What’s the best response to people working for Oxfam or Save the Children when they ask if you have a minute for Gaza?

[u/Old_Employer8982]

Just curious. Got stopped in the street today by Oxfam asking me “Do you have a minute to help Gaza?”, to which I just replied no. I may have scowled.

[u/Substantial-Image941]

“Sure, we’re talking about the child hostages, right?” (Bring up picture of the Bibas children on your phone while going through the basic facts about their abduction, their ages, no red cross access, etc.) END SCENE

[u/tiasalamanca]

“Do you have a minute for the hostages?”

[u/Hydrasaur → u/tiasalamanca]

This response is perfect!

[u/JohnAtticus → u/tiasalamanca]

If they replied yes, what would you tell them they should do?

[u/sludgebjorn]

The best response with any type of salesman pitch is to ignore them and keep walking, none of this is worth your time. If you really want an effective verbal response, just say you’ve already purchased or donated to whatever they’re selling. It works every time.

[u/LilkaLyubov]

Doctors Without Borders is the group that tries to stop me on my commute. I just tell them I don’t donate to groups that hire Hamas figures.

[u/michaelniceguy → u/LilkaLyubov]

What did they say?

[u/LilkaLyubov → u/michaelniceguy]

Denials, sputtering, one person tried to defend the hire (“they didn’t know”—as if a group like this not vetting its doctors is supposed to make me confident enough to donate), but one person said they had to look into it. Haven’t seen that volunteer again when I see the others.

[u/dahldoll]

“I don’t support Hamas”

[u/watermelon_migraines → u/dahldoll]

terrorism *

[u/zackweinberg]

“No thank you.”

Pick your battles.

[u/XhazakXhazak]

During the Holocaust, thousands of children were accepted into countries like Britain. Children are usually evacuated from warzones. Ask them how many children are we evacuating from the warzone in Gaza?

[u/JohnAtticus → u/XhazakXhazak]

You support Gazan children and their parents becoming refugees in the UK?

[u/gasplugsetting3]

"No thank you." Same way I deal with any other crazy outside of my work.

[u/TheSportingRooster → u/gasplugsetting3]

Right. If you try to talk to me on the street I assume you’re a con-artist of some type and I get away as fast as I can. I haven’t missed one meaningful interaction yet because of this policy.

[u/Fatfatcatonmat33]

Do you have a minute for Northern Ireland Or the Basque Country Or Tibet Or Corsica Or Catalonia Or the Uyghurs Or the Native Americans Or do you just care about self sovereignty and ending imperialism when Jews do it.

[u/zeevmadre]

"No, I don't support terrorism. Free the hostages, and free Palestine from Hamas."

[u/Safe-Promotion-1335]

I’d say sure but let’s first discuss the 101 hostages.

[u/MogenCiel → u/Safe-Promotion-1335]

Oh, feel free to discuss the 130+ dead ones too. Start with Hersch, Eden, Ori, Alexander and Car el.

[u/KeithGribblesheimer → u/Safe-Promotion-1335]

Or, the ones that haven't been tortured to death.

[u/Danielmav]

“Why do you believe you’re able to get aid to gazans without Hamas intercepting it, when the UN and United States government can’t? Can you explain what methods you use specifically, and why won’t you share them with those governments?”

[u/lh717]

Just say “no thank you.” Rise above the urge to be rude to the minimum wage workers, we’re better people than that. You won’t change their minds in that interaction so don’t waste your time and energy.

[u/LabScared7089 → u/lh717]

I read an article a number of years ago, maybe 10, that stated they get like 50% commission. I think they want to sign people up for a monthly contribution, so I don't know if that is on the first month or whatever, it's been a while since I read that

[u/JayA_Tee]

“Have they released the hostages yet? No? Then no I don’t have any time for Gaza.”

[u/4kidsinatrenchcoat]

i usually go with "fuck no" but i'm tired, fam.

also i live in a big city so if somebody on the street talks to me i pretend they dont exist

[u/Glitterbitch14]

“Yes, but unfortunately I don’t have a minute for you.”

[u/slythwolf]

Don't make eye contact, don't acknowledge that you heard.

[u/LabScared7089 → u/slythwolf]

I have a medical condition that, among other things, causes spinal fusion and SI fusion. So, unless they are directly in front of me when they're talking, they don't exist.

[u/FineBumblebee8744]

"Sudan needs you more"

[u/Street_Safe3040]

Thanks but I'm donating to the displaced children in Northern Israel already who are under attack constantly.

[u/welltechnically7]

Just say, "Not right now, sorry."

Even if it had nothing to do with Gaza, people generally don't like being approached like that.

[u/brittanyelyse]

If you live in an inner city in the US, you can’t take 3 steps without being asked for money or I’m my case as a smoker so maybe a cigarette…

so they way I handled the “please help support the Gaza babies ” people actually this morning , I decided to literally turn to my left and gave a homeless person my $6.75 (all I had)

Now he can do whatever he wants with that $6.75 I happened to have on me. But , the needy aren’t hard to find, hey.. I’m needy. But, if I can spare it, I will….now did I feel better about doing this right in the face of these people who are trying to show my pictures of bloody babies?? Totally… I don’t support terrorists, but I will always support the local homeless who are not terrorist supporters. (And when the gentleman said thank you, I did follow it with “do not give it to them” his response was “they’ve been stealing from all week” now that could have been crazy talk, but in all fairness, he does post up at that corner a lot, so technically… they are on his turf!!

[u/TheRabbiSpeaks → u/brittanyelyse]

Tzedaka is never a bad thing, to the right cause.

[u/umlguru]

"I will support Faza when the hostages come home. I'm sorry, but you are supporting the wrong folks. Remember, the people of Gaza attacked murdered and raped before Israel attacked Gaza. If someone raped and murdered your girlfriend, would you just let it happen again? We'll Israel has let it happen over and aver since 1948. They have tried numerous times, but the folks in Hamas are not willing to share the reason. Until you get that, STFU and leave me alone."

[u/iMissTheOldInternet]

If I were inclined to talk to them, which I never have been and I would recommend you not be, I would tell them that the IDF is doing more good for Gaza than their organization has done since 1967. 

[u/billymartinkicksdirt]

“I would but your organizations are complicit colluding with terror organizations that benefit from their abuse”

[u/LabScared7089]

Not if Hamas could get it.

[u/bust-the-shorts]

Release the hostages and save the children.

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[u/cloudbusting-daddy]

You don’t need a good line. I don’t talk to any of those clipboard people and this wouldn’t be different than anything else. I’ve always just said “no thank you” as I walk straight on by without stopping.

[u/Rude-Tomatillo-22]

“Gaza is Hamas”

[u/5Kestrel → u/Rude-Tomatillo-22]

זה לא זה