Anti-Chugger Ideas

Red Alert

Given all the 'chugger' threads we've had recently, are any boardsie's on for some kind of 'anti-chugger' movement? Could stand around and hand out earplugs and cards with fake account details so that the unsuspecting general public are saved from these people?

Ideas please!

Dyr

Reward charities for not chugging, Every single time you see an ordinary joe holding a bucket for a charity give him a few bob.

Note what charities use chuggers and give them nothing but contempt. Concern, Amnesia international, bernardos etc.

Wertz

How about a T-shirt with "FOAD" in large red lettering on the front, worn concelaed beneath your clothing....at the first sign of approach simply reveal said message accompanied by a big grin and continue along the street.

snorlax

i hate when they come into the pub ....

Wertz

snorlax wrote:

i hate when they come into the pub ....

That would be a great time to decide to start smoking

Dyr

snorlax wrote:

i hate when they come into the pub ....

eh?? I havent been drinking in the city centre in a while but..... they come into pubs??? :eek:

whiskeyman

Bambi wrote:

eh?? I havent been drinking in the city centre in a while but..... they come into pubs??? :eek:

a lot of people with buckets come in collecting to pubs... especially in the run up to Christmas.
I've seen local and some big charities at it.
It's mostly on Fridays after work, or early on a Saturday night.
It's the usual "oh, I gotta give something so I dont look scabby"... and then everyone else chips in like lemmings
They must make a fortune from preying on us poor drinkers..

Dyr

oh right i thought he meant actual chuggers coming into the boozer trying to sign you up...

nesf

whiskeyman wrote:

a lot of people with buckets come in collecting to pubs... especially in the run up to Christmas.
I've seen local and some big charities at it.
It's mostly on Fridays after work, or early on a Saturday night.
It's the usual "oh, I gotta give something so I dont look scabby"... and then everyone else chips in like lemmings
They must make a fortune from preying on us poor drinkers..

When collecting for Chernobyl once myself and 2 others collected 1,500 euro in about 3 hours on a Friday night in Cork city. Then people tend to give well to Chernobyl in my experience. We didn't hard sell, we just asked once if people wanted to donate, most people will chuck something in. I've seen other collectors hassle people though, which is something I don't like to see.


Chuggers though can be annoying. Most of the one's I've met are fine and polite, but one or two have tried to hard sell me. I don't have a problem doing the whole direct debit thing, I do it with a few charities that I like giving money to, but I really cannot stand people hard selling charity.

Charity should be freely given and all that. Still the amount of people who never give to charity sicken me tbh. Their excuses equally so. Then again, I've been involved with raising money for charity for a fair number of years now, so I'm a bit biased.

Freaky Angelo

True we should be able to give charity of our own free will but when you analyse humans its just not going to happen. Humans are programmed to be total jerks so the best approach is to use their narcisstic need to look good against them.

This is why I'm looking into marketing as a career

Chuggers are annoying, they come at youin matching anoraks. In Temple Bar I have to weave around at least 6 people with clipboards to get to a sandwich bar.

If they hold a clipboard. Run. If the Hold a bucket. Run. If they're holding cards of any kind...run....

That's how to deal with them. But I have other creative ways: "It's against my religion to give charity", "Je ne parle anglais", "I'm afraid I can't I just GAVE to your comrade up the street", "I would but I'm off to buy cocaine" or even "Get lost or I'll cut you". See? All of the above work like charms to get them away.

Or just tell them you're 16/17...that works until you turn 18 and just can't bring yourself to say that!

Crucifix

Freaky Angelo wrote:

Or just tell them you're 16/17...that works until you turn 18 and just can't bring yourself to say that!

Thank god I've got no self respect, I'm 19 and I'm still doing it

Bard

An idea to stop the chuggers?

Shoot the f*ckers.

grimloch

Freaky Angelo wrote:

Or just tell them you're 16/17...that works until you turn 18 and just can't bring yourself to say that!

