So I'm sitting on my porch at the Jersey Shore,

[PCIntern]

enjoying my morning coffee when a pickup truck pulled up to the curb and a couple exited holding what look to be pamphlets. The “gentleman” of the pair said, and I’m quoting: “Good morning. May I ask you if you are a Republican?” I answered, “You can ask.” He replied, “Are you?” My response was a polite one: “No.”. He said, “Thank you and gave a good day.”

When they returned to their truck about fifteen minutes later, they neither looked at nor addressed me. Fine and dandy with me.

I wanted to answer his initial question (but did not) as follows: “Why…is it now illegal to be a Democrat down here in your self-described ‘Trump Country’ locale?”

Fuck these assholes.

I wanted to say that as well, but did not. I’m such a civil individual.

[TexLaProgressive]

1. Never seen a picture of you

But you like me, may be the stereotype of a republican- old white guy.

Looks can be deceiving.

In a few years you can wave your stick at them, "GET OF MY LAWN!!!

[spooky3]

5. I look like the typical old Repub white woman when my hair is straightened, partly because

I can't stand to waste money on trendy clothes, especially not at my age. So everything is boring, old, and classic. They would definitely hand me the pamphlet without even asking, or launch into some MAGAt speech.

But people react differently to me when the natural wave/curl shows. It's really interesting to me how different this reaction is. But no one launches into a Dem diatribe - I think because Dems are polite and don't assume as much.

When I'm curly, I must appear to be a former hippie type - or I just confuse anyone who is judgy and happens to look at me.

[TexLaProgressive]

8. For you

https://m.

&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD

[spooky3]

9. Hee hee! Love that song. Nt

[PCIntern]

11. Great tune!!!

Always liked it!!

[Collimator]

13. Back when I had black hair. . .

. . . (Before embracing the gray), people had assorted responses to me because, I guess, black hair meant "ethnic".

When I was attending an adult training program at a high school, the Latina students suddenly got quiet around me in the hallway and one looked nervously at me when I was filing papers next to her as she used the copy machine. My guess is that they thought I might understand Spanish and they were up to some typical teenage behavior.

Many other people whom I met through schools or workplaces assumed that I was Jewish. I'm Italian-Catholic. Another time I was babysitting a little boy whose parents were Chinese and Irish-American. I have sort of narrow eyes and with my little charge and I both having black hair, people often thought that he was my son.

I don't think that there is anything essentially "evil" about it if we treat others with respect, but it's funny how our minds categorize people based on a collection of visual cues. One of the reasons that I think some people are so paranoid about transfolk is that the visual cues can be confusing to people who can't tolerate liminal sensory information.

[spooky3]

15. Great observations! Thanks. Nt

[Hekate]

17. Well-said -- especially your last paragraph. "Liminal sensory information" indeed!

Thx, Collimator

[NJCher]

2. it would be interesting to know

what they were out peddling on this fine day.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. They were most likely peddling lies, my dear NJCher.

[NJCher]

6. oh, but of course

but I'm sure that you, too, have noticed their lies have a way of telegraphing what they're up to.

I am wondering if they are trying to register republicans. You heard the news about how they are disqualifying voters in mass numbers. Add new voters, and voila, you might turn a state like NJ purplish-red.

Two or three weeks ago I recieved a big postcard from the elections office in NJ. It told about an app that allows me to tell if my registration is OK. They've never done that before, so to me that counts as preventative maintenance. They are aware that trump is messing with the voter databases.

In addition, I saw a news story that said that NJ has not turned over election information as demanded by the trump administration. That was also a few weeks ago. I hope nothing's changed.

[calimary]

16. I think I might have replied - "why are you asking?"

Last edited Sun Aug 3, 2025, 06:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Why do they want to know? Doing some sort of census, or research project? Looking for donations for a Republican they’re supporting?

And I would certainly have been polite. Not confrontational.

[littlemissmartypants]

23. Same here. ...

My first thought is that they could be looking for Democrats in a know, locate and "size-up" the enemy type of approach.

Responding to yes/no questions can reveal more than one realizes. Often they are preloaded to direct the discourse driving conversations in predetermined directions.

Sales reps and lawyers use them for those reasons as a routine. It's a very effective way to glean a useful amount of information in a short amount of time. They can also be used as a persuasive technique if you want to change someone's perception and influence their decision making on a specific topic.

[DarthDem]

4. Probably just the Ciattarelli campaign

The GOP operatives always think they have a chance in Jersey. For whatever reason. And all evidence to the contrary.

[NJCher]

7. this, too

Is very likely.

See my post to Ca Peggy above.

[LogDog75]

10. Question

Did they identify themselves before talking to you?

[PCIntern]

12. Nope.

And I didn’t give a single shit. Not afraid of these motherfuckers

[littlemissmartypants]

14. There's a communication technique that I almost always use in situations like that...

The hot potato. When someone tosses a hot potato to you, toss one back.

"Why do you ask?" is my go-to hot potato.

[PCIntern]

19. Agreed for the most part,

,,I say "Who wants to know?" But same thing...

I didn’t want to have a dialogue with this motherfucker

[littlemissmartypants]

22. My point is...

The technique has a name and is rooted in communication science. It's certainly up to the individual which "hot potato" that they decide to use.

You definitely used the technique, PCIntern.



❤️

[rubbersole]

18. "I was until they became nazis."

[PCIntern]

20. Good one!

[MLAA]

21. If I get asked I'll be ready now with 'didn't think there were any republicans left, just MAGA assholes.'

[usonian]

24. Next time, put the AR-15 style water blaster out of sight.

It attracts the wrong people.