hey there! do you have a moment..

Coffee is a excellent way to do nothing. Its sad that people these days drink coffee while doing stuff, e.g. while driving to work, working on the comp etc. In fact it appears that (from the coffee shop near my workplace)the people who buy coffee leave right away with their cup, while those who don't buy anything laze around on the couch reading, or chatting. Well, this introduction was just to say, I am (on occasion) a static coffee drinker. The "get a a cup, find a seat with a decent view and spend 10 minutes doing nothing" kind of person.

The other day when i was at borders doing nothing but looking into the street with my peppermint house coffee, i noticed two guys. I could tell they were one of those people who'd stop you when you pass them, and ask you if you have a minute to save the environment. They had brochures of some sort, possibly about their plans on how to save the environment. Anyone who exhibits zeal to walk up to stranger for a cause, interest me. I tend to feel sorry for them. They are like door-to-door sales people, except they don't do it for money (i hope). Both get about the same number of rude responses on average.

I was watching them, while sitting outside, observing their plan of attack on some unsuspecting soul walking by the busy intersection on the sidewalk. It was funny how they float around after they spot a target from quite a distance. They wait once they position themselves in the most probable path of their target. Sometimes their target notice them early too.. and immediately steer clear of mother natures petitioners. Urban cat and mouse, its just fantastic.

In their process of kindering love for the environment, one of petitioners strayed near where i was sitting. He locked in on another regular business guy walking on the sidewalk.
"Hey there! how are you doing today!" their tone is very similar to door-to-door sales persons.
"aa.. umm good"
"Do you have a moment to support gay right's sir!", hmm so i was wrong about saving the environment. They were saving gay people. I guess volunteers for saving the environment and saving gays took turns.
"mm no im sorry" the business guy picks up his pace, he has now learnt that when you slow down you are easy target to the volunteers.

No worries, being turned down is something the volunteers are very familiar with. With a big smile he greets the man good bye and continues accosting other passers by Sometimes a person would stop and listen for a while, flip through the brochures/ magazine that the volunteers gave them and then leave.But usually the excuses were lame, I heard a lot of plain "no sorry", or "i'm busy", or "not today man".

I figured I should say something that is more engaging, if i were stopped. I thought i must come up with a good excuse in the least. I thought something like
"gay rights.. well i know lot of gay people and they are perfectly fine with their rights "
or throw some Borat attitude " The Gay!! ugh.. aye will crushh gaays!, in Kazakhstan we tie them from a tree and throw eggs on them.. is verry fun"
Then i though nothing so extreme is nice.Should I actually listen to what he is talking about?? I guess it is pretty logical, but i quickly dismissed that idea.

May be something to challenge him. "no I have no time now, but I am going to start a gay rights meet up group would you give me your phone number and email address?", oh yeah that would sure startle the guy. That would be funny. But all he needs to do is give a 7 random numbers after a state code, faking a email address is easier. I would just look stoopid noting down his phone number and email. Gosh, this is rather tricky i thought. My coffee is getting over, and I have to walk by that same path. Got to think fast, what is some thing annoying that all these people do? oh of course- money! They all want you to make a donation, buy something or worse still sell something. That's it! I am a poor grad student with no money. If i had money I would pay the cover charge for every gay guy who wants to get into a gay club in phoenix. I love to help gays.. but I have no money.. perfect.

I walked up to throw my cup in the bin, confident i'll be able to face the volunteers with the grace of a smart liar! Then it struck me.. why should I apologize for not wanting to spend my money.Isin't the most important thing awareness and sensitivity, tolerance and respect?? So I just have to say "I am aware and sensitive to gay issues, and that I respect gays" if questioned, and that "I am a cheap ass who couldn't care less" if questioned further. Sensing that my thoughts were bordering paranoia about being asked if i have a moment for gay rights, I decided to stick with my last answer of respect and sensitivity. I probably gave more thought than even those who stopped and listened to the guy.

So I bought myself a scone at the counter, and began walking out. I had a little arsenal of response to choose form in case i decided to go impromptu. I soon can in the firing path. noticed the volunteer was drifting around, trying to judge where i would be in about 10 seconds...I was sure he was going to go "hey bla bla.." but i was ready, smiling in my head.

"hey there, do you have a moment for gay rights today"

I let out a big grin,"ha .. I well..", but before I spoke out any further I realized something- was he looking at me? I quickly glanced back, it wasn't me he spoke to, he caught the attention of this pretty looking girl, who smiled back at him and began conversing. damn it!! I would have been less embarrassed if I was a gay guy in a south Indian wedding.

Quick look around, no one noticed. Good...walk fast.