don’t know what,” Mr. Pope said.

I'm going to have to work "Maybe tomorrow, hippie" into my daily accostings by Haight Street clipboard brigade.

I've heard lots of horror stories about the way they treat the kids in those magazine schemes -- things like holding their pay until the end of the year, so if they leave before that, they get nothing, and a whole bunch of allegations of physical abuse when kids don't sell enough.

And sometimes they kill homeless people. </L&O>