The Hand

As a reporter, part of my job is to speak with people I've never met about topics that may impact them. What makes a story great, instead of just good, are the voices from people who live in the community and not just the experts who follow the issues.

Last week, I reported a story that required me to venture out into the local area to collect comments from people -- real people and not experts -- I had never met before. For the most part, residents are willing to speak on a whole range of imporant topics. But not everyone is so accommodating.

One woman who spotted me walking towards her raised her hand about chest level, a signal for me to stop in my tracks. I did. She informed me that she knew where I was from and had no interest in speaking to me. I told her thank you and moved on. I'm not saying she was rude, she simply wasn't interested in speaking to me. Still, I wish she would have at least taken the time to hear what I had to say before passing judgment. Who knows? Maybe the story I was working on would have pertained to her. I'll never know and neither will she.

Next time, try to give a person a chance to ask a question before closing the door.