To get annoyed when someone stuffs a charity collection bucket in my face?

[redcamels]

And then scowls at me like I'm a piece of shit she's just trodden on when I (very politely, may I add) decline to donate on this occasion?

I do donate to charity. If someone is collecting for a charity which is close to my heart I am more than happy to empty my spare pennies into their collection bucket (especially if I get to stroke a friendly guide dog too ).

What I do get pissed off with is people who wave buckets in my face and then act like I'm the devil incarnate if I choose not to/am unable to give them any money. I will choose when and how I donate money to charities of my choice.

AIBU?

I usually just put some change in

Its no biggie really

YANBU.

Someone did it to me the other day. Screeching "Give to the children, give to the children".

Normally I just ignore but this time I just replied "I am. My own children".

She looked bemused.

YANBU. Especially as you have no idea where the money actually ends up.

people moan about the most ridiculous things on here

am with usual

They're not allowed to shove buckets into your face, or ask for money. they're not even allowed to shake the tin.
they're supposed to allow you to approach them.

Ah, well, you see.......in the good ole days they would rattle their tins and then you knew they were collecting, could look and see who it was, and then choose whether to donate or not. BUT, rattling tins is now outlawed so they have no choice but to shove it under your nose as they approach you. I would rather have the tin rattling.

Charities need money.

People don't like to part with their money, especially when they aren't getting something tangible as a direct result. However, some of those people do feel a sense of moral obligation to help those less fortunate than themselves when the plight of those people is put directly in front of them.
Charities know this.

It's not wrong. If you don't want to help out then why do you care if they think badly of you? Do you think they care that you think badly of them?

YANBU. They drive me mad! I try to only give to those who aren't bugging people.

Saying that though, there were a bunch dressed up as superheroes in town the other week and they were very fun and friendly so I gave them a bit of money in exchange for a keyring

I bloody hate them. I give to particular charities, and subscribe heavily to my own.

A lot of charities are really businesses these days, but don't get me started on THAT one.

I hate it. There's always someone just outside my local ASDA, often with a dodgy looking sign- no idea if they are legit or not. Recently there was one inside the exit door, asked me 4 times for money for 'the kiddies'. What, just kiddies in general? Do they stand outside a school and hand on any coppers they receive to grateful children? Worst of it was, three year old charge was trailing just after me and he kind of leered down at her and gave her a sticker. No, wait, not a sticker- a bloody post-it stuck to her coat! When we got out she unpeeled it, looked at it and said 'thats not a sticker!' and stuck it in the bin.

southeastastra - It is totally ridiculous, I cound't agree more. I'm in the enviable position that I have nothing more taxing to moan about, therefore I chose to moan about this load of bollocks

Don't even get me started on sickeningly enthusiastic charity workers who corner me in the street and try to persuade me to sign up to a monthly donation.

Early this month could well be the wrong time to discuss this sort of thing. I do not agree that tins should be 'rattled in your face' but most collectors just stand there, sometimes in the cold, just to help the charity they are supporting. I have done it myself.

I always look to see what their charity is but in just about a week, we will be remembering those who have given life, limb and mind for us, to keep this country free and to keep away those who disagree with the way we lead our lives. Be there for them (and no, I am not a member of the RBL).

anotheremptynest - different discussion altogether. As I said in my OP, I will always give to charities that are close to my heart. However, I will do this when, where and how I choose. I know most collectors just stand there and my rant does not refer to them, only the rattlers.

Until the DD of a friend got a job with a collection company, I did not realise that the collectors keep a percentage of the money as "wages". I had naively believed that they were volunteers. The percentage the collectors keep is relatively small, but they have to jump through various hoops to get it, eg travel to the office between 8 and 10 the following Saturday to collect their share, but I expect the company takes a bigger cut before passing it on to the charities.
When I donate to charity now I do it online via their website or via the charity's own shop so that they get to keep more of my donation.
so YANBU.

If someone actually stuffed it in your face and scowled at you like you were a piece of shit they'd just trodden on then YWNBU to be annoyed.

But I sense a little hyperbole, I doubt anyone did any such thing.

Constantly not all collectors get paid to do so. I used to collect money for charity when I was at uni and we were all doing it voluntarily. I used to ask people if they wanted to donate all the time, if you just stand there quietly you raise about half as much. People who don't want to donate can just say no.

I don't understand the need to rattle at all. I'll seek out collectors for the poppy appeal and if there's a queue, I'll wait. I want to donate and so I shall. There are several charities that I feel that way about. The point being, if collectors are having to rattle instead of standing there quietly, people don't want to donate and shouldn't be pressured to do so.