Quite clearly the most polite way of not getting hassled. That way they can't chase you and will have no interest in you thereafter.

boneless

I start to chat them up, males and females!! They can't wait to get away from me...

Wertz

boneless wrote:

I start to chat them up, males and females!! They can't wait to get away from me...

I declare this man the winner. Simple yet effective.

patzer117

My set response is 'i'm in a muddle to see a dog about a toaster'. They usually start backing away slowly...

Alkers

With the concern people just bring up the fact that they are getting paid for doing what they are doing and they will soon leave you alone!

After they ask "sorry, have you got a spare minute?" My standard response is to smile really wide and say, "No, not really" Then walk up to the closest shop window and browse for 2-3 minutes.

A friend has a standard response too. After the initial, "Sorry have you got a spare minute?" His reply is something along the lines of, "Oh my god I'm so lonely, all I want is someone to talk to..." They then go into their spiel and he just stares then gives them a hug They usually leave him alone after that.

Rb

Some great idea's in this thread!
Usually when I see them coming for me, I look at my watch and say "Sorry I'm already late for work", works most of the time.

muckwarrior

At this stage I've perfected my "Get the fúck out of my way or I'll fúckin stab you" look. Usually works.

alleepally

I just say "Sorry, I'm not interested." I just don't get worked up about this issue.

Oh here's a funny story and a bit off topic.

Outside Easons there a guy selling Big Issues. He's not from Ireland and his English is "ok" but not great.

Anyway, this group of "hard chaw" Dublin lads are walking along and one of the goes up to the Big Issue seller and asks him

"Wots the stoooreee with this big issue stuff then? What's it all about like? Is there any nude pictures in it"... He continues on asking all these stupid question. Big issue seller hasn't a clue what he's talking about. All the Dublin lads are laughing their heads off.

Parting shot by on the Dublin lads - really loudly

"Heh, and in anyways. I've enough issues in me life with A BIG ONE LIKE DAT"

I laughed myself, the way he said it was so funny and it was quite witty.

/back on topic

Yeah, boo hiss to chuggers :rolleyes:

Bottle_of_Smoke

boneless wrote:

I start to chat them up, males and females!! They can't wait to get away from me...

Ah howiya chief, that's a marvellous idea. I mean "phuck off" works a treat but if everyone used your method no one would do it in the first place!

boneless

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote:

Ah howiya chief, that's a marvellous idea. I mean "phuck off" works a treat but if everyone used your method no one would do it in the first place!

Hows it goin' Brother? Where've ya been?

whiskeyman

Don't they ask "hey, have you got a minute?"
Say, "nope, but I'll give you 30 seconds"... and then point your arm upwards to the sky and proceed to gradually bringing it down in angled segments all while loudly humming the Countdown tune....

KTRIC

Dress like you've got no money, works for me.

Tusky

whiskeyman wrote:

Don't they ask "hey, have you got a minute?"
Say, "nope, but I'll give you 30 seconds"... and then point your arm upwards to the sky and proceed to gradually bringing it down in angled segments all while loudly humming the Countdown tune....

brilliant!

Simply say "Im already signed up" Theres nothing they can say to that.

Gazza22

Go to those business card machines in town...

It costs about €2 afaik for 15 cards. Create one with a nice heart felt message such as 'FCUK OFF YOU CHUGGING B@STARD' and simply hand one to a stunned, quite annoyed looking chugger.

Or just be a nice person and say no thanks

Newaglish

Ignore them. If they follow you or try to hard sell you, my favourite way is to turn and face them and say "no", repeatedly and in different tones of voice:

"No, no, NO, noo, no, No, NO, no, nooo, nono, no, no-no-no, no, NOO..."

kenmc

"Balls of Steel" on friday had a nice approach. Start talking to them, and when they ask for a donation, ask them if they fancy a bum. Watch them squirm. Only works if it's guy to guy though...

nlgbbbblth

I usually cover my face when I walk past them - magazine, bag, newspaper, jumper, jacket, whatever.

