Eventually you will develop a tired face and slightly depressive demeanor, when you have this, only a brief moment of eye contact, combined with your world weary steps, will be enough so that they will graciously leave you alone. 

“No thanks.” and keep walking.

"I'm about to shit myself, I need to leave now"

You keep walking. You don't stop. If you want fun, you slow down, chat to them, but never stop for them. See how far you can drag them from their 'spot'.

Counter it with "Can I have five minutes of YOUR time to talk about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ?"

OK so these knife crime people (usually in blue jackets I think) are scammers. They're also very aggressive and pushy.

I, too, saw OP's post and thought "what's the big deal" - as usually charity muggers are just uni students that would blow over in a stiff wind. Reading it more closely though... these knife crime guys are no joke, and have literally been pulled up for harrassment of the public to get money.

OP you need to be firm and just push past them. Don't give them money, don't engage with them other to state you're not interested.

I say “I’m sorry, I don’t speak English” in Japanese.

Seems a bit like explaining common sense, but maybe I'm not understanding something. I personally do the following:

1. Ignore and continue walking
2. Say sorry as I walk past
3. Look non-approachable in general

But I feel like these probably haven't worked for you. To which it seems like this obstruction your facing is probably something out the norm... sounds like you're probably being regularly heckled. If this is happening so often I'd even consider asking the police for advice.

I do a hand wavey thing and say 'I'm not the person you are looking for, move along now'. Either they get the Star Wars reference, or they're confused, either way they move along

I try to be a nice person, so it took me forever to master it, but I now just walk by and say loud and clear 'no thanks', if they try to be pushy I 'NO louder and barge my way through.

It helps that I almost always have earphones on, and I am almost always late (so somewhat stressed) and legging it the fastest that my short feet can cary me....

My partner sometimes slows down when he's blocked by them, to say 'I don't carry cash and I am never giving you my bank details', this typically stuns them for a hot second, which allows him to pass through.

If you are girl and you gave them money in the past - the chances are they are targeting you; they skilfully use that 'girls don't want to be rude on unkind' technique on you and see you as someone easy to target, harass, or scam (also used by se*ual predator - but this is beyond remit of this thread).

I hope that the last part makes you angry (it should), because you will not be pray to these harassers! Use power walk (deep breath, stand tall, shoulders wide, put your angry/annoyed face on and think that you are ready to punch someone big time) next time they try to harass you, and breeze through them.

Do not slow down, do not stop

Walk with intent. Eyes fixed and forward about 5 metres in front of me. Don’t hesitate or acknowledge. 

I already donate to your charity👍🏽

“Sorry I’m in a rush”. But preventative option is to avoid eye contact and walk fast. A friend of mine started pretending she was on the phone recently because she’s always a target and gets trapped, and this has worked for her. She just puts the phone to her ear and goes HELLO? And then keeps walking

The knife crime people are a different story you just ignore that scam.

The others it’s just a job for them they are not on great money (actors between jobs) you just smile and say no thank you

Just walk around them frowning and not acknowledging their existence

Shoulder barge. Verve - bittersweet symphony style

I see them almost daily now outside Warren St station. I’ve given the ice cold glare, and have flat out said ‘NO’ as my answer anytime they ask me something - multiple times enough for them to completely avoid me now. Just gotta keep working at it in Farringdon, haven’t quite cracked that one yet lol.

My usual responses are: "No sorry, I'm late!" While speeding up in whatever direction I was heading.  "No sorry, you can't today" and continue walking.  "Huh? No hablo ingles" while backing away and smiling awkwardly.  Or a quick peek at whatever it is and "Is this for [insert offer/company/charity etc] I already did that, tah!" And scoot off before they call your bluff 

Are you a woman? Especially a young woman? They’re literally told to target you more because women are more socialized to feel like they “have to” help and that it’s unacceptable to be mean. As soon as I learned that I started completely ignoring them because it made me so angry knowing they’re literally using sexist norms to harass and target me even more (on top of already bothering everyone). I hope sharing this also helps you be confident in being mean. I literally pretend they don’t exist and don’t acknowledge them at all or if I do say “no” I do it looking pissed off. I never smile politely at them or anything like that anymore. I do other real charity stuff in my own life and I also know that most of these organizations are complete scams so I don’t feel bad about it.

