Cookie Monster

Maddy writes: 

"I need to get a chip off my shoulder...I have at least two girls in the neighborhood selling Girl Scout cookies...which I love....but the parents are posting on FB to please buy from said girls. Why don't these people take their girls door to door any more? At least in (their) own neighborhood. My girls are not that old. I did it. Are we becoming (so) lazy we will just sit on the couch and type a few words and expect people to buy the cookies? Tell you what - I will not buy any cookies from anyone unless they come and ask me face to face!!! Am I being rude?"

At first glance, to me, this does seem lazy and unmotivated: do very little work, but still get the reward. However - having pondered your question - as a father to Scout-aged children - there are several factors that come into play here.

Factor 1:

The Economy. Both parents could be working their asses off to make ends meet. When they get home, they are going to be shit-ass tired. Top work off with paying bills, chasing rugrats, and cleaning up after SOMEONE who thought it would be funny to cover kitty in paint and jelly and tie a bell to its tail, and it doesn't leave much time for going door-to-door to sell cookies. 

Even if one of those parents is predominately the caregiver, you and I both know being an at-home parent is a full-time job. There's Facebook, and errands, Twitter, housework, Pinterest, playdates, school, daytime television...it all piles up. The added responsibility of managing a distribution center for legalized crack cookies can be overwhelming to some... god I love Thin Mints. Om nom nom nom...and Samoas? Get. Out. 

Where was I...? 

Right. 

Making a Facebook request to see who might be interested in purchasing cookies can really help streamline their process, as they can map out the most efficient route to drop off the cookies, and still get home in time for/to make/to order dinner.

Factor 2:

Next is safety. A large number of parents are concerned for their children's safety, as well as their own. You see it all over the news - someone buys something off of Craigslist, they go to pick it up, and the next thing you know they or the person they are picking it up from are dead have joined the circus. Technology and the media play a large part in the scare factor, as anything that is considered "newsworthy" (i.e. "able to be sensationalized") is immediately posted to the internet, and can have an amazing impact on millions of people in a matter of seconds.This fear is especially strong in those of us with others to protect. Is this fear justified? That is a matter of perspective.  Some people feel comfortable approaching - or being approached by (and asked whether or not I think that growth on their leg is natural - true story)- complete strangers. Many do not.  If this is the issue, though, it may make things easier to request orders online. Of course, the issue here is, if they have your address, chances are they know you, so what do they do about those in the neighborhood they DON'T know? Which kind of makes that whole fear-of-strangers thing seem misplaced.

Factor 3: Then there is an issue that I hardly ever think about, but my wife is especially keen on: introversion. The parents and/or their children could very well be introverted, socially awkward, or even have a social anxiety disorder. The introversion can range from mild aversion to social situations to flat-out hermiting oneself away from any and all interaction with the general populace. For those of us that are extroverts, it may require exercising a bit of empathy on our parts to try and understand that for an introvert, or someone suffering with SAD, a simple knock at the door can send them into a full-on panic attack. They may feel MUCH more comfortable communicating online through email or other electronic means than in a non-cyber environment. 

Of course, all said, they could just be lazy-ass sons-of-bitches. Or it may be one of the above listed things that is holding them back. My advice is, if you like the cookies, order some, but request that they drop them off. At my house. Thin Mints. Then you know they are putting forth the effort to at least follow through, and they know you are willing to work with them.