Will you accept a straw from strangers?

She has been assigned to distribute the straws, so she is doing her part well. I would accept the straws to help her 'dispose' off her stock.

Presumely they are clean and fresh raw straws. I will just accept the straws and take them home for my mom to see what deem fit. If they come in multi-colors like the image, they are certainly useful. It comes in handy for little stars:P

that's an odd handout if it was from the store.
i would probably refuse also,especially being unwrapped.i'm hesistant to take any food related item from a stranger to be honest.

no I don't usually accept anything from strangers. Even when they give out free newspapers on the corner I do not usually take them.

I think that it would really depend on whether or not the straws were disposable. If it was something more solid and meant to be washed and reused, like many of the promotional items I've seen, I probably would have accepted one, even if I never bothered using it. If it was disposable, I might have, but only if it was in a paper or plastic wrapper. I'm very hesitant to take things like unwrapped straws from a complete stranger, so I most likely would have done as you did--politely declined the offer, and continued walking.

As far as other "strange things" are concerned... if it's a sample of a product or a promotional item, I will accept one only if it's something I can use. Several years ago, I went to the state fair with my aunt, and came home with lots of little trial-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner, about ten or fifteen pens, and a foam can holder that was supposed to keep canned sodas cold but never really worked very well. I never would have accepted any of them if they'd been from someone who wasn't there for 'official' business, though.

I wouldn't....full of germs

Wow...now i wonder why they were pssing ot nselaed drinking straws. That is jst bizzarre. No, i would not have accepted one. i would have done exactly what you did. What use to you have for a drinking straw int he first place, much less one that is not sealed?

That's really strange! why would shopping mall hand over of all things straws to their customers? you were right to consider it as weird wizzy, anyone in their right mind would.

If i were confronted by this lady i would have done what you did, like you said who knows how dirty they might be and what sort of germs were incubating in them.

Under such confrontation and I am not sure what is going on, my first instinct is of course, step away from the stranger and step ahead to the direction I am suppose to go. But my mind would keep alert of the environment. If the offering is attractive, I may return and get the freebies.

First and foremost, being a very inquisitive person, I would first ask the lady what is she promoting and why the straws... There must be a reason for the straws. Irregardless whether it's for a good cause or not, I would just accept the straws and move on... It doesn't mean that I would end up using them. I'm the type of person who would just lend a helping hand to people... meaning they might need to finish up distributing the straws as part of their job and I'm glad to just accept the straws for them. Just like those brochures and pamphlets which we can see being distributed by people.... It's part of their job.... That's if I were being approached by them. Otherwise, I am not the busybody type to haggle for those straws......

What a bizarre thing to be giving away - straws and unwrapped ones at that! I can't imagine many people would happily accept unwrapped straws from complete strangers - they could be complete nutcases giving away poisoned bits of plastic to the general public for all anyone knows! I have to admit to avoiding freebies in shopping centres or big stores (or small stores for that matter).

In the supermarket they often have small pieces of cheese on the counter for people to help themselves to, well when I'm out shopping, I'm picking up vegetables and putting them in my basket or trolley, who knows how many people have already handled them (I wash them all when I get them home of course). I'm picking up loaves of bread, boxes of eggs, cartons of milk that other people have handled. I'm not saying everyone is dirty and I'm clean but I would rather err on the side of caution. I wash my hands before I prepare or eat food and I'm certainly not going to feel comfortable eating bits of free cheese left out on a counter for God knows how long and not knowing how many other people have picked up the pieces to choose which piece they want to try and I know they haven't washed their hands before taking a free piece either!

Ok that may be an extreme example. I tend to steer clear in general when there are freebies being given away as often there's a catch involved, like answering some questions, giving out your names and address and then to never stop receiving junk mail or sales calls from these companies. All in all, if I want something I will buy it, I don't need to be given it free as too often there's an ulterior motive - cynical? Not me LOL! Just realistic! x