So would I. I feel like Quasimodo every time I walk by.

THE BELLS!
THE BLOODY FARKIN' BELLS!

I wanna stuff them down the ringer's throat.

imokwiththis.jpg

ecmoRandomNumbers: I would drive out of my way to go to a mall that didn't allow Salvation Army begging.

What he said. Also, no surveys, Girl Scout cookies, or free puppies.

Some people don't like to donate their money to charities that spend their money trying to take away the rights of gays and pregnant women.

Sheeple shoppers actual thoughts on this is: 'Needs more cow bell'.

/It's still ok to give chocolate coins, right?
//Otherwise all I have is this bag of stuff I stole from the lady walking her dog.

Dual entrance Kroger FTW!

Lars The Canadian Viking: Some people don't like to donate their money to charities that spend their money trying to take away the rights of gays and pregnant women.

Some people just don't want to be bothered by motherfarkers ringing bells.

Salvation Army: "Hey, at least we aren't United Way!"
/ Two of the worst charities out there.

What's the rationale behind the ban? TFA didn't say. There's some googles about the Salvation Army for their anti-gay policies and such. Could that be it? Or is it a blanket application of a no-soliciting rule?

I wasn't aware of the Salvation Army's anti-gay stances. Any good sources?

//I'm more of a Red Cross donor anyway.

Well it's a start... now let's ban all religious bullsh*t everywhere. Do that crap in your own house and quit poisoning society with your bigoted, self righteous lies.

I ALSO worked for the Salivation Army (They are Salivating for your donation) and I ALSO have nothing kind at all to say about them.


Another thing about their use of funds - Salvation Army "Officers" live in some exquisite luxury. Paid housing, car, food, stipend, full retirement and pension. Most of them don't really do jack shiat.


With your donation, of course.

On the one hand I never give money or donate items to the Salvation Army. I don't agree with their policies, and I'd rather Goodwill take my stuff.

But, the guy saying 'Have a nice day!' or "Merry Christmas' or the occasional ringing of a bell (seems like they are just standing there quietly in our town) doesn't bother me.

tillerman35: Or is it a blanket application of a no-soliciting rule?

According to TFA, the SA is still allowed to solicit donations. They just cannot ring bells while doing it. The mall calls it a disrespectful practice (read as: it is really annoying for employees who have to listen to it for 4 or 8 hours a time).

Lars The Canadian Viking: Some people don't like to donate their money to charities that spend their money trying to take away the rights of gays and pregnant women.

Curious, what have they done to try to take away those rights?

FTFA: "The weather really doesn't change much around here, so it's nice to have a little reminder of the season, and I guess the Salvation Army bell is one of them."

Or, you could just look at a calendar.

It's funny... It got "cold" down here in Texas so the local Simon mall let the bell ringers set up in the middle of the food court and at the central crossing intersection.

Needless to say you can hear the ringing in the entire mall now and people seem to be buying less and rushing out of there

Could they use a gong instead?

Ed Willy:

//I'm more of a Red Cross donor anyway.

Great charity if you like guys who raise money for a cause and never deliver and then charge for their services in an emergency.

GoldenMetalRaven: Could they use a gong instead?

Bang a gong
but don't suck dong
Bang a gong

LDM90: ecmoRandomNumbers: I would drive out of my way to go to a mall that didn't allow Salvation Army begging.

What he said. Also, no surveys, Girl Scout cookies, or free puppies.

Girl Scout cookies are worth actually driving out of your way for. Mmmm... Samoas!

joan kroc's 1.5 billion dollar donation is already spent?

hillary: I worked for the Salvation Army as a social worker for a few years. Occasionally we got our paychecks on time. Sometimes I could afford to pay the rent on time. And don't ever even think of asking for a raise. Ever.

Starvation Army we used to call it.

Job itself was great and rewarding. Cheap usurious shiatheads to work for though. I wouldn't put a dime in those damend buckets.


This sounds like a good endorsement, because the top rated charities are the ones that use very little of their funds as overhead or salaries. I would actually think less of SA if they were paying people $50k of donated money to stand there and ring a bell. Then it would sound like a scam.

gaslight: If my Google-fu is good, this is the mall's web page and their phone number is here. Now, far be it from me to suggest what you should do with this information, but if it were to leave a message calling them a bunch of Grinches, that's your business.

Yeah, because this is so rage inducing I'm gonna waste my time harassing the mall.

Get a grip.

Ed Willy: I wasn't aware of the Salvation Army's anti-gay stances. Any good sources?

//I'm more of a Red Cross donor anyway.

