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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be afraid of the Jehovah witnesses?

138 replies

Carrierpenguin · 22/10/2014 21:58

Tonight a pair of Jehovah witnesses turned up on my doorstep. I was a bit thick and didn't realise who they were. They duped me into speaking to them for a couple of minutes and thrust a magazine thing in my hands as I closed the door, they said they'd come back. I did tell ask them if this was a 'religious thing' and they said they were christian, I said I'm a C of E church goer.

I'm worried that they are going to come back and hound me forever more now. Aibu?

OP posts:
Poledra · 23/10/2014 09:52

Could be, Hatespiders - it was a long time ago and we'd all been at the sherry, TBH

fortifiedwithtea · 23/10/2014 09:57

Oops. X-post with Hatespiders

Spanglemum · 23/10/2014 10:01

We're atheists. My late mum taught me to say 'not today, thank you' and close the door politely.

tobeabat · 23/10/2014 10:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LikeTheShoes · 23/10/2014 10:05

I accidentally flashed some poor Mormon boys men.

They got me out of the shower to answer the door and I slightly dropped the towel to take their leaflet.

They never did come back.

PoirotsMalevolentMoustache · 23/10/2014 10:12

As devoted Christian preachers and teachers, Jehovah’s Witnesses are so convinced that they have found the truth that they make great sacrifices in order to share the message with people of other nations and ethnic groups. Many have simplified their life, learned another language, and adapted to a different culture in order to share in this vital Christian work. This international preaching and teaching work is another factor that convinces many people that Jehovah’s Witnesses are the true followers of Christ Jesus.

Witnesses do all of this because they are convinced that they have found the truth. But what else has convinced millions of people that Jehovah’s Witnesses have the truth? (taken from one of the magazines on their website)

Jehovah's Witnesses are told this constantly, it's a requirement of 'membership' that they go and knock on doors. They get quite severely reprimanded if they don't do a certain amount of hours knocking on doors each month.

PoirotsMalevolentMoustache · 23/10/2014 10:15

tobeabat They are only dangerous once you're in (as per blood, disfellowshipping, undue pressure etc above).

THIS!!

Sunnymeg · 23/10/2014 10:39

If they call on you, ask to go on their 'no visit' list. All Kingdom Halls have to have a register of houses that have asked them not to visit. This will keep them away for three to five years. We asked to go on this years ago. They will then call again after three to five years assuming that the house may have new occupants. If they call in the meantime tell them they have made a mistake and reiterate that they are not to call.

PeppermintInfusion · 23/10/2014 11:13

I usually don't answer the door, or if they are persistent leave it so long that they know I have been avoiding them.

Most of the JWs are polite enough if you explain have have your own beliefs "thank you but I am a committed humanist blah blah" and head on their way. There are some who appear in my area on occasions who thrust their children towards you to speak if you say you aren't interested which I really don't agree with and usually say something then.

The Mormons are usually more forceful if you decline and don't like to take no for an answer. Be aware of pairs of young men in suits!

vienna1981 · 23/10/2014 11:24

It's all very well folk being part of whatever faith THEY choose. But they should keep it to themselves. And I get seriously pissed off when the JWs dress up their young
children like insurance brokers and
drag them around banging on doors.
Let children be children and make up
their own minds about religion when they can form a basic opinion. Anything less smacks of indoctrination.

Greydog · 23/10/2014 11:34

We often get the JWs round, and they are polite and pleasant. I've no problem with chatting with them, but they know (I've told them) I'll never be converted to their way of thinking. I sometimes think they call just for a bit of lively debate! I read the Watchtower if they leave it! But being afraid of them - that's just silly.

HowlCapone · 23/10/2014 12:20

I have only experienced two "nasty" door knocking JWs. One put his foot in the door and carried on speaking when I said I wasn't interested and the other told my mother she could repent her decision to give me a life saving blood transfusion at birth. Other than that, a polite "No thank you" does the job. I've never felt the need to go on their Do Not Knock list.

FryOneFatManic · 23/10/2014 12:44

We very rarely get JWs in my area, but when they do come round, they are of the bolshy type.

