I have no idea where he's from. I don't recognize the accent at all. Worse,

[struggle4progress]

I can't read his gestures. It's easy to forget that gestures are not really universal: they vary with culture

He's told me he'll definitely vote. But when I ask whether he's willing to tell me how he plans to vote, there's a curious shrug. It could mean I don't know, or it could mean What can anybody do?, or it could mean something else

I'm ready to leave when he asks about voter registration. Well, he voted in the last election, so he shouldn't need to re-register: his name should still be on the rolls. Ah, but his wife? I pull out a form and tell her the Board of Elections has to have it tomorrow: if she'll fill it out, I'll submit it for her. She retreats into the house, form in hand. And he starts a real conversation

He voted for Obama, but he's unhappy that the wars continue: the money could be better spent here. I agree. He sees rightwingers constantly on TV, and he thinks they're nuts. I agree ...

His wife finally comes back, in her bright beautiful print. I take the registration form. She has real options if the registration form doesn't go through, and I explain them to her briefly. I want to tell her how much I like the print she wearing, but she's looking very self-conscious and I'm afraid I'd embarrass her. Then I'm on my way again. Maybe I should have complimented the print anyway

But now I know what the self-effacing shrug meant: it was, simply, Don't be silly: there's only one possible answer to that question

[LiberalAndProud]

1. You know, I'm enjoying these canvassing vignettes more all the time.

struggle4progress, I think I love you.
:yourock:

[demosincebirth]

2. BSing you?

[struggle4progress]

4. I suppose that's always a possibility: I've been suckered now and then. But

I've also had hundreds (and maybe thousands) of short-term political interactions like this over the years. I frequently know within a second or two which way the conversation is heading. The rare jackasses who think they're being clever usually really aren't very good at it: they have their tells. I think this fellow carefully revealed a bit of himself, though uncertain about how I would react

[inna]

6. why?

what a bizarre comment.

[demosincebirth]

7. Some of us have been around a long time. And with time we seem

to develope a built in BS detector. Not always right, but pretty close.

[panader0]

3. Thanks for your work K&R

[frogmarch]

5. K&R

Thanks for all you do. :thumbsup: