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Original poster

Jehovah's Witnesses

71 replies

miggeldysthepres · 20/05/2019 18:40

Was going to nc but probably not outing as I can't be the only one.
So here's the story. I'm church of England ( don't really go to church though). Had the Jehovah's come and I don't like to be rude, so had a chat. Trouble is now they are calling every week or two. It only takes a minute or two, but I'm really not interested, I do believe in God but don't even go my own church. They always ask how my children are by name which freaks me out a little. They are very polite and if I am busy they will ask if another time is more convenient. I don't know what the next stage is, will they try to get me to come to a meeting ( if that's what it's called?). Please can anyone give me advice on how to get them to stop calling, as I'm really not interested and to be honest it freaks me out a little ( but each to their own). I really don't want to be rude as we've become quite friendly. Thanks in advance and hope I've not offended anyone

OP posts:
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NorfolkRattle · 20/05/2019 19:06

Back in the 90s, the JWs had very specific guidelines about knocking on doors; it's likely they still do. Basically, if you answer the door the first time and have a chat (about anything), they will mark you up for another visit. If you accept their literature, they will definitely be targetting you (even if you accepted it out of "politeness" and threw it straight in the bin.)

Basically, as Babdoc says above, JWS have a commitment to evangelise, this is hugely important to them. . .and they are not simply going to fall away. Personally, I feel groups like this get away with pestering and being intrusive exactly because too many folk think it's rude to not stop and chat. If anyone is being rude, it is THEM, coming unsolicited and repeatedly to your door.

Presumably they only know your children's names because you told them? That was unwise.

Probably of no use to the OP but I've heard that one sure way of getting rid of JWs for good (and Mormons too) is for the door-opener to state that s/he is gay!

Usuallyinthemiddle · 20/05/2019 19:11

You need to be very firm. You can be polite but be firm. Thank you for your interest and info but I am not interested. Close the door.
I married someone whose parents were elders. Please don't go there! They smell weakness. Be firm!

bwyddda · 20/05/2019 19:39

I called the local kingdom church and asked them to stop visiting after I foolishly let them in and chatted with them once. it puts a stop to it for a year or so and then they come again, but by then you know not to be nice and give them short shrift

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Philosophy & religion
Original poster
miggeldysthepres · 20/05/2019 20:52

I think what I'll do is write a polite but firm letter and pin it to the door for them- I'm definitely on the regular call list

OP posts:
DeathyMcDeathStarFace · 20/05/2019 20:54

We kept having JWs call regularly after I didn't give them short shrift when they first started calling, even after informing them we have our own faith, dh has been a church minister, we are committed to our church, gave them the gospel message etc.

They seemed to regularly turn up on Saturday mornings, disturbing our lie ins and making me grumpy for a while. One Saturday after a bad nights sleep I was already grumpy and they turned up, not a good idea on their part! Dh opened the door and the conversation turned to medical issues/blood transfusions etc somehow. I went to the door and, slightly grumpily and forcefully, informed them that if dh's parents had been JWs he would be dead. He had open heart surgery as a child, therefore had a blood transfusion, so if he had not had that I would not have a husband or our 4 boys etc etc etc. (All true, btw. I wasn't overdoing it to prove a point) Therefore they were technically talking to someone they think should be dead. I said I didn't want to be part of a cult that would have meant my dh had died before we even met. (Think I even used the word cult.)

Haven't had a visit since, think we have been blacklisted.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/05/2019 21:01

Unless you're very firm, they will keep coming, since they see you as a possible convert.
Next time just tell them politely but very firmly that you're not interested, and please not to call again. And refuse to discuss it any further.

CurlsandCurves · 20/05/2019 21:04

Speak to the local Kingdom Hall and ask that they put you on their not to call list.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 20/05/2019 21:04

Tell them you've converted to Satanism. It's highly effective at getting you put on a permanent blacklist.

Gruzinkerbell1 · 20/05/2019 21:07

Umm, don’t answer the door? They’ll get the message eventually.

Either that or burn your house down.

