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.

[Smellslikecatspee]

They haven't come back to us since I answered the dooring my nursing uniform (having just got in from the shift from hell, covered in various stains) and told them I worked for the Blood Transfusion People.

I tried to sign them up. . .

[UnChartered]

actually, thinking about this even more, MN door knocking could be a waste of resources, ie time

i wonder how may times you'd have to call at a certain address to find someone in, and how many of those people would give you a favourable response?

posters and leaflets will spare you the personal insult, and raise curiosity as well as awareness

do you want a marketing manager

[LilyAmaryllis]

YANBU. I've been canvassing so I'm aware I am the annoying person knocking on the door... but that's it - I'm aware of it. On more than one occasion I've seen that people are in, and they don't answer the door, so... I put the leaflet through and walk away!

[eminemmerdale]

We have a sign on the door: No canvassers, no cold callers, no religious bodies, no slaespeople. Didn't stop some bloke trying to flog solar panels, as he just knew we would want them, what with being south facing and all. I just pointed to the sign and said 'I didn't print, laminate, and attach this sign for my health you know'. If we want solar panels we will purchase them.

[baw70]

As I was reading this thread, the RSPCA charity collectors came to my door. I told them I wasn't interested, they wanted to know why, so I said I already give to the charity of my choice. One demanded to know who. I said "Pardon" in a snotty way, thinking he'd take the hint - no, he carried right on asking who exactly did I give to. I told him I thought his nosiness was rude, but it didn't phase him at all. In the end I told him I give to the SCBU who saved my son's life and he still wouldn't go away, so I closed the door on them. I've emailed the RSPCA, made a complaint and told them their attempt at gaining my money has been counter productive, as I will ensure I never give to them again.

[GoingVerySlowlyMad]

YANBU! They are so used to being given the brush off, that it is almost like a challenge to them. They never take no for answer so basically telling them in no uncertain terms is the way to go, but don't be surprised if they still come back.

We used to live in one of their hotspots when the DC's were babies and not even yelling in their faces deterred them. In the end I had to put a strongly worded notice up along the lines of "young baby sleeping, no cold callers, failure to adhere to this notice will result in being reported for harassment". A couple of years later one the women turned up at my DC's school as a teaching assistant. I always used to get a look that would have curdled milk !

[baw70]

Sorry, just realised that's nothing to with JWs is it?

[YouTheCat]

I think the charity callers are more annoying than the JWs tbh.

At least the JWs aren't being paid to do it.

I had a WWF (not wrestling) one on the phone the other day... 'could you spare £30 a month' no, I haven't got the price of a loaf of bread at the end of the month. Then 'could you spare £20 a month' no again. Went all the way down to £3 a month and the posh cow on the other end still didn't get that if I had £3 spare it would be going on something useful.

In future I'm just going to scream 'ALL PANDAS MUST DIE' and hang up.

[NumTumDeDum]

According to DP i was a very scary lady to the spotty oik who rang and banged on our door last saturday morning at 8.50 am. He practically flew down the path. All I said was 'please, not at this time of the morning'. Apparently it was the way I said it. I do consider all unsolicited calls impolite. I don't mind community things or political reps. Those tjings interest me. JW - no thank you.

[Flobbadobs]

I told the last couple that i was a pagan, we chatted about our beliefs for a few minutes then they went on their way. As they went up the path I called "blessed be" at them and closed the door. The next lot that did the rounds did not come down our path...
A local JW lady gave me a beautiful handmade blanket for DD2 when she was born though, I have alot of time for her, she's lovely and doesn't shove it down your throat.

[MrsFrederickWentworth]

YWNBU. You have asked not to be bothered before.

On You's theme, friends of mine incited them in " oh good, we are Catholics and I've wanted to give you the opportunity to hear more about Catholicism " at which they fled, never to return.

Said friends are Catholic, would have been prepared to talk it if they'd really had to, but were using it as a ( most successful) tactic.

[TheMNeffect]

Thank you to all the posters who have made some really useful suggestions. I will definitely be making use of them.

Quite often people are out when I knock so it is time consuming. Having said that, the people who do hive me a chance seem really receptive to what I am trying to do. I think it is always going to be a tough job but I think the rewards could be quite spectacular if people would be willing to give it a go.

Sorry for the hijack op . I should have started my own thread.

Btw, YWNBU. It would have given me the rage too. And that is obviously coming from someone who door knocks for a living .

