The first half-dozen people I tried to talk to all blew me off - shaking their heads, putting up their hands, hurrying away, and generally reacting as though I was trying to sell them a time-share or convince them to sign up for political mailings, instead of giving them a gift.
Sadly, I understand this response. Far more often than not, what looks like a free gift does come with strings attached -- generally some sort of sales pitch, and if not that, then politics or religion. And the title of the book, to someone not in the know, might easily suggest either NewAge woo-woo or some kind of "self-help" quackery. But you're up against a mode of action which has been generally polluted by the greedy for a very long time. This is why we can't have nice things.
When you do it next year, a large sign announcing "World Book Night" and "Free Books Here" might help. Something poster-sized, on a stand with enough weight not to blow over in the wind. Maybe with a book-related quote in smaller print at the bottom, just to hammer the point home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2013-04-24 02:13 am (UTC)Sadly, I understand this response. Far more often than not, what looks like a free gift does come with strings attached -- generally some sort of sales pitch, and if not that, then politics or religion. And the title of the book, to someone not in the know, might easily suggest either NewAge woo-woo or some kind of "self-help" quackery. But you're up against a mode of action which has been generally polluted by the greedy for a very long time. This is why we can't have nice things.
When you do it next year, a large sign announcing "World Book Night" and "Free Books Here" might help. Something poster-sized, on a stand with enough weight not to blow over in the wind. Maybe with a book-related quote in smaller print at the bottom, just to hammer the point home.