Either/or. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Twotome · 20/05/2019 21:07

I had this problem. Didn’t want to be rude on their first knock so listened to them which turned into weekly visits. They would leave me books and then ask for my opinion on them the following week, knew me by name etc. One day I just told them I wasn’t interested anymore and they stopped coming. Now I’m not as polite if any others knock.

FiremanKing · 20/05/2019 21:10

Try one of these

Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
MoonstoneMagic · 20/05/2019 21:14

They will take ANY sign of interest as an 'in'. You have to be very firm. 'No thanks'. Shut the door. Simple.

Smolo · 20/05/2019 21:15

I just tell them I'm not interested. If they persist I tell them that the only reason that I'm standing talking to them today is because of the several units of blood I received when critically ill and therefore I will never be interested in what they have to say. They don't argue with that.

WorraLiberty · 20/05/2019 21:16

Tell them you've converted to Satanism. It's highly effective at getting you put on a permanent blacklist.

No it isn't.

BlueMerchant · 20/05/2019 21:19

Trust me. They will keep coming. Their next step after a few doorstep visits where they build up a rapport with you is to turn up when it's pouring down and hope you feel comfortable enough with them to invite them in out of the rain. They may then talk you into calling the next week for Bible study where they will bring literature and pray with you. They are likely to turn up with a 'gift' for you - The Bible ( the translation they use) to help with your study. You are now one of their 'studies'. They will meet with other JW's weekly at the Kingdom Hall to discuss you and the other 'studies' and what they think of you and your situation/beliefs/whether you would make a good JW. They will not leave you alone unless you are blunt. Trust me.

JoleneJoleneJoleneJoleeeeeene · 20/05/2019 21:21

Look up the number of your local Kingdom Hall. Telephone them and request they remove you from their list of visitors.

It really is that simple

Inmyvestandpants · 20/05/2019 21:27

One of the main differences between JW and Christian faith is that JW's do not believe that Jesus is God. I know someone - a Christian theologian - who engaged a calling JW in a conversation about the divinity of Jesus. He took the Bible the JW was holding, and showed her - from passages in her own Bible - that Christianity has the right doctrine. She was lost for words. When they showed up in the street a few months later, one of the neighbours said, "oh you should go and talk to him at number 16, he'll have a chat with you", and the JWs said, "we're not allowed to go to that address". So you could try that.

nespressowoo · 20/05/2019 21:28

I don't answer the door to them. They came on Easter Sunday and we had the windows open and radio on but I just didn't answer.

Gingerkittykat · 20/05/2019 21:33

Get a copy of this book, dig it out when they arrive and ask them if they would like to learn more about your new religion.

After DD got hold of them in her obnoxious atheist phase they never came back for a long time. After they came back twice in 2 weeks a fortnight they suddenly lost interest in us when shown the bad book.

Jehovah's Witnesses
Original poster
miggeldysthepres · 20/05/2019 21:45

Grin the bad book Grin

OP posts:
GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 20/05/2019 21:55

I just told my local JW doorstepping crew that many JWs had tried, including some of my own relations, and hadn't succeeded, so they were wasting their time. They have left me alone since.

Be polite but firm and they'll leave you in peace.

FrancesFryer · 20/05/2019 22:23

Many years ago, I used to look forward to their weekly visits. I'd invite them in, we'd have tea and cake and chat about mostly normal things with a bit of religion thrown in.
There was only two reasons I did this.
I had bad post natal depression and enjoyed the company and we were moving 150 miles away in the near future.
I told them neither. I often wonder what they thought when they turned up one week to find us gone

Clawdy · 20/05/2019 22:28

My cousin is a Jehovah's Witness, and she says when calling, any conversation at the door, even an argument, is regarded as a sort of victory. What they don't want is a quick "No, thanks" and a closed door. Which is what I always do.

bookbuddy · 20/05/2019 22:31

Tell them you have converted to paganism you’ll never see them again.

Littlebird88 · 20/05/2019 22:35

" sorry I'm just nipping out to give blood"

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