Another good one is to cross the road and shout at them 'Look! I'm crossing the road to avoid you'.

Chuggers rely on bullying, intimidation and a goldfish/call centre mentality to force people to contribute.

Print off this thread and hand it to the next chugger you meet.

patzer117

Also if you've actually got time to spare the next time one of the Hanly Centre girls comes up to you on Grafton street do talk to them (they always try to chat you up). Ask them if they are commited to the programme, which of the 10 steps they think works best (there are 12) and if all else fails ask them who in their family was rehabilitated.

Then ask them if they get commision (for every €3 scratchcard they sell they get €0.80) and offer them €2.20 for the scratchcard - if they are commited they'll take it...

I was in a REALLY bad mood the day I tried this

de5p0i1er

boneless wrote:

I start to chat them up, males and females!! They can't wait to get away from me...

You may have saved us all from this torment.

bullrunner

Ask them for the address of their head office. Tell them that you will send a cheque there. If they are 'really' doing it because they agree with the charities goals then they will have no problems giving you this info (and leaving you alone). If they persist in trying to 'chug' you ...then you can point out that its because you know they are 'really' looking to make some money off you and dont care if your money is going to a childrens hospital or to pay for new gold teeth for afghan warlords! Either way they feck off and leave you alone

Siogfinsceal

I dont mind genuine charities looking for a few bob in a bucket what I cant tolerate are the likes of sight savers and amnesty trying to sign you up and get your bank details so they can bleed 10 euro a month out of you for th erest of your existence. By the way, sightsavers spend most of the money you donate on paying their admin staff - it doesnt actually all get sent over to the people

I used to work on grafton st and these peopel drove me mad- the way to get rid of em is to offer cash!!! why? - cos they can accept it they can only get yur bank details and sign you up they will tell this to you but just offer a fiver and tell em take it or leave it wrecks their head its great entertainment

joejoem

patzer117 wrote:

My set response is 'i'm in a muddle to see a dog about a toaster'. They usually start backing away slowly...

Brilliant! Im practising saying it without laughing.

ShiverinEskimo

Has anyone actually tried "No Thanks?".

I have noticed they have started the idea that sex sells - the last time I was attacked by one she was just too damn cute to ignore..the bastards. They're on to us...

Siogfinsceal

another great idea is to look them square in the eye and say (in english) " Im very sorry but I dont speak english" and walk on...it takes em a few minutes to catch up.


for amnesty international just say " oh no im not allowed to join,. you see they're still after me for the last incident...."

Tiffany

When you're with a group of friends... form a circle around one of them, join hands, start dancing and singing around them. They've no escape.

Sleepy

Siogfinsceal wrote:

for amnesty international just say " oh no im not allowed to join,. you see they're still after me for the last incident...."

BRILLIANT!

NotMe

I don't know why people need to make up excuses. I just smile at them and walk past.

Bard

Siogfinsceal wrote:

another great idea is to look them square in the eye and say (in english) " Im very sorry but I dont speak english" and walk on...it takes em a few minutes to catch up.

Worked for me when some girl was chatting me up in a night-club once and I wasn't interested. I basically said "I'm sorry, I don't speak your language."

I guess that could work with chuggers.

We get a lot of them these days calling to our front door. I'm starting to lose patience myself, but at the same time I don't want to be rude. Mind you, I think it's fairly f*cking rude of THEM to call to my front door, getting me to get up and come out to the cold porch, while I'm in the middle of my dinner, after a hard day at work, and show me pictures of starving Africans... so yes, patience is wearing thin... not sure how I'll react to the next one.

alleepally

Forget about chuggers. WHat about the number of fcuking free newspaper hander outers all over the place like the plague now (talking about Dublin in this instance). I had one guy follow me to try get me to take one.

That's all we need is yet more rubbish on the streets and more paper that will go unrecycled and yet another way for the same boring advertisers to ingrain their boring message of consumption on my already advert overloaded brain.