Why I Hate Leaflet Delivery

[miss_s_b]

So, this morning I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed at stupid o'clock, even though I will be working till midnight tonight, so I could go and participate in what is laughingly referred to as an Action Day. For those of you who are not politically active, an Action Day is when a whole bunch of activists get together to deliver leaflets to a given area. After about an hour or so of having my knuckles scraped by ridiculously snappy letterboxes, and falling over on uneven paths, and generally feeling pretty battered and bruised and grumpy, I got to a house where a skinhead with no shirt on and a BNP tattoo set his dog on me.

I haven't been bitten because I vaulted his garden gate. I'm glad I am pretty physically strong and have good reaction times. It might possibly have helped if my hands weren't already bleeding from booby-trapped letterboxes, but it might not. I've come home now so that I can have a panic attack in peace.

I do not ever want to deliver leaflets ever again. Ever.

I suspect that this is a big part of the reason political parties are haemorrhaging membership. The expectation that people risk their own personal safety for nothing on a regular basis is not a rewarding experience for the activist. Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to have a bath. Shaking, sweating, and vomiting is not good preparation for an eight hour shift at work.

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Comments

[el_staplador]

*hugs*

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't like dogs in the first place, but a few years of leafleting has convinced me that dog ownership should debar one from inclusion on the electoral roll.

[miss_s_b]

I own two dogs. They don't attack anyone.

[etoile]

There is a small chance that they could lick someone to death though.

I hope you're okay sweetie and that you haven't further injured yourself at headdesking at the above idiocy *cuddles*

[miss_s_b]

I'll be fine. I have planting of stuff to do.

[karohemd]

Holy cow! Get the coppers on the fucker! o_O
*positive vibes*

[moviegrrl]

Oh honey... I know you didn't want to do it anyway, how vile that this should happen to you too...
{hugs}

[andrewhickey.info]

See, I don't mind all that stuff (though I've never had anyone actually set a dog on me - what a complete arsehole) - I think afterwards that at least I've done something positive. It's the dealing-with-large-groups-of-people stuff I find stressful. I was just on my way to the No2ID stall and my chest got so painful I had to stay at home.
Hope you're feeling OK now...

[miss_s_b]

I am lots better now I have done a bit of gardening.

[(Anonymous)]

Very sorry to hear that Jennie. I hope you are OK soon.

I am sure you would have a case against him if you wanted to pursue it. You cannot just set your dog on someone like that. It makes my blood boil to know there are people like that around.

Mark Reckons.

[miss_s_b]

Total lack of witnesses might be a problem.

[(Anonymous)]

Mmm. Fair enough. I suppose I was making an assumption there, incorrectly as it turns out.

[staceyuk]

*big hugs*

[telegramsam]

"I suspect that this is a big part of the reason political parties are haemorrhaging membership. The expectation that people risk their own personal safety for nothing on a regular basis is not a rewarding experience for the activist"

Plus I think leaflets are a pretty useless campaign tool at this point anyway. I can't speak for other people I'm personally one of those types that gets extremely annoyed at any actual or perceived attempt at manipulating my beliefs or emotions so the second I lay eyes on a leaflet or handout of any sort on my person or property, it gets pitched out without a second glance. I rather suspect I'm not the only one who does that.

If they're going to risk giving you rabies, they could at least do it for something likely to get people's attention and not just end up in the bin. :\

[miss_s_b]

I hate leaflets too, but there have been studies done that show they are the most effective communication tool political parties have :/

[telegramsam]

I dunno, I'm usually more willing to pay attention if somebody else is willing to sit down and explain their point of view in a neutral manner. I can't stand pushiness in any form, even from people I happen to agree with.

I understand that most people don't have time to sit around and chat with strangers but leaflets, ugh. The only things that annoy me more are snarky billboards and snotty bumper stickers.

[mindrobber.blogspot.com]

I understand that most people don't have time to sit around and chat with strangers

Bingo. That goes for political parties too. The time taken to deliver a leaflet, compared to the time it takes to have a proper conversation with someone that *might* just convert them to your cause, is the reason parties stick with leaflets: they don't have the (wo)manpower to get round everyone and have a decent chat.

As for neutrality, well... I can see where you're coming from, but ultimately you have to be in politics because you think you're right and they're wrong (or perhaps a bit more nuanced: thinking you're right that nobody can be completely right, and in particular they're very wrong in thinking they are completely right).

[telegramsam]

Well of course everyone thinks they are at least mostly right. People don't generally hold onto beliefs they think are patently false (well most people don't).

But most people also don't enjoy being talked down to, or be called stupid, or worse, evil, however obliquely. It's one thing to say "I believe X is right and Y is wrong and here are my reasons why" and quite another saying "X is definitely right, Y is defintely wrong, and here are the reasons you're a complete jackass and/or evil for believing Y."

It gets even nastier, really, if you want to bring religion into the mix. There's nothing I hate more than someone telling someone else "you're going to hell" like they have any damn proof where anybody's going.

It's not differing opinions in general I get upset with, it's when people bring arrogance and bloated egos into it. I wouldn't even mind the leaflets so much if the leaflet writers could leave the adjectives and emotions out of it and state their case rationally, but most of them (at least here in the states) are full of cheap shots at the opponent, whatever it happens to be, and blatant scare mongering. And I don't just mean the Republicans/looney conservatives. The other end of the spectrum can be just as bad even though they like to pretend they're more sophisticated. :\

[el_staplador]

thinking you're right that nobody can be completely right, and in particular they're very wrong in thinking they are completely right

Oh dear. Yes. That's me. Not wrt politics so much, but it's definitely the way I think about religion.

[burkesworks]

Reinforces why I choose not to do leafletting, and probably wouldn't even without arthritis and back pain.

*big hugs*

[lizw]

Ugh, how awful. *is suddenly very glad her Focus round includes only one house with a fence, as she probably couldn't vault one under any circumstances*

[mindrobber.blogspot.com]

Sorry to hear about that. Up to a point, you can learn not to let the nasty members of the public get to you, but that... that's not something I've ever had to contend with.

I can certainly share in your hatred of snappy letterboxes, though...

Hope the gardening was suitably therapeutic.

[addyit.livejournal.com]

O.O

i'm glad you're okay, and not seriously hurt. also glad there's gardening to settle down the shakes.

[miss_s_b]

My Devil's Bit Scabious is doing really well :D

[mooism.livejournal.com]

*hug*

There is nothing wrong with not being willing to deliver leaflets (I happily leaflet, but refuse to canvass; same principle). Remember with canvassing you can filter out known antis from being canvassed.

[perlmonger]

Feck. And {{Jennie}}.

Why isn't that house down on EARS as do not deliver?

Leafleting is more like the least useless, rather than most effective, means of reaching punters, though actually knocking on doors and talking has got to be the least bad of all if there were only anyone prepared to actually do it.

Oh, and if you ever scrape together courage/stupidity to do it again, get yourself a steel rule: best way to push a leaflet or Focus through even the angriest of letterboxes and, even better than that, proof against any possible teeth on the other side.

(But what do I know, being as I'm not even in the party any more :)