So if they persist after my polite "no thanks" I start talking about blood transfusion and exactly why I disagree with their stance on the issue.

Keeps them away for a few years.

Staywithme · 23/10/2014 12:45

They come round here every few months but have always been very nice. They were very apologetic when I answered the door in my robe bath robe, not devil worshipping robe, though that would be more fun. I told them I had been in bed as I was on nights and they couldn't have apologised more.

The most recent time, I explained I didn't want their pamphlet on death as my husband has terminal cancer and the lady was so apologetic, though did give me a different leaflet instead. Haha can't keep a good JW down. Grin

I never thought about being taken off their list. Must do that next time.

My sister's neighbours (elderly couple) were JW and were lovely. They adored my nephew and would even send over a wee box of sweets on his birthday and Christmas. They never discussed religion. I think it must depend on whoever is in charge of each 'church'.

Piercy · 23/10/2014 12:54

We had JW's 3 times last week, they are constantly coming round I've constantly asked to go on the don't knock list only for them to still call, I've emailed - no reply, tried to call them wrong number listed got an elderly gentleman equally frustrated to get their calls. I have explained I have a baby who thinks sleep is for wimps and their timing is spot on when he's asleep and they wake him up - frustrated isn't the word I do wonder when you can report them for harrassment???

Staywithme · 23/10/2014 12:58

That's awful Piercy. You should put up one if those no cold callers signs and tell them you will report them to the police if they continue. You could also hang a pentagon at your front door. Grin

duhgldiuhfdsli · 23/10/2014 13:10

Piercy, that's because like most religious obsessives, they're more concerned about their own ostentatious virtue than the people around them.

You're allowed to tell them to fuck off, to their faces, after three repeat visits.

Our local obsessives have taken to trailing sad looking children around with them, presumably because that way you're less likely to be rude to them. Religion and child abuse, it's just the perfect combination, isn't it?

Stupidhead · 23/10/2014 13:24

XH used to take the leaflet (watchtower?) which meant they'd always come back as they thought they had a possible convert. DP stands and tells them about atheism. He looks like a satanist so we generally only get religious callers knocking once..

SuedeEffectPochette · 23/10/2014 13:37

I have tried telling them I am Catholic (actually I am not) but that seemed to spur them on to think I could be easily converted. They said "we talk to Catholics too"! Now I just say either

  1. Sorry I can't speak to you as I don't live here. This gets rid of anyone.
  2. Sorry I know they make you do this but I am not interested..
NotYouNaanBread · 23/10/2014 13:40

What are you afraid of exactly? Have you heard anything about JW's murdering people in their homes?

YABU.

They're annoying if you are not into it, but to be afraid of them is ridiculous. Get it together.

RedSoloCup · 23/10/2014 13:43

I think they've got a real cheek knocking at peoples doors and I never answer, I don't answer to anyone I'm not expecting though :-)

NinePeedles · 23/10/2014 13:47

My sister was converted to JW after inviting them in one cold rainy day (complete with small shivering child).
They all help each other out unless someone does something they don't like, then they aren't allowed to even speak to them again.
Then she got cancer and needed blood.
So now she is dead.
Some friends they were.
So they get short shrift from me.

LadyEnglefield · 23/10/2014 13:50

When my DDad was alive he was visited regularly by a young married couple of JWs. He was CofE.

They would come in and chat to him and discuss passages in the Bible, I think they realised that they were never going to convert him. He just liked them and enjoyed their company - and vice versa.

When Dad died we contacted them and they came to his funeral - in a CofE church.

I met them a few times when I was staying with Dad & they turned up. They were really lovely people.

firstposts · 23/10/2014 13:51

I've always wanted to tell them 'I'm a practising satanist' with a straight face. But I'm a coward and don't answer the door.

mummylin2495 · 23/10/2014 13:52

I simply asked them to take my house of the calling list and have never been bothered again. I have to say they have never been rude when they did use to call. They are certainly nothing to be afraid of, they are just people with different views from yourself ( and me )