It's that time of year again....

[kyrielle]

...when the Salvation Army bell-ringers are out. Ugh.

I have nothing against the Salvation Army most of the year; I generally approve of them. But from the time the bell-ringers come out until the bells are stuffed back in a closet, I hate them. Sometimes intensely, sometimes with a weary vagueness. I will give no money to a bell-ringer. I will give no money to the organization sponsoring the bell ringers for the duration they are out. They are very lucky that I don't say I will give them no money ever, although I admit, they seldom seem to solicit it outside the holiday season, so maybe it does not matter much.

I'm sorry you think a constant ring-ring of bells is seasonal and a good way to draw attention and get donations. I'm really sorry most ringers follow it, and use cheap shrill bells. But if you think you're getting money for me in response to causing me physical discomfort or even pain, think again.

Those bells are shrill and painful. They're bad enough outside, but on really bad-weather days when the ringer has been allowed to take shelter inside a double-door lobby (happened a couple times last year), they are agonizing. The Fred Meyer's in Newberg is probably off my list to use for the rest of the holiday season, unless I forget. It turns out the acoustics of their outside area is such that an outdoor bell ringer is exquisitely loud and echoing, ie, very painful to me. I went in with my fingers jammed in my ears - and the bell ringer looked right at me, with my face twisted with pain, and kept ringing. I suppose he thought I was just trying to be rude.

Comments

[phoenixscribe.livejournal.com]

As someone who has done the aforementioned bell-ringing, as well as someone who has benefitted from the programs offered by the Salvation Army (they kept a roof over my head immediately after my ex and I were in a really bad car accident), I can honestly say that the vast majority of the Salvation Army's funds come directly from the bell-ringing. They employ almost exclusively people who have utilized their services in one way or another to make the infernal noises. Without the funds they gather at this time of year, there are lots and lots of people who would be in really bad situations.

That said, you're right. The bells are horrible sounding. Most ringers don't know how to ring them without a) exhausting their arms, and b) irritating the hell out of everyone who passes. A gentle movement with the bell at the bottom of a relaxed arm effects a much softer, much more tolerable sound. And SA has a policy that all ringer are to be to the side of the entrance, not dead center.

To top that off, I really don't know who made the decision to let the ringers hit the streets before Thanksgiving this year, but seeing a SA stand at the Wal-Mart door this morning irritated me to no end.

[kyrielle]

I can believe they do, and if they used quieter bells and less frequent ringing, I might give money. If they ditched the bells and simply settled for speaking, I would give money. But I won't pay someone for causing me pain.

I always feel bad about not giving them money, because I know that what they do for those they help is so good. But what they do TO those that help THEM is so painful. If there is anything that makes me hate the holiday season, it is their bell-ringers. Unfortunately they like the grocery stores around here and I can't afford to starve just to refuse to shop anywhere that has them. (But I can, and will, avoid the places that also have acoustics that make it worse.)

I should note that I have, just ONCE, encountered someone who was not making the bell a pain to listen to. I did give money then. If they could figure out how to teach people to do that so it didn't hurt, they might do much better.

For that matter, ditch the bell and bring a small cheap stereo out and play holiday tunes. Not too loud. :P Something. Anything.