A Good Year for the Outlaw

Our radio station staff volunteered to help a charity yesterday by standing at busy intersections with plastic pails collecting money. The corner I was at is controlled by 4-way stop signs, which are always interesting, and I knew I was in for fun.

Some observations I made during my two-hour stint:

1. Many drivers don’t know how to properly yield, very few people come to complete stops, and even fewer use their signals. But we’ve got to stop all these damn speeders, right? Whatever.

2. It’s funny how many people think if they just stare straight ahead, you won’t see them. When I do these things for charity, I like to wave at each and every car that passes, whether they roll down their window and donate or not. If you’re not going to donate, I’ve got NO problem with that, a little wave back or a head nod is not gonna kill ya. Be nice. Have a nice day.

3. I hate to generalize and stereotype, anyone who’s regularly read this blog knows that. But it is amazing how few dollars you get from the Cadillacs, Lexuses, and Infinitis out there, but virtually every beat up, door dented, hole-in-muffler, barely-running, can’t-roll-the-window-down, 1970’s or 80’s jalopy that pulled up had a dollar, or whatever change they could spare, to drop in the pail.

I’m not saying EVERY luxury car/SUV avoided us, many of those folks did indeed donate. But the number of them that just ignore you or give you a look of disdain was quite astounding and frankly sad.