I'm reminded of the story of an old man who the neighborhood kids would harass by calling him names so one day he offers to pay them some amount for each offens

I'm reminded of the story of an old man who the neighborhood kids would harass by calling him names so one day he offers to pay them some amount for each offensive name. The next time they show up he says he can only afford to pay them a smaller amount. This goes on for a bit until one day he says he can't pay them anymore so, not wanting to swear at him for free, the kids stop. Paying the kids not to wash windows however, would seem to have the opposite effect.