We've established that I loathe the people who, when I enter Home Depot, wrestle me to the ground and demand that I let them help me pick a paint color. This contempt extends to all unsolicited sales pitches masquerading as a benefit to me.
Gosh, Safeway! You'll charge me a reasonable $3.50 for a pack of Diet Coke instead of $9.99—if only I give you my name, address and phone number? Wow! What did I ever do before your rewards club?
Oh. Right. I paid $3.50 for Diet Coke.
Last night was a new low. I went to the nearby McDonald's. I placed my order and drove to the payment window. And out leaned a guy from the local Indian reservation, shoving a coupon book in my face and pitching me on purchasing it. He was not a McDonald's employee. He was not there to exchange fries for money. He was there to give his sales pitch to a captive audience.
"Cancel order!" I yelled past him as I drove off.
Folks, we're one step removed from ads displayed on our dentists' exam lamps.