I am normally polite but just shouted at a JW, feeling bad, WIBU?

[JellyBellyWorkWear]

I'm had my fair share of crap jobs including phone calls and knocking on doors to make ends meet and also appreciate JW mean well. I am polite to everybody I meet as I honestly believe it makes the world a nicer place/ I get treated better/ my kids have a better example.

Just now two JW knocked on the door, I've opened a few times to them politely explaining we are happy in our religion and won't be changed on the doorstep or attend elsewhere, wish them a good day and say bye. At the time they call I bet very few are in, so despite me usually juggling kids and dismissing them they return.

I was settling a baby and a toddler, one on the sofa in basket and for the first time ignored the door. They saw me walking up the path (no nets) so I was obviously ignoring it. He knocked firmly, knocked firmly then really put some welly into the knocker, I jumped let alone waking both kids in a a start.

I snapped and flung open the door and yelled 'well done for waking two babies trying to smack a hole in the door, DO NOT EVER visit my house again with your bloody propaganda' and flung it closed in their faces as he stuttered.

Ok I know it was rude, but understandable? I had to restrain myself and wondering if it's the stress being passed or them being unreasonable in their actions hammering like that.

[SouthernComforts]

Yanbu. I usually tell them that if I were a JW my daughter would be dead. (Life saving blood transfusions) they don't usually have a comeback for that.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Southern I hope that does shut them up!! Wouldn't put it past them though, nothing seems to faze them.

Hope your daughter is ok now.

[mistlethrush]

I must have managed to get on the 'do not visit' list.. 2 weeks after moving into our house, a couple knocked on the door... 'We were wondering if you have read those pamphlets we left with your husband?' My reply?: 'That wasn't my husband'. I was being perfectly truthful - it must have been the previous owners. However, we've not been called on yet!

[TheMNeffect]

I'm reading this thread with interest.

I have just started a new job and part if it involves knocking in people's doors.

I am not a JW, I am not signing people up for charity, I am not selling anything. My task is to engage the community to work together to tackle issues in their area.

I am always very careful not to knock too loud and often I can see they are in but ignoring me. I can completely understand why people are so suspicios but I just wish people would give me the chance to tell them what I am doing. People swear at me and tell me to go away before I've even opened my mouth to introduce myself.

Sometimes I get really disheartened because ultimately my work is to benefit the community as a whole and to give people a voice. If people still don't want to get involved after I have explained the purpose of my work then I am always very respectful of that.

So, all being as suspicious as you are can anyone give me some tips on how to get people to be more receptive? I've already taken to hiding my clipboard!

[UnChartered]

MN are you able to hold meetings, rather than knock on people's doors?

[QuintessentialOHara]

Yanbu


But how about a modified blood donation sticker saying: "Blood donations welcome".


And do keep a loaded supersoaker ready by the door for next time.

[mistlethrush]

Have a big badge saying 'PLACENAME SUPPORT WORKER' or development worker or whatever's most appropriate.

Have a clipboard with similar in large letters and make sure this is very visible.

Those should help a bit! Good luck though!

[CrazyCatLady13]

One lunch break, happily sitting on a bench by myself & smoking (I know it's evil!) when an elderly gentleman sat beside me. He said he'd come to sit with me as he was worried about me, then produced a leaflet explaining that I couldn't go to heaven as I smoked! Apparently God will reject me! Almost showed him my tattoos to scare him off but thought better of it.

I got back to work and told everyone 'Did you know I'm going to Hell because I smoke!' Still not ready to quit yet though!

[TheMNeffect]

Thanks for the suggestions unChartered and mistlethrush.

Our organisation has logo tshirts and things so I might get one to wear while I'm working.

I can set up meetings and eventually I will do that, but there is a big emphasis on meeting people face to face and engaging with them. Then hopefully they will introduce me to their friends and family (thereby averting suspicions). I think people are quite mistrustful of general community meetings as they think that nothing will change anyway, so they don't attend, but I am hoping that if they have already met me then they feel more inclined to get involved and come along.

It's early days but I am really hoping that things will take off and the community will come together.

[Cookiewise]

I am actually Jewish but I have told JW's that I am a practising Satanist in the past. If you say it nonchalantly they act like robots whose computers have malfunctioned and they don't know how to react "computer says no". I know it is a bit mean but I think it is rude to knock unsolicited on strangers doors.

