Jacqui5254

I would be happy with a 'babysitting in return for putting up some shelves'/'cooking a dinner party for a lift and back to Heathrow' level of swopping. Small jobs can sometimes be the hardest to sort out if you don't have the skills [ie, I know where to find a plumber, or a builder, but if I just need help with putting up some pictures, [just moved house so have several rooms-full], then maybe you would like my coq au vin..?

Saving flyers for the recycling bin seems to me to be a small price to pay for someone having a job, being paid peanuts for dropping a piece of paper through my door in these difficult times. Sometimes I even smile at the person delivering them!

On so many levels, knocking on people's doors is WRONG. Its in a private place so it can't be monitored for appropriate behaviour, it could be ANYBODY, they could say ANYTHING to persuade you, could make ANY claims, etc. At least if they were more public approaches the 'collector' might have to behave more responsibly. Why not ask people outside shops? their place of work? on the train? I know these aren't ideal but it would be harder for someone masquerading as a collector to behave innapropriately. As long as you open the door and chat to someone 'collecting for charity', the more often scammers, or worse, will call. Official-looking garb does not mean official! Don't do it!!

Seriously, folks, why are we engaging with total strangers, uninvited, late at night, about personal views and private information?? There are many different ways to make money for charities and to spread the word about new research and it is a lot more credible than offering an opportunity to a cold caller who could be ANYBODY. As long as we reinforce this, the more knocks on the door late at night. A 'breast cancer jacket' and 'ID' [would you REALLY know if it was genuine or not?] should not give you access to someone's home or life.

What has this to do with Kings College Hospital..?

Letting go is not getting rid of, letting go is letting be...

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