Can you help me do a survey?

Recently, there's a group of people doing survey, at the "no man's land" between Sengkang MRT/LRT station and Compass Point. Was it for some credit card, bank or insurance, I wasn't sure. But I walked past there a few times for the past week trying to get to Compass Point.

Well, in the past, surveyors (is this the name of their occupation?) would usually greet you and ask to spare a few minutes of your time, usually not very successful. However, I respect those who did that, as they conducted themselves in a professional manner.

However, the "surveyors" that I've encountered in this no man's land is far from professional, and many a times, pushed much of my buttons. One of the tactic is that they would tap on your shoulder, and say "Hey!" like they are some long lost friend, or even say "I know you!" and hoping that you will do the survey as you might mistake them to be your friend. I usually give them a cold stare and walk away, as I think this is very unprofessional. I could even hear them laugh as I walked away "Aiyah! He looked like he almost believed it".

Today, one of them crossed the boundary even further. I was about 10m away from her, and she rushed to me, slap my arm repeatedly with the clipboard, saying "eh eh, help me to this survey leh", as thoug as I'm her close friend. That really pushed my buttons. I turned around and told her "Do I know you?" As I walk away, she dare to have the cheek to say "No need to be so fierce right?" I was quite close to turn around "No need to be so rude, unprofessional and hypocritcal right?"

Well, that slapping action, you would usually see it among the kids or female friends who are rather jumpy. You know, the kind of slapping on the arm when they are squeeking away or when they say "ehhhhhh, why you like that one". To me, it's an act between friends, or between 2 people who are closer than friends. After all, no one does that to strangers right?

So how is she rude? Firstly, unsolicitated physical contact. It's not even polite physical contact like a handshake. It's an act that is performed between 2 people who knows each other, or have a certain level of intimacy.

So how is she unprofessional? Cause she's trying to trick me into thinking that I know her some where and would help her do the survey like how I would help a friend. Besides, she doesn't even tell me what this survey is for, or where she's coming for.

So how is she hypocritical? Well, how is she acting to be someone I know different from someone at work pretending to be your friend or buddy so as to get something out from you? To be fair, most people in the service industry are nice to you to get something out from you. But they don't pretend to be someone you know, or someone whom you have a relationship with, and usually keep their niceness as part of their professional conduct.

I agree that being a "surveyor" aren't easy. I know, I've tried it. It aren't easy getting Singaporeans who are always busy to stand for a minute or 2.

But resorting to such tactics, to me is despicable and self-degrading. What's next if they continue to be like this? Hug people, kiss them , tell them how much they are missed and then ask them to do the survey form by calling them "Darling"?

Too far fetch? Well, they are already a step closer when they try to make you believe that they're your long lost friend with all the physical contact and the words they use!