Pushy...Pushy

Persistence is merely another word for determination. Yes? When goal setting, one is far more likely to get where they wanna go when possessing tenacity and strength. This is when persistence pays. It is a positve. A good thing.

Then there are those times when persistence can be a pesky creature. According to that all true proverbial statement Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Being overly zealous might not always be the way to go. Too much of a "good thing" (totally relative term) can be a total pain in the butt.

Take for instance, the over-eager-never-let-you-go-so-you-are-forced-to-hang-up-on-them telemarketer. The "P" word (aka "persistence") is part of their job requirement. Meek, timid, people-pleasers need not apply. Telemarketing boss men seek the most annoying, abrasive, pushy people to employ. I've never met a soul who welcomes a telemarketer's call. Their aggressiveness is a big turn off.

Actually, the ugly side of persistence shows itself with most any sales person. At least those who are good at what they do. Door-to-door (do they still exist?) and car salesmen seem to lead the pack. They usually won't take no for an answer. They are equipped with a never ending list of reasons why you should want what they are peddling. If they really have their skills honed, a good salesman could sell hairspray to a bald man. You know the type. The ones who only listen to what you say in order to offer the perfect rebuttal. All that matters to them is making the sale.

I've recently discovered there is another breed of doggedly determined people. These guys may take the prize as the most tenacious of the bunch. Salesmen should take note as they could learn a thing or two from them. These are the men who seek companionship via the net. More specifically, I'm referring to the dudes incessantly filling my inbox in their attempts to make a "sale". And trust me, terse replies and completely ignoring their sales pitch does nothing to deter them.

Via

For instance, I just this second received my 8th message from one fella. It is the eighth email to come in since 8:00 this morning. It is currently 12:00 noon. That averages one per half hour. (Not that I think you are incapable of doing the math. Just seems more unbelievable when I put it in writing.). Never have I seen a more persistent attempt to get noticed. I know the easy answer is to tell the guy "No. Thank you." (which I just did) but I had a challenging morning at work and didn't have the time to respond. One would think the lack of response would be answer enough. But no. All I could do was simply watch as my inbox filled while I went about trying to earn my keep. 

As I mentioned, some of these headstrong gents won't take no for an answer. Much like that hairspray salesman mentioned a paragraph or two ago, the buyer's wants or wishes is of no consequence. A "no" equals a "yes" in their mind. Any...and I do mean any...form of communication is perceived as interest. These men know their product. They believe in what they have to sell to the point they feel the buyer cannot live without it.

And trust me.

Some of these "products" I can live without. Especially the I'm-in-love-with-myself-so-you-must-love-me-too dudes.

And the ones without teeth.

So here is my question and where I ask for help. How do you handle hard core salesmen? How do you shut them down?  Without being rude? I would love to find a witty way of getting them to see the err of their ways but I've yet to come up with a good comeback. I know I can simply walk away but like I said, completely ignoring these guys doesn't work. Give me your best suggestion. The funnier...more creative... the better.

P.S. Not all guys of the net are this way. Many are perfect gentlemen. Just thought I would share a laughable side of online dating.

P.P.S. I fear this sounds somewhat conceited...like I'm implying all guys want me. Trust me, that is NOT the case. Anyone who ventures into the crazy world of online dating can attest to the fact that what I described happens to everyone at some point or another. In other words, I'm nothing special. :-)