Yesterday I got a flashback to the past when a deaf/dumb fellow
walked into my shop. I didn't think the deaf/dumb tactic was a
thing anymore.

My shop is partially dark, (reduced overhead lighting during
lockdown) and cold (reduced heating). I thought it was unusual
that someone wouldn't respond to my "Hello". He just comes up
to the check-out counter and proceeds to pull out 3 different ID
cards and lay them out. They looked rather worn from being
stored in a pocket. I did not look very closely, but one of
them had the words "deaf", "hearing", "please", "give".

I didn't look any closer for more details. I just said "I don't
have time for this." Meanwhile, while standing in front of me,
the fellow looks around the store. He made no attempt at eye-
contact. There was no attempt to even communicate and
appreciate my time or consideration. This is why I thought this
was a pathetic performance and possibly a scam.

The last time this sort of thing happend was over 8 years ago. A
couple of singers with their guitars came into my shop,
accompanying an apparrently a deaf girl. The premise was that my
dollars would help pay for her livelyhood, or act as a tip for
their wonderful unsolicited music, or something. At first I
thought that maybe someone was delivering a singing telegram.
But the request to pay for the performance combined with the
begging really pissed me off more than anything.

At times like this I wish I could brandish my Crocadile Dundee
"you call that a knife?" machette, or call "Tiny", my doberman
with a spiked collar, to escort these types out the door.

--- OpenXP 5.0.48
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)

their wonderful unsolicited music, or something. At first I
thought that maybe someone was delivering a singing telegram.
But the request to pay for the performance combined with the
begging really pissed me off more than anything.

Are you often the recipient of singing telegrams? It must have happened at least once if this was even a possibility...

lockdown) and cold (reduced heating). I thought it was unusual
that someone wouldn't respond to my "Hello". He just comes up
to the check-out counter and proceeds to pull out 3 different ID
cards and lay them out. They looked rather worn from being
stored in a pocket. I did not look very closely, but one of
them had the words "deaf", "hearing", "please", "give".

This is similar to a scam I used to see in Airports, before 9/11, and still see on public transportation in The City (San Francisco). A person, claiming to be deaf, will hand out cards indicating their are deaf and soliciting a donation. Sometimes it will be accompanied by an item which you can keep if you donate. It's most often a small package of tissues. They will start at one end of the car, hand out all their cards and tissue, then go back and pick up the tissue, and/or donations left.

Bob Roberts
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Halls of Valhalla -:- hovalbbs.com:2333 (1:218/840)

Re: deaf and dumb
By: Bob Roberts to August Abolins on Fri Jan 22 2021 02:46 pm

This is similar to a scam I used to see in Airports, before 9/11, and still see on public transportation in The City (San Francisco). A person, claiming to be deaf, will hand out cards indicating their are deaf and soliciting a donation. Sometimes it will be accompanied by an item which you can keep if you donate. It's most often a small package of tissues. They will start at one end of the car, hand out all their cards and tissue, then go back and pick up the tissue, and/or donations left.

My wife is hearing impaired in both ears (since she was 6). Whenever she'd see these scammers, she'd give them an evil scowl and shew them away. I asked her when we started dating why she did that. Her explanation said it all, "They are just trying to scam you out of money. They can talk, they are just trying to make you feel guilty."

Brian Klauss <-> Dream Master
Caught in a Dream | caughtinadream.com a Synchronet BBS
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* Origin: Caught in a Dream - caughtinadream.com (1:104/116)

Hello Bob!

** On Friday 22.01.21 - 14:46, Bob Roberts wrote to August Abolins:

Are you often the recipient of singing telegrams? It must
have happened at least once if this was even a
possibility...

Not often. I would not really expect one delivered to my rural
town. But I am totally familiar with the service - I even
considered participating in that business (for some fun and
extra cash) at one time when I lived in a city. That could have
lead to a kind of strip-telegram, but I digress. :D

.. A person, claiming to be deaf, will hand out cards
indicating their are deaf and soliciting a donation.
Sometimes it will be accompanied by an item which you can
keep if you donate. It's most often a small package of
tissues. They will start at one end of the car, hand out
all their cards and tissue, then go back and pick up the
tissue, and/or donations left.

Yes, they prey on one's guilty feelings.

At those times I imagined that all they needed as a
reciprocating "card" handed back to them, telling them how
pathetic their attempts are.

--
../|ug

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* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)