Third Jehovah Witness visit - it’s making me feel uncomfortable now.

[CaraVann]

Earlier in December there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was my friend who was due to visit me, I flung open the door to find 2 smartly dressed young men. I knew in an instant they were Jehovah Witnesses.
I know that I should have said from the get go I was not interested but the guy talking was so polite that I let him go on with his spiel.
I did feel a bit uneasy though as no one else was at home, all the neighbours were out and here are 2 men I don’t know trying to persuade me to join their religion. Also, the second guy gave me the creeps, he never said a word, never smiled, just stared at me. I felt quite intimidated.
The first guy asked for my name, which I also found unnerving, so I gave him a different name to my own. He said to take the leaflet and look on their website to find out all about JW and then I can be assured of a great future!!
I thanked him, smiled and said goodbye (second guy still unsmiling/staring, never muttered a word).
At least I won’t see them again - so I thought.
A week later, on my own again, the doorbell goes. I open it without checking thinking it’s the Christmas Amazon delivery I was expecting but no, it was the JW guys again. They are bloody relentless. Kept pushing and pushing, calling me by my ‘name’ which I found too personal seeing I don’t know them from Adam. Luckily, I had my coat on as was just about to take the dog out so made my excuses but said I was not interested.
But they are not fucking giving up.
Just had a knock on the door and my daughter opens it to find these guys standing there and again (the talking one) greeted me by my ‘name’ and starts on again about how they can help me and how the future is not bight for everyone, only those following their religion. Mute guy still staring and they were standing there in the pouring rain but wouldn’t give up. This time I had to be a bit firmer and said I was just going out, had no time and please don’t call again. A polite smile and ‘ok’ from the talker guy and same evil stare from mute guy.
I hope and pray they do not turn up again and I’m now only going to answer the door after I’ve looked out of the living room window ffs!
I know I should have been firmer from the beginning but it’s really unnerved me. They have my address and my name (or so they think).
Each to everyone with their choice of religion (personally agnostic) but knocking on strangers doors and harassing them is plain wrong.
I suffer from bad anxiety and this has just made me worse.

If someone annoys me, I add their name and address to the "Request A Visit" page on the JW website.

Perhaps you've annoyed someone so they've done this to you.

They exist in Germany too, when DH lived alone he got 2 young lady JWs at the door, they looked embarrassed by him answering the door in his pyjamas, so maybe that's also an idea.

I tell them I'm a witch. They soon bugger off.

I said the same to a couple of Mormon guys who asked (very politely as we waited to cross a road together) about my religion. One of them looked a bit shocked, but the other grinned after a second and asked 'Really?'

I explained about the energy based complementary therapies I'm qualified in, and how selling supplies for these is my day-job. He agreed that would make me a witch by their standards, and wished me a good day as we parted.

Can you get a black cloth, a bunch of culinary herbs - salt is always good, a handful of candles (anything will do, scented glass jars, tea lights ex), crystals if you have them, but pebbles or interesting rocks would do. Incense, or diffuser reeds. Honestly a couple of quid in a charity shop for a brass bowl or crystal chip bracelet - but only if you want to buy them anyway.

Stick it somewhere visible in your entrance/hall and thank them for prompting you to explore your spirituality. You've picked a pagan path. Suggest you could do a blessing on them. Watch the cartoon puff of dust as they run away.

I tell them I already have faith and will pray for them. They beg me not to as they rapidly leave!

Phonw up and complain and say if they darken you’re door again you’ll set the dog on them.

if you ask them in they give you a book, its got a picture of a woman riding a 2 headed lion, i thought yeah... i wanna do that, apparently thats not an aspirational photo.

It really does. My mum is a soft touch and has trouble saying no to anyone about anything, so she ended up with a similar situation - missionaries at the door calling her by her first name. She put up a small crucifix and an icon of Our Lady in the hallway where any caller can see them, and it had quite the effect. When they turned up again they cut things very short and my mum has never seen them since.