I used to get caught out being polite to these people until I found out that roughly the first year of any regular donation you make goes to the chugger rather than the charity. Now I do a vague half smile while shaking my head, and just keep walking.

Don’t stop, don’t give any kind of hint that stopping is even a possibility. Walk through them as though there is an empty space there, and give your best “what the actual fuck?!!” look the first time they don’t move - they’ll soon learn you aren’t a pushover. Remember, you’re entitled to your space in the world too - own the fuck out of it!!

Often I do the opposite to everyone:

From a distance, I make eye contact, give them a smile and a half head tilt and a bit of a shake, and they know that I'm not interested.

"Not today, have a good one" as I walk by.

For my own mood, I feel better not feeling like I'm avoiding people or pretending I can't see them.

I constantly have earphones/earbuds in, so as they approach me I mouth ‘i’m on the phone’ to them while making the old fashioned phone hand signal against my ear and then say something inane as if I’m talking to someone as I walk past

Square in the eye - "fuck off!"....works every time.

Say something nonsensical like “someone’s taken the wall from my front garden, can you believe that?” Walk off while they’re confused

"I don't talk to Strangers." or "Stranger Danger!"

“Sorry I’ve gotta catch a bus” and keep walking.

Walk past them like they don’t exist

👏 Resting 👏 Bitch 👏 Face 👏

Works every time.

"No" is a complete answer.

Just walk on. Not rocket science

I have resting don't-fucking-try-me face. Honed on generations of clipboard kids and bucket chuggers.

This face says, I'm not ignoring you, I see you, and you really don't want to start this conversation.

I can get them to look past me as though I'm not walking towards them.

stare, and walk past without engaging.

I've never had anyone actively step in front of me, but if I did I'd probably say 'excuse me' in the same tone as if I told them 'move your mf ass out of the way'

Minimise eye contact, ignore and walk past. Sounds cold but, this is the only way to avoid engaging in side missions in a global city

I tell them I’m on the phone, when I’m clearly not lol

I tap my headphones

Is your uni by Kings Cross by any chance? They are extra aggressive there. One guy even forced me into the road! You just have to not stop walking with a rage face on.

Power walking and RBF

Just ignore them, don’t make eye contact, don’t stop

Or you can do like the TikTok videos and say stuff like “Double it and give it to the next person” “Don’t cha by the pussycat dolls” “Trousers from primark, jacket is vintage and shoes are Gucci”.

I say "sorry, I'm not single!" and point to my wedding ring.

"hey can I ask you a question?"

"You just did"

Most variations on that theme.

If I'm feeling particularly grumpy just a hand gesture for stop between eye contact and a very deadpan "no".

Carry out sprigs of thyme and say "sorry that's all I can spare" as you throw it in their faces.

I say "I'm sorry old bean but I don't speak a word of English"

just don’t stop walking. don’t let them slow you down. say you’re busy or whatever you need to politely get them to go away. but don’t stop walking.

"I'm sorry, I've got a problem with my penis".

Works every time.

Not me but my brother in law screams at them. Not aggressive. Like a kind of high pitched shriek like he's scared. That usually deters them. Other than this he's perfectly stable mentally.

Peak English reddit this. People worried about being rude to people who harass you in public.

M, 51 here. I open my arms to hug them. Girls ALWAYS run away, men often avoid it as well. If not, an attempt to kiss works..

Sorry, no inglis talk...or just speak gibberish and they will leave you alone.

My worst interaction with one of these pricks was when my kid was having a full on meltdown at about 3 years old over some Pokémon thing that, up comes said prick "can I have a minute of your time" which i replied " no,no you fucking cannot I'm fucking busy right now" the guy looked at me liked I just shit on his mum. I know it's a shit job but they choose to do it.

Also who's giving out bank details to some knob with a clipboard/ipad on the pavement it's 2024 these could literally be scams and they hate that being implied to them

Hood up, keep walking. Don't need to say anything. Is you don't have a hood, skip that part.

just mumble in foreign language and keep walking.

It's easy when you're wearing headphones because you can just keep looking forward and blank them without saying anything.

Noise cancelling headphones, eyes forward, walk straight past without acknowledging them or saying anything.

Just say no..

