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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that teenagers carol singing are just begging

146 replies

Norudeshitrequired · 16/12/2013 20:22

2 teenagers knocked on my door this evening and started singing a Christmas carol when I opened the door. I immediately sent them away.
These girls were dressed in very fashionable clothes and I don't think for one minute that they were trying to raise money to feed themselves. I think they were just after extorting some cash from the local residents.
What would you have done in this situation?
Personally, I think it is just begging and that nobody should give money to teenagers who are knocking on the doors of random strangers. We have a lot of elderly people living alone in the area and these two girls would be bigger, physically, than a lot of the elderly people and might come across as very intimidating.

OP posts:
riskit4abiskit · 16/12/2013 20:23

Did you give them chance to say if they were collecting for charity?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 16/12/2013 20:26

Erm ... I may be influenced by the thread about things you don't usually say on MN, but are you kidding?

You sent them away. They presumably went. So?

I like carol singers. Some round here are really good, good enough you want to listen. I'm not quite sure how 'Hark the Herald' could intimidate the elderly?

magicbiscuits · 16/12/2013 20:27

Some elderly people might actually like it. Harks back to the days when all young people used to be up to this sort of thing, etc. etc. with no harm meant.

NigellasDealer · 16/12/2013 20:28

two girls singing a christmas carol might intimidate the elderly?
how exactly?
and no they are not begging, they are door to door busking and should be commended for their initiative

stargirl1701 · 16/12/2013 20:28

Teenagers really can't do anything right...

usualsuspect · 16/12/2013 20:29

What would I have done?

Gave them a quid,probably.

MincedMuffPies · 16/12/2013 20:29

Of course they are. Me and my friends used to carol sing for cider and fags money! Just be nice and give them a pound.

Original poster
Norudeshitrequired · 16/12/2013 20:30

Well if they were collecting for charity then I would have expected to see a badge or a collection box or something. What I actually saw was two 14/15 year old girls dressed in jogging bottoms and hooded tops.
My thoughts are that an elderly person might feel obliged to give some money to a teenager in a hoodie as they don't know what the consequences of not giving might be.
I must be just sceptical and mean because I don't give sweets to anyone who looks over age 13 on Halloween either.

OP posts:
Rufustherednosedreindeer · 16/12/2013 20:31

I give carol singers a quid as well

But they have to sing two songs, and one of them has to be Rudolph the red nosed raindeer

And I make my children come out and watch

It's torture for just about everybody.....except me!

TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 16/12/2013 20:31

stargirl1701 Your post is spot on!

Original poster
Norudeshitrequired · 16/12/2013 20:32

Me and my friends used to carol sing for cider and fags money!

Well I really don't want to give money towards that, I can't even afford fags and cider for myself.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 16/12/2013 20:33

Not all teenagers in hoodies are gonna bash you and nick your handbag

Original poster
Norudeshitrequired · 16/12/2013 20:33

I like that idea rufus

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 16/12/2013 20:33

dressed in jogging bottoms and hooded tops
ah now we are getting to the crux of the matter - you should have mentioned that their tops had hoods earlier!!
were the hoods up or down?

TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 16/12/2013 20:33

So first they were wearing very fashionable clothes and now they are wearing Joggers and hoodies? Which one is it op?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 16/12/2013 20:34

Why do you think they were collecting for charity, or should have been? Confused

If they said so, mightn't it be true? It's just you seem to think that's the only reason they'd sing carols, and, well, traditionally people do it for booze money. Sorry if that's not terribly lovely and middle class but it's a tradition going back centuries. If you really hate it give them mulled wine with star anise in it, that's punishment enough.

pigletmania · 16/12/2013 20:34

I agree op, it is begging, if they were collecting for charity they would have made it more noticeable, had a charity shaker, charity badge etc. I woud have sent them away too.

Original poster
Norudeshitrequired · 16/12/2013 20:34

Joggers and hooded tops are fashionable if you are 15 and they are one of the desired teenage labels (around here anyway).

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 16/12/2013 20:35

This is like the Trick or Treating threads with a festive twist.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 16/12/2013 20:35

Oooh, the utter hoodie beeyatches!

Interestingly, DD was singing locally on Friday (with school singing group, so it's allowed). Guess what some of the older girls were wearing...

CranberrySaucyJack · 16/12/2013 20:35

Exactly how bad was their singing that you think it counts as extortion?!

NigellasDealer · 16/12/2013 20:36

yes but you just added it in afterwards about their hooded tops to justify your attitude

Original poster
Norudeshitrequired · 16/12/2013 20:36

Thanks piglet - glad I'm not the only mean mumsnetter who sends them away Xmas Envy

OP posts:
ConferencePear · 16/12/2013 20:36

I usually give, but I do like them to actually know the words.Smile

Heartbrokenmum73 · 16/12/2013 20:38

I went carol singing as a teen once. Didn't pretend it was anything other than 'begging', if you want to call it that.

I sang some nice songs, got given a bit of money by people, went and bought chocolate. No one was intimidated, elderly were happy, no one was expected to give anything and I was fine if they didn't.

Should I have been arrested? I honestly didn't think anything was wrong with it at the time.