I am so sick of Sidewalk 'cause' peddlers!

I don't know if it as bad in other big cities, but the situation keeps getting worse here in DC: young people with clipboards or folders who assault you on the sidewalk with lines like "Do you have a minute for the Environment?" or "Can you help homeless children in Africa?" Today I was ambushed by 2 people in the space of 2 blocks. I just say "No, sorry." and walk on, but some try more aggressive tactics, like one guy saw my UVA cap and tried to get me to talk about that, while I kept walking.

I assume these people really are from Greenpeace or the Democratic National Party, or whatever. But there is no way I am going to give any personal information to some person who approaches me on the street, no matter how many ID badges they have. I'm surprised how often they actually get people to stop and talk to them. I guess it must work, or they would stop doing it.

Still, it annoys the hell out of me.