I have got rid of them entirely in one visit just by talking over them, saying an assertive ‘no’ (just that) and closing the door.

Worked at both my current house and the previous one.

The Mormons are worse, and tried to get into the porch. I advised them that they will be reported to the police for that, and that they have no permission to be on my land, so to gtf out right now. Again, they don’t call any more.

This made me laugh serves him right 😂 they pride themselves in translations obviously 😂

Op honestly if your not interested a firm thanks I'm not interested and please don't call again if you really want to be clear. Its all that's needed than getting worked up.

Don't need to be making up stuff about your life like some people do, if you are not a catholic a satanist or off to donate blood it's just not what they do/believe, they don't do a lot of things still doesn't stop them calling

I truthfully tell them that I am pagan, and I'm not changing, and off they go.

I feel sorry for them, and for some other Xtian factions, because their religion tells them that they have to “witness”, ie spend a lot of their free time pissing other people off by shoving their religion at them.

I told the two that came round mine that I was interested in hearing about all types of beliefs and found them fascinating. I meant it. But it seemed to make them uncomfortable and they never came back.

...what does it mean when you're too hookie cookie for even the witnesses? Lol

I have actually had only pleasant experiences with JW. However, generally with cold calling/charity muggers I just say “before you get started I’m going to be honest and not waste your time, I will not be buying anything or donating money at my door today or any other day” and that usually works fine as it’s not rude but it is honest. You could change it to “I will not be converting today or any other day” if it was JWs!

as a teenager I had a very frightening and upsetting experience with a door to door guy collecting for the Red Cross who tried to force his way into the house so it has taken quite a lot of work to get to this point and that’s why I need a script!

We used to get them, but many years ago, DP answered the door to a pair of older female JWs while very obviously naked (though concealing himself behind a carefully-positioned door curtain). They haven't been back since. So, worth a try, I guess.

When my FIL moved over from Ireland in the 70’s he was lonely and invited some JW’s in and had a theological debate with them. He said he was a bit miffed they never came back because he was winning

My mum invites them in for theological discussion.....they have stopped calling. I tell them I'm a blood donor (which is true) and they usually disappear quickly

I usually say “sorry, I’m not interested “ to something like this and start closing the door after “sorry”.
I wouldn’t tell them about your religion, I did this at the very first time JW called and then he tried to ask me questions for ages. But it’s the very first encounter and I learned my lesson since then .
is it possible for your DD to open a window instead of the door to check who it is first? At the current house I open the side of the bay window in the living room if i’m
on my own. It’s much easier to say that you are busy and get away from cold callers with the window.

Like many others I engaged with the two ladies who visited me 25 years ago out of politeness. Fortunately for me, the third time they visited I was hungover to the back teeth after my sisters wedding and probably stunk of booze! I tried to listen whilst using the door frame to hold me upright but muttered something about 'I'm too hungover for this shit' and shut the door. They never bothered me again!

I've moved many times since then but in November got a letter from Debbie from my local KH who wrote beautifully about how inviting them in would enlighten my life. Funny though - this felt like far more of an invasion of privacy than the door knocking did!!!

Yes this. We all know that JW are trying to convert people. JW are really quite open about this. Understandably then, unless you clearly say, 'I am not interested' and close the door, they will keep coming.

Hilarious- always works for me too

My grandparents' NDN was a retired Colonel who dealt with visiting JWs by saying "My dear chaps, this is all tripe! You don't want any more recruits and I'll tell you why. I have fought on the Plain of Armageddon and there SIMPLY ISN'T ROOM!"

We have a sign on the front door 'no cold calling'. It works very well.

Oh, this usually works too. They don't stay long when they clock this and l tell them l'm a pagan.

this. simple

I have a note on my door that says ' no cold callers, no salespeople and no God squad '
I never have any of the above calling.
Just say no thanks and close the door op. What are they going to do, batter it down with a copy of watchtower?