To have sent them packing?

[Krytes42]

The situation:
An older lady and a teenage girl, wielding pamphlets, knock on our door.
Lady: Hi, we're members of_ church, which has just opened up in the neighbourhood.
Me: Oh, we're not religious.
Lady: Well, then, you're just the people we want to see! Have you considered...
Me: We're not religious and we don't want to become religious.
Lady: Oh, well, religion isn't everything. You could just join our...
Me: We don't want to become members of a church.
Lady: Well, will you just read this pamphlet?
Me: No thank you.
Lady: Can I just leave one in your mailbox?
Me: No thank you.
They bugger off

My husband heard this exchange and was shocked that I was so abrupt with them. He would have said something polite and tried to avoid refusing them outright, in part because of their sex and ages. Proselytizing religions really get on my nerves, and I feel that I was as polite as necessary to someone who wouldn't take the hint that I wasn't interested.

SarniaCherie I unlatched my 7-week old son in order to answer the door. Missed opportunity there, should have left him on!

I had 2 mormons turn up at my door. 2 lads, neither over 20.

Them: Can we speak to the man of the house?
Me: I own this house and live here with my 2 female cats. Can any of us help?
Them: Oh well errr
Me: I'm a bit of an equalitist. Does your church have equal rights for women?
Them: errr
Me: Bye then

I explain to JW that I'm a tad 'woo' and probably count as a witch by their teachings. I'm planning to devote more time to my crystals and energy essences. I can do treatments. Would they like a leaflet?

I never have return visits.

I have to say that there's a kingdom hall a road or two over and we never have visits here I don't think they shit on their own doorstep visit the very local houses.

Anyone tried talking to them in a Vicky Pollard voice?

I live in a Very religious state and we get these knocks quite frequently. I smile, take the pamphlet, say I must run, close door lightly, and throw away pamphlet out of their eyesight.

I do belong to a church, and I do have a stack of pamphlets of Our church (that I don't pass out!) in my drawer just in case they are rude...then I have the option to offer them one of mine!

Barb how incredibly rude of your mother.

I think Barb's mother is a genius.

If my bell goes I walk to the door and look through the peephole. If I don't know the person I see, I don't open it. Yes, they can hear me doing this (tile floor) but I don't care - it's my house and I don't have to open the door if I don't want to. I also don't answer calls if I don't recognise the number. So sadly I have no witty response to offer you, OP, even though you are clearly NBU and your husband is being ridiculous and, I think, a bit sexist.

One of my friends used to keep a stash of hash cookies near her front door. She would politely decline their pamphlets but wish them well and send them off with a cookie!

OP I can only imagine that those who think you were rude are imagining a harsher tone of voice than the rest of us are. Your actual words were perfectly polite.

One of my friends used to keep a stash of hash cookies near her front door for these occasions. She would politely decline their pamphlets but wish them well and send them on their way with a cookie!

OP I can only imagine that those who think you were rude are imagining a harsher tone of voice than the rest of us are. Your actual words were perfectly polite.

You were not rude. I would have said pretty much the same thing; in fact word for word

Like Dolcelatte we have a soft as butter but very noisy (especially if you have dared knock his door) dog. I usually just go & casually stand in the doorway with my finger round his choke chain. His demented barking tends to see most cold callers off! All he wants to do is sniff them to death & have a wee in the front garden but they don't need to know that!

I once had a group of women ask me not to turn my dogs on them, when I was planning on doing no such thing. If this is the reception they expect, then I think a 'no thank you' in any tone of voice is very polite.

My step-dad used to invite them in if he was bored. My poor mum, after a few months of this, had to break it to them that they really were wasting their time. Then she apparently had a very stern talk with him.