Will you accept a straw from strangers?  |
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 The day was hot, but that was not what bothered me. I was walking from the train station to a shopping mall, and I was bombarded by noises from both the traffic and construction sites along the way. The noise volume was so high that I could not even hear the music from my earphones.
10 more metres. 5 more. There. I stepped into the cool comfort of the mall. Feels very good. I took a few steps forward and suddenly, a girl dashed out from behind me, from my left side, to block my path. She wasn't exactly fast, but she covered the distance in many hurried steps. It conveyed a definite sense of urgency.
I stopped. I had to stop, or I would have knocked onto her. I looked at her and saw that she was middle-aged, wearing office attire and donning a smile. So I asked her, "Do I know you?" She stuck out both hands and tried to shove something at me. What a "surprise". It turned out to be a handful of drinking straws. She said, "For shoppers". Despite her smile, I responded too quickly and too automatically. "Not interested, thanks". And I continued my walk.
With hindsight, why would I want those straws anyway? They were not sealed in packets so who knows how dirty they might have got despite the clean look. And it just strikes me as weird. Why on earth is this shopping mall giving out straws to shoppers? Surely they can afford something more expensive and practical?:P
So if you were me, what would you do if you were "confronted" by this lady under such strange circumstance? FYI, on my way out, I was met by another of her colleagues who tried to shove me some straws too. Do you accept strange things from strangers in public? Or will you actively approach them if you see them giving out things? Do share your thoughts.;-)
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Will you accept a straw from strangers? |
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61.  ScrappinHappyMom (758) | 3 years ago |  I think I would have reacted the same as you. Afterall how strange to just go up to someone and say have a straw. I can't imagine that the mall was actually hiring people to stand at the door and hand-out straws. If they did who ever is in charge of marketing and customer appreciation is going to be looking for a new job soon.
I don't ever take things from strangers like that, I believe that I am slightly paranoid. I have a thing about germs and disease.
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 lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | Well, I would have no idea if whatever their objective is was achieved.:P | |
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| 62. ladyluna (2495) | 3 years ago |  Good morning Lordwarwizard,
How very bizarre! An unwrapped straw is definitely not something that I would put in my mouth. One might as well suck on currency ... and we all know how filthy currency is.
I generally do not partake of free samples. However, I will make a point of being polite as I refuse the sample. 'Cause the 'giver' is just doing their job.
Of course, if the 'giver' startled me, as it sounds like she startled you, I might not be terribly polite, not deliberately but rather out of alarm. When one works with the public, certain rules should be obeyed; like not scaring the bejeebers out of the shopping public.
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | Hello Lady Luna,
I trust you have a tough stomach to partake in currency as a delicacy.:P | |
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 acuityplague (492) | 3 years ago |  Wait a minute...
You mean, I should cease putting change given to me by cashiers into my mouth when I can't get to my wallet?
No wonder I'm sick all the time! Filthy pennies..*sigh*
*grin*
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | acuityplague, I guess if you don't swallow the change, it is fine. Licking it clean of its history of filth and bacteria would only help to strengthen your immune system.
Say cheers.;-) | |
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| ladyluna (2495) | 3 years ago | Eeewwwwww ...
Not being among the digestively impervious, I'll have to leave the immuno-strengthening by way of oral currency cleansing to those with stronger digestive systems than myself. So, I guess I'll just have to add oral currency cleansing to my list of 'to avoid'. It'll be right after man-handled straws. | |
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | The higher the risk, the greater the reward.*wink* | |
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| acuityplague (492) | 3 years ago | If sucking on dirty coins would indeed strengthen my immune system, should I not be a wonder, worthy of A.M.A. recognition and possible award... reward?
I am so weary of being ignored by the higher ups for my contributions to science. Heck, to the world in general!
I hearby swear off oral currency cleansing (excellent description lady), in favor of chewing on other peoples pencils.
Duly signed and noted by,
Me (Acuity Plague)
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | It depends on how many years you have spent licking those coins. You might at least get a long service award.
Pencils? Are they nice? Have you considered those antique calligraphy pens that have been linked by generations of poets long dead? | |
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| acuityplague (492) | 3 years ago | Pencils are very nice, they have a bit of nutty flavor and the consistancy is quite lovely:)
I tried calligraphy pens years ago, they stain the teeth so I've given them up as well!
I do love dead poet's though... oh yes..yes I do.. | |
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| ladyluna (2495) | 3 years ago | Now that's it ... the Nobel committee has ignored Acuityplague's contributions to science for far too long!
I hereby nominate Acuityplague as a Nobel nominee in recognition of outstanding commitment to scientific research. Who else would make such sacrifices for mankind's greater understanding of the particular tastes of specific writing instruments.