[MrsPennyapple]

You were not unreasonable. If you have asked to be placed on their "Do Not Call" list they should have done that, as a pp mentioned they are normally polite and want to give a good impression of the religion and its followers.

Write to your local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses and inform them that you were unhappy / irritated / whatever by their behaviour when they last visited, and that they are not to call on you again. (If you can't find an address, look for "Watchtower, Bible and Tract Society of Great Britian", you should be able to find an address through them.)

Telling them you're a Catholic / Muslim / Satanist will not get them to leave you alone. Nor will they run away in terror if you dress in black and answer the door wearing a pentagram. So many people seem to think JWs have never seen a goth before...

[TheMNeffect]

Do you think it is rude in all circumstances cookie? I always feel a bit guilty knocking on people's doors but it essential to my work as I obviously need to speak to them to find out what their issues are in their locality.

[MrsPennyapple]

Oh, and buckets of water won't do the trick either. They expect persecution, you'd just be re-affirming their beliefs.

[YouTheCat]

Damn.

How about I get some orange robes and shave my head?

[peachypips]

There is a special kind of rage that comes upon you when you are trying to get young kids to sleep and someone/something wakes them. I reserved it for the quarry lorries rattling past my windows at a hundred miles an hour.

[UnChartered]

you could tap into community groups that already exist, lots of for eg pensioners clubs have meeting rooms, how about community rooms in schools, can you put up posters in GP surgery/pharmacy? if you have a logo, get people to recognise it, then they're more likely to come because they're nosey interested

[DesperatelySeekingSedatives]

YWNBU at all. Had this last year. Teething DS took me HOURS to get him to nap as he couldnt settle. 15 minutes after he fell asleep in my arms some fucking arseholes couple carrying leaflets bearing a cross on the front hammered on my door 3 fucking times before i flung it open, screaming howling baby in my arms to tell them to do one. I'm normally polite to anyone who knocks on my door but they made me so angry!

How dare anyone be so arrogant to presume its ok to bang really hard on your front door like that not once but 3 times?! do these people that do this really think that pestering anyone in their own home like this is going to win over people?!

[UnChartered]

sorry, that was to MN - tbh, i'd be rather more suspicious of some random knocking on my door trying to tell me something - they'd get the same treatment as the JW

[Cookiewise]

TheMNeffect.
No, of course if a neighbour needed help or someone was dying in the street I wouldn't mind but yes, I do feel it is rude to knock on a stranger's door if you are selling something, whether it be god, community services or charity goods (even if you think you are doing good). If you leave a leaflet instead then people have the option of coming to you if they choose to rather than feeling pressured/intimidated/annoyed in their own home.

[YouTheCat]

My mam used to invite a JW in. It was many years ago and the JW was a little old woman. She'd come in chat about Jesus, get a cuppa and be on her way.

After about 3 or 4 visits my mam told her that she wasn't interested (committed atheist ) and the lovely old lady said she knew but it was just so nice not to have the door slammed in her face. She still popped in every now and again for a chat.

If more JW took her gentle approach (she never hammered on the door as far as I can remember), maybe more people would be interested?

[TheMNeffect]

Thanks you unchartered. I do have a card I leave explaining what I'm doing and why and ways to get in touch which I post if there is no answer. I will definitely look into community groups. Thank you for the helpful suggestions.

That is what I have feared cookie. I am very aware that I am disturbing people but unfortunately, it is necessary to the job. I am always amazed at how kind and receptive some people are but equally it is hard not to take it personally when I am being told to fuck off when I am only trying to help. Incidentally, I am not promoting existing community services, I am giving them the chance to have a say about they think of their community.

[JaxTellerIsAllMine]

MNeffect I would go round your local area - start with playgroups, church meetings, youth clubs, local neighbourhood watch meetings, pensioners tea clubs. That way people will get to know you and you them without being intrusive in their homes.

[Kasterborous]

No you were defiantly NBU. I take great delight these days letting them blatantly see I am in and ignoring them. I may have even made a rude gesture one day out of the window to them.

[MrsMymble]

Way back in the mists of time, when I was a baby, my Dad answered the door to them in the nude. They never came back