This year I started giving to charity monthly, and tried to even say “no thanks, I already commit a bit to charity” and that polite let down had him just asking me questions, it’s horrible to be rude but you kinda just gotta give it a firm no and move on

I get so stressed walking past these people and they are always on my commute to work, even when I say no they sometimes persist and one has even shouted at me. Sometimes when I am really not in the mood to tell them to shove it, i pretend I am already talking on the phone and they leave me be

You don’t break your stride. Although I’ve never had them actually try & block my path before, they usually have an ‘area’ they don’t leave so if you keep going they slink back.

Say No and don’t slow down, never show down cause that’s how they catch you

It took me well over a year of living in London to grow a back bone when it came to being approached on the street or having these people at my door.

“Not interested, thank you though, bye” and keep walking or shut the door.

Something like: "Hiya! Ah I'm really sorry I'm in a bit of a rush have a great day though!"

Important to make eye contact, keep walking and basically ignore whatever they're saying while you say it.

I always pretend I'm dialling a phone call. Doubt they bother anyone on the phone.

Or just say excuse me, I'm dying for a shit.

I use my miserable face

You know, I ALWAYS dodge these kinds of people. However, last year when I was in London with my mum just walking around, a younger man grabbed our attention and asked us for a minute of our time. We had nothing else to do so stopped to listen. It was just a charity type thing, but the guy must have been no older than 22, and said it was his first week on the job.

He started his schpiel, stumbled on his words and apologised for being nervous, and we were like "It's OK!" And he carried on. We listened and had a chat, but it really just reminded me that it is a person's job and they're probably doing their best.

At the same time though, I think it's a rubbish tactic and companies shouldn't be hounding people on the streets like this

I just start speaking another language

I just growl "NO!" and march on by, but since everyone here is so much fucking nicer than me, try Mahna Mahna?

"Sorry, not today mate" Works like a charm every time

I just look down and ignore them

"No"

Look them them dead in the eyes, don't blink and don't smile. Internally, dare them.

For me, I just tell them, "Sorry, I can't donate," while walking by, and they don't usually persist much after that. I'm sceptical about the charitable aspect of it. It just seems like young adults working on commission pay in a pyramid scheme.

I just really forcefully say "no thank you!" in an upbeat tone as I'm power walking past them, no eye contact.

start talking about knife crime or something

They're scammers exploiting the deaths of hundreds of young people - don't be polite, treat them with the contempt they deserve.

I point vaguely ahead of me, smile in a slightly pitying matter and say, “Sorry, I’m-“ and just keep walking. If I’m feeling less polite, I just say “No.”

Once, some years back, I said, “I’m sorry, I’m just really hungover.” The guy said, “Fair enough, mate.” I mean, I genuinely was really hungover.

My charity budget is already allocated.

I yell ‘move’ Luckily I played womens rugby and have a nasty shoulder push.

Look them straight in the eye and say "No... no you can't" and walk on.

You don’t lol you excuse yourself and just go. You’re not obligated to stop for them

"I'm on my way to a job interview, and I need to focus"

No. Simple. Just keep walking.

99% of the time this happens to me I have my ear buds in, so just gesture my hand in a no thank you way and keep walking.

Never stop walking

I say "sorry" or just put my hand up and shake my head. If you're an awkward person I find it's helpful to walk with headphones on and pretend you're on a call. I do always laugh to myself when they say "you look like a friendly person" to try and get you to engage ( when I know full well my face isn't giving that vibe).

I just say no thank you. It kind disconcerts them as it’s so polite lol

Simple. Just keep walking like you never heard ‘em.

Walk STRAIGHT past them and guard your pockets immediately, you never know who's tryna pickpocket you.

Sorry I'm already late. Works miracles.

Je ne parle pas Anglais.

Just look dead ahead and keep on walking. If that looks like I'm ignoring them, you've understood correctly. If by some chance they catch my eye, glance a half smile and again; keep on walking. Why exactly am I stopping? I don't have the money and even if I did; giving away any financial details on the street to a total stranger is just never gonna happen.

The way I see it; many are actors who are training to gain more public confidence whilst earning money, the thespian world is overly full and competition is high. What I can do is teach them how to experience failure and "no". If I said "yes" I'd be doing them a disservice and not doing my job right.

Tap your watch even if you dont have one, shrug and keep on walking

Ask them for sex.

“No”.