Human-Use Experience
The perspective of the layperson
1. You’re wandering about.
You’re walking, aimlessly enjoying your day wandering the city streets. Nothing can take too much or too little time, there is just time for you to be one with the city. You’re finally getting into the groove and getting a feel for the busy streets.
2. You spot them looking your way.
You see at a distance the solicitors. They’re unmistakable: clipboards and iPads, big jackets and beanies to keep them warm, and a logo that you’ve seen before on some infomercial at 2am. It’s a good thing you’ve seen them before and you’re trained on what to do to avoid any roping in.
3. You’re in close proximity.
You know the next couple of seconds are key to how the rest of your afternoon will go:
If you smile politely:
- They smile politely back. They approach.
- You’re hooked as they’ll be 10 times more polite to make you talk to them.
- You politely refuse. You’re sorry, you say.
- They use your politeness against you and question “but you seem like such a nice person, why wouldn’t you want to help a child out?”
If you look away, upset:
- They’ll ask why you’re being so mean, why you’re being to trite with them when they haven’t been so with you because they just wanted to talk with you, is all.
- You’ll look away, with a stern face, and mumble that you don’t have time, you’re in a hurry, or late to a meeting. Now you’re upset at the situation, you’ve either had to make up a white lie or give an empty reason for not approaching you.
If you try and ignore them:
- They’ll approach closer, more intent.
- They’ll confront you and your ignorance of their efforts. They’ll point out that they’re not being rude and ignoring you.
- They’ll draw attention to you and make a scene. Now everyone knows what you have (or rather, haven’t) done.
4. You leave, feeling terrible.
It seems that no matter what, there’s always a way to make you feel worse about your day and your actions. If one were actually feeling like donating to the cause it doesn’t seem that it would come from a positive incentive that comes from within the layperson, but rather from their inability to say no to the solicitor.
