Twice in the last 10 days, teenagers have rung my doorbell. A pair of young men, and yesterday a young woman by herself. Each began with a pitch that they were on a project. The men to improve public speaking skills, each planning to study journalism in college, each claiming to already be admitted to their first choice. The woman claimed to be conquering a stutter. With the first pair, it became clear that the real aim was to sell me a magazine subscription, preferably more than one. I didn't let the young woman get very far in her spiel, I pressed her to tell me her true goal for interrupting my afternoon, and the tell tale cards came out of her pocket. Each set of cards was remarkably similar, although she claimed that she was not involved with an organization of any kind.

I declined the offers, wished each one of them well, but said I couldn't help with the project.

And it got me to thinking.

I might be old fashioned, but I think the best salespersons are honest with their potential customers. A good sales experience does not begin with misdirection. If these kids are being coached, they are being coached in misdirection, and most probably victims of misdirection.

I might Google teenaged magazine sales calls and see what comes up. And I really, really, hope that no other young person or group of young persons rings my doorbell.