What can I say...
We had someone call me directly. They wanted several bat houses because bats are flying around.
OK, they are $X for the single... err... what's that?
"Oh, I don't have any money to buy one, I just need you to send me one..."
Huh?
"I'm in Georgia, we have bats around and I need a bat house. That's what you do, I just need you to send me one."
OK... and... why would I send you a free bat house?
"That's what you do right? You make houses for bats, that's what I was told."
OK, We SELL bat houses and do bat education. I don't know who told you we give bat houses away for free. We do have bat houses that are damaged or I could get you one unpainted to make it cheaper...
"No no, I mean we need to have a bat house to put up for the bats. That's what you do, you put bat houses up and we need you to come put one up. I don't want to buy one, you just need to come put one up for the bats."
--- OK, so at this point I'm thinking this guy must be misinformed somewhere down the line and I explain a little about who we are and what we do again. We don't work for the State or anyone, we do this as a business to make a living etc...
"Yeah yeah, but you just need to send us one 'cause we can't afford to pay for one."
--- So now I'm sure my phone is now getting service all the way to the twilight zone.
Sir, we can't just give our bat houses away. No one gives me the material, the machinery, the electricity, the food I need to live or anything to make these bat houses. So if I give them away, where am I suppose to get the money from to do all this?
"Man, I thought you guys helped bats. I see how it is, you're just in it for the money..."
No, there are many other things I could do for money that would make more money and be easier than this. I do enjoy doing this, I like helping the bats and teaching about bats but in order to do it this I have to make money to do it.
"Well you get it from the State, they helpin you do this stuff. They've got money to do it. You send us the bat house so we can put it up for the bats that' s what the State gives you money for, right? ..."
No, we do not get State funding, or grants or anything.
"Aww.. you know you do..."
--- I wish I could have recorded the call. What leaves me sad is how serious the guy was. How perfectly logical it was to him that I should just send him a bat house for free. How reasonable it was to him that government pay for it and how sure he was that we get money from the goverment and the only reason I won't send him a bat house for free is because I'm greedy.
Just someone tell me this isn't how the majority think? We are doing something about this kind of thinking, right?
No... don't answer that.
/RB