false

When I was little and I would ask my parents for something, I didn't usually give up after one "no". I would ask again, maybe throw in a "please" or even a "pretty please". Or I would argue my case again. I would usually ask several times and finally, after several "nos", I would give up the cause. I don't think I was alone in this - this is fairly common among kids. I must have driven my parents crazy. But, now that I am an adult, I like to think that I have left such childish tactics behind. And, I would also like to think that other adults have also left such childish tactics behind. Recently, I have learned that there are some adults out there, specifically those who work for charities and call to ask for money, who have actually re-adopted this practice of not giving up after one "no". Note this recent phone conversation that I had with one such charity worker:

"I'm so and so from _________ charity. Would you be able to donate to our cause this year?"

"No, I can't donate this year."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty Please?"

"NO!"

I've had two such conversations in the last week. I've worked in sales and am completely aware of the different tactics they use to try to get you to buy/donate when you've said "no" the first time. And, perhaps there's something to be said for not taking "no" for an answer. But, really, "please"? That's all you got to try to persuade me? As you can see from the above conversation, the persistent asking served only to aggravate me even more. And not only do I not want to donate now, but because you have irritated me so much, there goes any inclination I may have had to donate in the future. I don't know who decided that this was a good sales tactic, but clearly they should have taken a hint from the kids. It never worked then and it's not going to work now. And with that said, I would like to officially apologize to my parents for ever using this annoying tactic because I now realize just how irritating it is. Sorry Mom & Dad!