Interesting Planned Parenthood issue here in Philadelphia (and maybe elsewhere):

[PCIntern]

When walking down several of the Center City streets here, one may often see two individuals wearing pinkish-colored shirts standing in the middle of the sidewalk, about 20-30 yards apart facing in different directions. Upon approaching one of these people, he or she will ask, "How are you today?" They wear t-shirts with the Planned Parenthood logo and have clipboards and are ready to engage anyone in their mission, and of course, request a donation, usually via a credit card.

It is not as passive as it sounds: they tend to move laterally across the sidewalk in order to partially block one's vision and way, and look you straight in the eye, almost forcing you to move out of your way and to engage them significantly in your denial of interest in participating at that particular moment. If you do that, they say "Have a nice day." and proceed to the next individual who appears susceptible. They do tend to ignore teenagers or very aged people. The solicitors tend to be attractive and very outgoing.

Here is my point: many people to whom I speak, who support the organization's mission and existence are really upset about the fact that they have to run the gauntlet daily, and that the same individuals, to whom they have responded "No thank you." dozens of times, still persist. There is a low-level anger brewing among even the most progressive individuals that they are being targeted and hounded daily, sometimes four or five times daily, and it is unceasing, even in bad weather, or if they're on the cell phone, or in the midst of a conversation with someone.

Now I know it sounds rather benign, but I for one believe that it has done much to sully the reputation of what has been heretofore in Town, a well-respected organization, on a par with our Child Guidance at Children's Hospital, which provides excellent services on a sliding fee scale to all. In this age of republican attacks upon the organization, I believe that some who would be predisposed to support it or at least approve of it, are, to be polite, "put off" by the tactics. I was curious as to whether this is going on anywhere else.

[elehhhhna]

1. are you sure they're actually PP? Check the txt on their "petition".

just sayin.

[PCIntern]

2. I'm not sure of anything and that's a good point...

and that's why I stay away from street solicitations. but if it isn't PP, then they certainly know this has been going on for months and months and somewhere I would have read or heard that they were trying to stop this - I treat one of their docs and asked him about it and he shrugged and said they do what they do...non-committal. But hoo nose?