Maybe it is because I am getting older but malls seem to annoy me a little bit more every year that goes by. Is it because they are crawling with obnoxious pre-teens with no where else go? Because they are over crowded? No, I think one of the biggest reasons malls annoy me so much is because of the endless stream of people who want to survey you. This is a relatively new phenomenon. I do not remember ever seeing any survey people in malls as a child. Granted, you were allowed to smoke inside some malls when I was a child, but still, no surveys! But as soon as I got to college I began noticing them. Some want you to try a product/watch a short commerical/sign up for a free such and such. Others are looking for a very specific demographic so that they can ask you a lengthy, boring survey.

I cannot stand being asked to take surveys. I know it is someones job, and it is honest work which is why I smile politely and say, No thanks! But there are few things I hate more when I am shopping then getting asked silly questions by a stranger. The supermarkets seem to be catching on to the survey wave as well. Recently, I began seeing the survey takers hanging out near certain supermarkets. Soon they will be hanging out in front of the dentist’s office!

Don’t even get me started on the hoards of people hanging out in front of WalMart asking for donations for things you have never heard of in your life. At this point, I would jump for joy to see a regular ol’ girlscout!

Yep, malls are really starting to bug me. I hope that one day I can shop in peace without being asked if I want to take a ’short’ 200 question survey on my cats eating habits.

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