Have you ever regretted answering the front door dressed like a beggar

[Please Be Gentle]

I have been sick for the past few days and haven't been going out.Today I was cleaning the house wearing really old and tatty clothes when the doorbell rang. I was in two minds as to whether to answer or not, as I looked so bad. Then I thought to myself, well it would hardly be anyone who hasn't seen me at my worst, so off I trundled to open the door, mumbling. And who was it? The leader of my country (it's a small country) canvassing on behalf of his brother for the local elections. I was mortified! I thought he was going to offer me alms. Next time I open the door, I will try to look decent... So has anyone else had a similarily embarrassing situation when opening the door or am I a freak?
Kind Regards
PBG

[bakedjake]

No.

[fashezee]

Interesting.

[Macguru]

Look at it this way ;

The politician was begging for your vote and willingly dared to ring at your door for it. You have no reason to feel embarrased on your looks, IF there was no TV cameras around...

[Please Be Gentle]

Thanks for that MacGuru
No, there weren't any cameras that I could see. I'm still embarassed though, although I realize that he wouldn't know who I was. There is something inherently unsettling about having politicians call to your door (we only see them at election time). They always seem to choose the time when people are sitting down to watch a soap opera or football match. As for answering the door unprepared, I even forgot the cardinal rule that somebody told me of answering the door with a purse or key in your hand. If it's somebody you want to see you can say, "You're lucky you've just caught me, I'm just in the door." and if it's somebody you don't want to talk to you say, "Oh what a pity, I was just on my way out. ". I always manage to get caught unawares - I wouldn't make a politician. Frankly, it's topped a surreal week. I went to the park the other day and saw a family with a hamster on a leash (I've heard of people with ferrets and cats on leashes, but never hamsters). Then I got sick and now this bizarre occurrence. I'll try to shut up now...
Regards
PBG

[mona]

Sounds like your week has been a lot more interesting than mine, I'm a little jealous actually - other than the being sick part. Now if you only had a picture of that hampster..err..I mean the politician;)

[Please Be Gentle]

Nothing to be jealous of, Mona. For once we have beautiful weather and I can't enjoy it properly and right now am a bit bored. It has been a weird week. In one day a lot of things which use batteries stopped working: remote control, clock and pda-type-thingy I have. The dog has been acting funny too. For the nine years we've had her she has always been afraid of the dark and won't sleep with the light off. Just this week she won't sleep with the light on and seems sensitive to the light (all of a sudden). As for politicians, we only see them once every few years, just before elections (it's not even a general election, just european and local elections in June). This guy wasn't too bad (I reckon he couldn't wait to get away from the door), as at least I know he is and have an idea of what he does. Last week we had a whole plethora of candidates and their helpers traipsing to the door, dressed like insurance men and nobody has a clue who they are or what they do. They keep yapping for ages as they long to be remembered. Do other countries have this coming up to elections?
Kind Regards
PBG

[snowman]

Have you ever regretted answering the front door dressed like a beggar

Sometimes I like to see what the mood is in my world - like a barometer - and I dress beggar-ish and spend some time downtown just to see how people react to me.

I never ever ask for money or anything at all, and except for asking the time of day, never say anything at all. I just sit and mind my own universe with varying expressions on my face - some expressing joy, some expressing sadness - and see what comes of it.

Sometimes it's with compassion. That's when I know my corner of the universe is working properly.

Sometimes it's with rage and disrespect. Then I know something is quite wrong.

Try it sometime! :)

[Llama]

I answered the door after not changing and not wearing deoderant for around 5 days. I was REALLY sick. I smelled horrible, and probably looked just as bad.

I didn't really care about embarrassment--I was too sick. But I think I taught the <proselytizers>
a thing or two about trying to make me religeous. They haven't been around since.

[edited by: lawman at 8:50 am (utc) on May 23, 2004]

[Please Be Gentle]

Thanks for the reality check Snowman, your tale put things in perspective. I was getting worked up over nothing, and today I had forgotten all about it. Your suggestion is interesting; do people ever physically abuse you? You've certainly given me food for thought. Oh and Llama, I've learned a new word thanks to you: I had to look up proselytizer in Google (although I think it was Shak's site that came up when I used the dictionary: command, I am not sure).
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your week.
Kind Regards
PBG

[Llama]

Actually, P.B.G., it was Lawman who edited my post and input the correct, more general statement. I didn't know that it meant someone wanting someone else to change their religion. I don't know any of these religious terms, because I don't worship a god, or anything like that; I'm Athiest. I don't know what a disciple, Exodus, or any of those terms mean.

In my opinion: you really shouldn't care what you're dressed like if you answer the door, or even in general. If someone's willing to negatively judge you based on appearence alone (I mean, if you're not dressed outrageously bad or strangely) then why would you want associate yourself with them anyways? Those I've met that do judge quite majorly on appearance, are often egocentric, insecure, and shallow.

Snowman, that's an interesting thing to do, and I'm interested in hearing of the reactions people have had towards you.

[Macguru]

PBG, just that imagine your wore this T-shirt [store5.yimg.com]. :)

[snowman]

Please Be Gentle -- Nothing physical per se......the kicking of my feet only once or twice by some passer by who perhaps was in a hurry.....or didn't like seeing someone down.

So far any negativity has been with the mouth and the eyes.

Positivity has been intermittent but most graceful, gentle and kind when it does come. There are still people out there with a heart. :) :) :)

But only time will tell. After all, people are putting themselves under more and more pressure and stress these days.

Most frightening are the occasional and few reports of homeless people on the streets of Toronto being set on fire as they sleep, by what you could only call irrational and cruel thugs who then run away. There have been only a couple of instances of this, but a couple is still too many.....

doesn't anyone have a conscience anymore? :(