St. Jude is my current donation destination. Unless someone knows of any shenanigans there...

12349876: Dual entrance Kroger FTW!

There is a dual entrance Giant Eagle near me. Salvation Army sent TWO bell ringers to cover both doors. One of them is this nasty f*cker who consistently let's out a "well MERRY CHRISTMAS anyhow" in the most over-the-top sarcastic voice to everyone unlucky enough to walk by his kettle without tossing in some change.

I hate that guy.

He doesn't ring the bell, he pounds the pieces of metal together as a punitive measure to everyone in the world who isn't as righteous as he. It's like listening to a toddler with a hammer and a garbage can.

Dual entrance at my local Publix and I go out of my way to use the other entrance when the damn bell ringer is parked by the front door. Thankfully they will be gone after tomorrow. Another 11 months without being assaulted by some fat black woman sitting on a lawn chair ringing a damn bell.

ecmoRandomNumbers: I would drive out of my way to go to a mall that didn't allow Salvation Army begging.

Well, you'll have to drive out of California, since the dumb bunny California Supreme Court actually extended "free speech" to private commercial property. So yeah, that's why your local grocery store can't tell security to grab those solicitors by the scruff of the neck and toss them into the gutter, as most states rightly allow.

As someone who donates to charity, I have an official policy: No donations to any solicitors at malls or stores, or, of course, my front porch. Especially those jackasses selling candy. I just laugh at them, like, yeah right, you are more worthy than my dog rescue or children's burn or veterans' charities. Fark off!

gaslight: If my Google-fu is good, this is the mall's web page and their phone number is here. Now, far be it from me to suggest what you should do with this information, but if it were to leave a message calling them a bunch of Grinches, that's your business.

Or maybe leave them a thank you message? I had to go to Wal-Mart the other day and one of the ringers was in the parking lot ringing the bell. Why he was in the parking lot away from the kettle I have no idea. He's lucky the kettle wasn't stolen.

supayoda: St. Jude is my current donation destination. Unless someone knows of any shenanigans there...

It's rated slightly lower (B+) than the U.S. branch of SA (A-) by charitywatch.org. Though i don't know why.

gaslight: If my Google-fu is good, this is the mall's web page and their phone number is here. Now, far be it from me to suggest what you should do with this information, but if it were to leave a message calling them a bunch of Grinches, that's your business.

Or call and thank them and say you support them.

Someone asked for info regarding Salvation Army's gay rights stance, with specific instances of their discrimination: Link (new window)

gaslight: If my Google-fu is good, this is the mall's web page and their phone number is here. Now, far be it from me to suggest what you should do with this information, but if it were to leave a message calling them a bunch of Grinches, that's your business.

Yeah, and I'm going to tell them "great job" since I live and work close to Fashion Island.

Thanks, Mr. Helper!

kim jong-un: Lars The Canadian Viking: Some people don't like to donate their money to charities that spend their money trying to take away the rights of gays and pregnant women.

Curious, what have they done to try to take away those rights?

Took a look on wikipedia, seems they are against homosexuality, euthanseia, and abortion, but I didn't see anything there about them lobbying in that direction. One exception seems them trying to keep legislation from being passed so that they won't have to hire gays as a faith organization. I didn't do any actual googleing, so there might be more then that.

I tend not to keep much spare change on me when I go out during the holidays so I have a legit-sounding excuse not to stick something in the kettle. But mostly I just turn the volume up on whatever music device I'm listening to and skip past them while air-guitaring.

Sabyen91: You are lucky. Around here they just stand in the entrance to any store and ring and ring and ring. Constant ringing. There is a reason people upthread want to rip their goddam hands of. The ringing is the ringing of their judgement that your soul is damned forever in a pit of fire and brimstone while Satan's minions sodomize you with a trident...because you didn't donate.

Hilarious.

I need to wear a sandwich board when I go shopping that says, "I give to less annoying charities."

ThrobblefootSpectre: supayoda: St. Jude is my current donation destination. Unless someone knows of any shenanigans there...

It's rated slightly lower (B+) than the U.S. branch of SA (A-) by charitywatch.org. Though i don't know why.

I'm wondering if it has something to do with the cost of their staff. I'd expect them to have a bit more in expenses than SA.

GoldenMetalRaven: Could they use a gong instead?

I do wish you wouldn't keep doing that. Rank stupidity!

/obscure?

If I owned or managed a fairly large store, I'd pay to have a bell-ringer stand in front of the place.

Let people know we're open. Let people know we're wishing them a Merry Christmas. Let people know that we f'n care.