Here, take a Dollar

Last July I was attending Comic-con along with about 125 thousand other geeks.

Walking to the con I noticed casually dressed individuals who were a little too strict in their posture. More importantly, their faces were completely covered by exagerated makeup, even for clowns, which they now were.

More over, they were holding Dollar bills in their hands.

First time around the guy tried to hand me a flier. He tried to convince me to come to a meeting, to listen. Then when I refused he tried to hand me a Dollar bill.

The second encounter I actually went to the guy and asked who they were, he handed me the flier which had Uncle Sam in clown make up. Join the army they said? :)

This guy, however, started by trying to hand me the Dollar bill to begin with.

Back then it seemed rather pathetic to me that they would try to recruit people in that manner. What is that Dollar bill supposed to be for? Attracting attention? Helping the poor? Getting a taxi ride? Come on!

Yesterday I recounted the story with some friends, only now I realized that while the above may be true, what they did was using the compliance tool called reciprocation. As they hand people Dollar bills, people who take them would feel obilgated to return the favor by at least showing up to their recruitment meeting, or listening to their pitch.

Me? Anyone hands me free money I wouldn't touch it and run in the other direction.

Pinky.