[MikeOxard]

OP, YWNBU at all, what cunts! I have a toddler and a baby too and I'd be fucking enraged if that was me.

MNeffect Your problem (or one of them) is that cold callers have started to use the line 'I'm not selling anything' when they clearly fucking are. It pisses me right off that on top of everything else, they are insulting my intelligence. I would stick a card through the door (or do a mailshot) of people you're going to visit, telling them when you'll visit and what about, so they know in advance. Maybe tell them how they can get hold of you if they won't be in that day too.

[TheMNeffect]

Brilliant suggestion mike. I think that might be quite effective to leaflet drop an area before hand with a photo of myself on.

I can't believe cold callers use that line - no wonder nobody is willing to trust me!

I sometimes walk up to doors that have signs saying no:
Cold callers
Sales people
Religious groups
Canvassers
Etc
Etc

I have to stop and decide whether I fit any of those categories. I usually decide that I am just another community member who wants to have a chat about the local area as there is a huge emphasis on this NOT being a survey but about community involvement and empowerment.

[MikeOxard]

Have you not had them then MN? It goes "I'm not selling anything but..."

1. I'm letting people know about a special deal in this area
   
2. I'm raising awareness of X's services available in the area/of X charity
   
3. I'm asking people what home improvement they would have done if they could
   
4. I'm informing people about this free trial/3 months free if you sign up to a new provider (telephone/gas/electric).
   
5. Any variation on the above horse shit.
   

Urgh, FUCK OFF I want the kids to sleep already!!

Good luck MNEffect!! x

[exexpat]

MNeffect - I was just going to suggest leafletting people first, but I see someone got there first. I would definitely be more inclined to talk to you if I had some idea about what you were doing in advance.

But if you call when I am in the middle of cooking supper/on the phone/trying to get some sleep, which seems to be when everyone else knocks on the door, I might still be a little curt. Putting a link to a website for info/feedback/invitations to a meeting or drop-in session would also be a good idea.

[TheMNeffect]

mike bizarrely, I haven't ever had that. I have some JWs that call regularly but they only knock once and if I open the door they are quite pleasant. I don't mind them really.

I once had a double glazing salesperson knock bit he was quite open about what he wanted. I was actually interested and he got so excited by the prospect of a sale. They had to admit that they use hard sell tactics when I said there was no way DH would allow them to come back, I only wanted a price.

Unfortunately, my introduction does sound a little similar to some of those lines so I may modify my approach to make it clearer what I am doing.

Thank you everyone. I'm so glad I asked now as it I have been given some invaluable insight into why people are not being as receptive as I had hoped.

[IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat]

MNeffect, I'm not sure what your local area is like, but in our town as well as leaflets, community activists:

• have a stand at the weekly market where people can chat to them/sign petitions/be informed about meetings etc.
  
• have a display in the library
  
• have a feature in the local paper
  

I have to agree with others that I am incredibly suspicious of anyone cold calling me. I do, however, look at all leaflets put through the door.

[LineRunner]

MNeffect This sometimes works well:

Devise a simple, colourful A4 survey leaflet. Ask some basic questions about 'What would you like to see improved in your area?' 'What annoys you most about your area?' etc.

At the bottom, say that you will be coming to collect the surveys between (say) 6pm and 7pm that evening (but you really have to make sure that you do!) if people would like to hang them out of their letterbox.

And have a final box - 'Please tick if you would like me to knock on your door to hear your views in person.'

[PoohBearsHole]

Jus discovered my JW was actually a canvassing conservative council member. Equally as glad not to be door stepped!!!

[lottiegarbanzo]

TheMNEffect - it's all been said now but, what linerunner said, exactly. Information in advance, specify time (give them 2 or 3 days - not immediate, not so far ahead they'll have forgotten), opportunity to engage in whatever way suits them, be visually identifiable.

Can you run a drop in session at a local cafe / market / community activity, so people can come and find you if they want to speak face to face but at another time?

Also contacting existing groups and arranging to attend as 'guest speaker' or more informally but crucially, introduced by the organiser.

There must be a guild of community workers or somesuch with publications bursting with advice and case studies on this sort of approach.

I might be interested in talking to you but, if you come while I'm feeding or bathing the baby, putting her to bed, cooking or about to eat - so that's most of the evening - I won't be available.

[VeganCow]

YANBU

I believe anyone coming up my path, uninvited, to sell anything including religion, is a cheeky fucker. And deserves to be fucked off pronto. I am usually polite but if they persist despite being told no they get the door in their face.