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.

[DameFanny]

Last time we had JW was years ago. I was passing the door on the way to retrieve a screaming ds so I just opened it, said no Thankyou, and closed it again. Must have been enough to get me off their list as we've not been bothered again and they have a national rally every year about 3 streets away.

[LimitedEditionLady]

Thats the best cold call response ive ever heard.you are a legend.i am not worthy.i bow to you.

[LineRunner]

And another thing ....

Because everyone is so hacked off about opening their own front doors these days, even when you have good reason to knock, people don't want to open it.

I saw someone had left their keys in their front door once. I knocked their door to tell them; they didn't answer. (Window also wide open, so I guess they were in.) I knocked next door, where there were people in the front room, but they just ignored my helpful gesticulating and wouldn't answer.

So I just walked away.

I do not look like a JW.

[TheMNeffect]

Thanks once again for all the brilliant suggestions. I will most definitely be doing the things suggested, particularly the leaflet drop .

But just to give another spin on things, I think I will still keep door knocking alongside the meetings/community groups. I knocked on the door of one guy, he was a bit blunt with me, said it wasn't a good time so I asked if I could come back. So he said yes.

I went back and he apologised and said that he had been waiting for his carer to come and dress him. They are often late. I spent hours with him and learnt all about his life. He was such an interesting guy, had previously been really well known in the community. But due to an illness he has become house bound and he told me that apart from his carers, I was one of the only people he had spoken to in months.

I loved talking to that guy, he had done brilliant ideas about improving the community, and I will go back to see him to see if he would like to get involved more and if there are ways I can support him to do that.

I would never have met him had I only gone to community groups and cafes. So it might be worth putting up with a few 'fuck offs' to be able to reach everyone .

[becstarlightstarbright]

Last time JWs came to ours I happened to have a Jesuit priest over for tea (I'm not Catholic - he's a friend of the family). The JWs faces were an absolute picture... They ran away in the end with him still calling them back asking them to talk reasonably with him...

YWDNBU

[redwellybluewelly]

MNeffect also if you do that survey include a box which allows people to opt oit of being contacted again. I've just been working on a big engagement project and its like getting blood out of a stone but you do need some 'issues' up front to canvas opinion even if everyone tells you those aren't the issues these are!

Also. Another gentle piece of advice, be enthusiastic but don't become evangelical!

OP ywsnbu! Last week DH opened the door to them with DD in his arms and they had brought a child with them and were spouting forth about how wonderful children were and how we mist be grateful and the sin in the world etc etc DD wouldn't bloody be here if we had followed their rules. I had to get quite shouty to make him shut the door!

[TheMNeffect]

Thanks red. Are you in community work as well?

Sone days I do feel disheartened and that it will never work but I really want to give it my best shot so I must watch that I don't become evangelical. Good advice .

[TheMNeffect]

And I also have a 'fuck off and never darken my door again' list. A big X ensures I won't go back therefore respecting their wishes .

[landofsoapandglory]

YANBU.

Many years ago some JW'S knocked on my door on the morning after DH had been rushed into hospital in the middle of the night by ambulance. I was knackered, DS1 was 2 and baby DS2 was screaming for a feed. They would not go away and kept asking if there was anything that God could do!

I just turned round and snapped "not unless he is going to pop down to baby sit!" They were a bit shocked, but they should have just gone away in the first place. Funnily enough they never knocked again!

[specialsubject]

I also find that the godbotherers turn me from a reasonable person into a shrieking harpy. Let's hope they've got the hint.

I wonder if anyone ever actually falls for this rubbish and joins up?

[pigletmania]

Yanbu good on you, they deserved it for being so rude