Alrightr, who's with me? Can I see a show of hands from all others willing to sign this Nobel, though not necessarilly noble, petition? | |
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| 63. acuityplague (492) | 3 years ago | I would have taken the straws; sought out the rest of her "team", taken straws from them as well and built a structure out of them.
I would have placed said stucture in the most prominent spot I could find in the center of the mall, and set out a sign asking for donations to my "art project".
yaya..easy money!
Every straw is an opportunity! | |
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | You are so innovative and cool! Do you take pictures of the art masterpieces you have made and exhibited over the years? | |
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| acuityplague (492) | 3 years ago | Ha! I'm all kinds of innovative and cool! Oh yeah!
I grin at you!
I should take pictures. The next time I am attacked by a band of straw bearing old ladies in shiny black pumps, and build a wonderous structure from said materials, I shall indeed gain evidence of my efforts!
I love typing in this little box, while my happy penquin dances to the tat tat tatting of my keys.
It makes me happy. | |
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | You are so adorable. I should save all your comments and not read them TILL I feel down. Then, I would take out all your comments and read them, and they will make me feel happy again.:P | |
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| acuityplague (492) | 3 years ago | Thanks My Lord!
I am pretty cute with my lil yellow beak eh?
Maybe I should write a bunch of random comments to non- existent discussions and email them to you! That way you don't have to go to all the work of cut-paste-copy-paste-copy-paste-save.
Yeah?
*dimples* | |
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| 64. kfrisk (2817) | 3 years ago |  I try to avoid peopele who are giving things out in public. You never know what it is, and you never know where is has been. I would definitely not have taken any opened straws! I can't even fathom what they had been used for, and especially with all the threats of poisoning, etc., that there are in the world these days, I just don't think I could have brought myself to take one. I would have been as polite as could be while saying no thank you, though. And yes, I do find it strange also! That is one of the strangest things that I have ever heard of someone giving something away.
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | Same here. I don't care what, but if this guy is giving out something, I tend to move away lol.:P | |
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| 65. claudia413 (2540) | 3 years ago |  I think I would have been so curious as to why she was handing out straws that I would have asked her just that. Who knows? You might have ended up on television or in the news. You might have passed up a good opportunity for stardom!
I'm always being confronted by someone trying to give away free samples when I'm out shopping, but I usually try to avoid them if it's possible. For the life of me, I can't imagine why anyone would be giving away straws. You simply MUST contact the mall to get us an answer to that.
I'll stay tuned.
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | Haha... the thing is, I was neither curious enough to be chatty then, nor did I forget my intense dislike for appearing on TV!:P | |
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| 66. lossforredwords (2696) | 3 years ago |  I think I will do the same.. I don't think those straws are clean enough to use.. (feel sorry for those who accept it and use it).
I'm not that curious when it comes to stuff given away free most of them are just a bunch of garbage, if I will hand it, it will just end up in a trash bin better give it to other people that are more interested.
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | Yea.. more freebies are not too useful.. | |
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| 67. mariyamaka (589) | 3 years ago |  lol... it does souds funny!!!! i would have taken to please her as she really seems to give you and then later discarded it;)
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| 68. arvee17 (595) | 3 years ago |  Just like what most of the responses in here, I would not accept a straw from a strange lady. Why the heck is she giving them away? and she's got an accomplice. How weird is this world really going to be.
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | Haha, you make it sound as if she is a badie!:P | |
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| 69. Woodpigeon (2603) | 3 years ago |  No, I wuoldn't actively approach them if you see them giving out things. That is really odd. I have never seen or heard of a mall giving out straws of all things.
Wizzy, were you a little dizzy from the sun? Are you sure you got it right? It seems very unusual! I wouldn't have accepted them, either. Who wants to carry around a handful of straws while you are wandering around a mall?
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | They were standing at the entrance. And no, I wasn't giddy! I can see perfectly fine through my $2,888 Armani sunglasses and I am sure those were straws!:P | |
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70.  jmanzano17 (1844) | 3 years ago |  I even have doubts on using straws from mcdonalds so why should i take straws from any strangers? So i would definitely not accept any straws from no strangers. I don't even know where that straw had been or came from. So just to be healthy safe. I would never accept any straw from a stranger, specially strangers in train stations or street corners.
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | You mean those mcdonalds straws are not clean?*horror* | |
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| jmanzano17 (1844) | 3 years ago | Well i know how people touch straws and don't get all of it anyway so yeah, i think its not that clean. | |
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| lordwarwizard (10401) | 3 years ago | But I thought they will all stay in the dispenser till someone pushes the latch to get one... | |
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