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Awkward situ

K

KenM10759

New Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
Messages
90
Location
Spencer MA USA
I went to my favorite shop yesterday to pick up sticks. It's on the NH side of the MA/NH border, and the big building houses a NH State Liquor Store, a Subway sub shop, a convenience store, and Tobacco Haven. Well, when I arrived I found a mother and two sub-5 year-old children had a card table set up between the tobacco store and the convenience store (they have a common wall.)

On the wall behind them was a big "Relay For Life" poster, and the kids were chasing down every person entering the tobacco store for a donation to their cause.

Now I appreciate the Relay For Life effort, as my older sister survived quite a case of cancer that has left her without most of her womanly organs and parts of her gastrointestinal tract (and she's never smoked a day in her life.) But I digress. I can't understand why the owners of the tobacco store would have invited this. Moreover, why put young children in the middle? If you're going to setup shop for what would have every appearance of an anti-smoking campaign in front of a retailer of known cancer-causing smoking products, should they have nothing but adults there to engage?

I ignored them. I make donations to Relay For Life whenever someone is doing a walk or some other action, but I oppose requests for straight handouts. I disagree with the owners of the tobacco shop for allowing them to pester me. (They own the whole building complex.) My family lays enough guilt trip on me, I don't need little kids doings it when I go to my (once) favorite smoke shop.

Thoughts? (Flame suit on, just in case.)
 
You can always buy your cigars and booze in Ma. and pay the big tax. It's your choice.

Doc.
 
I often do, as there's a convenience store/gas station a mile from my home that has 3 big humidors that were planted there by the Altadis and General Cigar reps. There's not too many good deal or good cigars in them, but I buy a few per week to help insure that there will always be a dealer nearby. When i go up to TH again, I will be talking to the owners about that situation to see what they have to say about it. If their response is reasonable, I'll keep buying. If not, there's are PLENTY of other places to buy in NH. I used to take motorcycle race/track day photos at NHMS, and would stop in at the Candia Road smoke shop to stock up. They have a decent selection and prices, but not quite the quality array that TH has.
 
I tend to agree with you. That is weird that they asked them to set up shop there. I give to Relay and I actually walk in it every year with a bunch of my friends. I do my part because I want to not because some kid is looking me in my face saying please!!
 
Is there anything that someone doesn't say causes cancer anymore? Maybe they were relatives of the shop owners, looking for a high-traffic spot they could help raise donations. Like BBS said, a simple "no thank you" usually does the trick.
 
I don't see the problem here. As long as they asked for permission and it was granted they're not doing anything wrong. Were they actually "badgering" people or just asking for donations?

I don't like when people put kids up front for a cause or for politics, but that's the world we live in and quite honestly it's none of my business what people do with their kids as long as they aren't abusing them in some way.

Like BBS said, a simple "no thank you" and keep on walking usually works. If they badger you for money after that, complain to the shopkeeper. It's very easy to say no, especially to strangers.
 
At least they were accepting money from people involved in the "tobacco industry". Last year we held our large Summers End Herf and donated the money to a free summer camp for kids with cancer. They took the money, then sent us a nice letter thanking us, but refusing to take any other funds from us since they don't want to be associated with the Tobacco Industry. All thier funds come from donations so you would think they would take all the money offered to help the kids. Oh well, gotta find someone else to give 5k+ to!! :thumbs:
 
I would not deal with anyone just setting up a card table somewhere. There are many people that get pamphlets for things like this and pose as volunteers to steal money from you. If you want to donate make sure they are legit. Same with phone calls.
 
KenM10759 said:
I can't understand why the owners of the tobacco store would have invited this. Moreover, why put young children in the middle? If you're going to setup shop for what would have every appearance of an anti-smoking campaign in front of a retailer of known cancer-causing smoking products, should they have nothing but adults there to engage?
Click to expand...

I'm trying to de-construct your post here because at first glance the mom/kids seems harmless. First, I don't think smoke shops actually condone cancer. Sure cigarettes are a cause of lung caner, but relay for life is about awareness of all types of cancer right? So I don't think they would object to anyone fund raising in front. Second, is the front of the store littered with smokers, or has linger smoke around? Then the last part, why should only adults be involved if its fund raising partially in front of a smoke shop.

I'm not flaming you at all, I'm just trying to understand. Did the kids comments on smoking? Were there anti-smoke propaganda around?

Also, I don't think its good to infer relay for life is anti-smoking front, I assume advocates would say smoking bad and recommend you to stop, but I'm pretty sure the whole things go beyond just lung cancer. But I may be totally wrong. I'm just trying to understand.

http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/whatisrelay

edit for horrible typos hah
 
smoke76 said:
At least they were accepting money from people involved in the "tobacco industry". Last year we held our large Summers End Herf and donated the money to a free summer camp for kids with cancer. They took the money, then sent us a nice letter thanking us, but refusing to take any other funds from us since they don't want to be associated with the Tobacco Industry. All thier funds come from donations so you would think they would take all the money offered to help the kids. Oh well, gotta find someone else to give 5k+ to!! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Autism Speaks would LOVE to have any donations,
link in my siggy
 
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