Jehovah's Witnesses

[Dottie39]

They knocked on the door and tried to hand me their magazine. I politely declined, meanwhile my little boy and girl, both under six, have ran to door. JW turns to them and offers them the magazine. I sharply say "No, I have said no" and shut the door. Apparently he told my neighbour I was rude (Neighbour is also JW)
Was I rude? I was actually angry that after saying no he targeted my children, but my neighbour made me feel bad saying he was being friendly and kids wouldn't have understood the magazine anyway.

I don't think you were unreasonable, no means no and people shouldn't push it, especially involving our children, well meaning or not. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you, they probably won't come calling to you again!

*your children

Have just realised that we haven't been at all bothered by them since DH installed this new knocked. Coincidence?

Rude is coming to people's houses, intruding and trying to force your religious beliefs on them.

We had them in Christmas Day once.

Just tell them to mark it down that you do not wish to be called on, they mostly respect that - it's very bloody simple, but still the desire to argue and fight persists - it doesn't prove either of you right or wrong!

I've been wanting to ask this for ages, but I doubt any JWs are actually going to answer! Genuinely, how do they feel about knocking on doors? Do they see it as a duty? A social thing? A necessity to save themselves?

I fear I am rude when I tell them to stop peddling religion round doorsteps. It's not a commodity!

I think this thread is rude tbh.
There religion states they have to "spread the word" and they knock maybe twice a year and you have an awkward 30 second conversation usually.
I think people would have a problem if people were saying things like this about any other religion, lots of religions apposed gay marriage and same sex parenting and do other things I don't understand or see a point to but I don't see why you are all bashing JW's for it

Their*

I don't care what religion someone is. I do care when they come on to my property and start trying to covert me.

They can do what they like. Just leave me to MY beliefs - it's the same courtesy I am affording to them.

You weren't rude. You'd politely said no and then they tried to give their literature to your children. It doesn't matter whether others think it's harmless. You had declined. Absolutely not their place to try to pass stuff to your children.

I consider anyone pushing religion or politics at doorways to be beyond the pale and tell them I'm just not interested, full stop. They do tend to get the message as I just close the door and lock it if they push too far, I never let them over the threshold tho'.

Nope, not U at all. You said no, and that's that. They may believe it's their 'duty' to save everyone, and you may believe Satan is the best - doesn't matter what any of us believe, the bottom line is we live in a free country where we have freedom of religion until the tories tax that too and you had made your stance perfectly clear. Cut and dried to me

Picklypickles I have a big problem with anyone who thinks that because I don't subscribe to their religion I need 'saving'. I find that astonishingly rude and intolerant.

For the record I don't think OP for saying what she said - she had said no and they should respect that but lumping every JW into a box of gay hating religion pushing maniacs is a bit extreme

Genuinely, how do they feel about knocking on doors? Do they see it as a duty? A social thing? A necessity to save themselves?

From what I know, they have to - every member is put on door duty for a couple of years.

Or do I confuse that with some other sect? But I suppose they all operate similar.

Interesting thing about not being allowed to talk to ex-witnesses. That's a thing with other cults, too; silencing ex-members, probably because those are most dangerous; they cannot be dismissed as not having heard the gospel yet.

I try to be polite to them I mean, they have it hard enough being caught up in a cult that might kill them with its bonkers views.

But trying to target your children after you said no? That's just plain aggressive and rude, and they should know better than to try that.
(Nowadays that it is seen as absolute no go to give even sweets to children directly without running it past the parents, what the hell was he thinking?)

Some near us are repeat-visitors. They can be lovely, take an interest in everyone and are always polite. I smile, listen and then go back to not giving a shite what they say.

Last December we had a visit from the regulars. I'd got the day off school so was spending it wrapping up the DCs gifts with DH. They knocked (and to reach our front door you have to walk past the front-room windows so they'd clearly seen wrapping paper, gifts, tags and cards all over the place) and DH pranced across, opened the door with a glass of sherry in his hand, singing 'Sympathy for the Devil' and proclaimed "Whooo, your anti-christmas friends are here, shall I tell them you're wrapping christmas gifts and booked in for donating blood again this Friday or let it be a surprise". They've not been since. (I really did have an appointment to donate blood, too, but the Rolling Stones song was a step too far).

I think people would have a problem if people were saying things like this about any other religion, lots of religions apposed gay marriage and same sex parenting and do other things I don't understand or see a point to but I don't see why you are all bashing JW's for it

Rest assured, I also bash Islam and Mormons, and pretty much every religious group large enough to seriously annoy me about their misogyny and homophobia.

The reason people bash JWs more is because JWs shove it into their faces.

Just after uni I lived in a shared house. We had an event to go to, so we were basically dressed for Halloween on a summer Saturday morning, they didn't even speak, just turned and walked back down the path.

--My housemate may have shouted 'Come back, I want to talk to you about God' after them.

We didn't see them again.

Once twice yearly visits, just ask them to not call again, it's only quick. What utter bullshit. I got weekly visits, for 3 years. I could't turn off a communal door bell, if anybody let them in they would bang on my front door, I explained they had woken the baby, then the next baby, that OH worked night shifts, could they please leave me alone, put me on their no contact list at their Kingdom hall, for 3 years. Then I threatened to break their legs over the intercom. They only then left me alone.
OP YANBU

I had some awesome ones, years ago.

They rocked up, I said no thanks, atheist household.

Then they spotted ds, then aged about 4, playing in the garden.

'oooh hello, yoo hoo Crowboy! So lovely to see you again!'

Me: 'er... Slightly weird. How do you know my son's name?'

JW: 'Oh I'm great friends with his childminder!'

Me: 'ah OK, she's lovely, isn't she? Anyway, not interested, have a good day.'

Mentioned it to CM (Pakistani Muslim & fairly new to the UK at that point).

CM: ' Oh yes. They'll be the ones who came round last week. I let them in for a cuppa. Seemed rude not to... Anyway, they were sooo friendly but it was totally awkward. Won't make that mistake again!'

A few months later the JWs turned up again.

This time their opening gambit, as I was politely explaining that I was an atheist, not interested, thanks & bye, was to ask if I was really happy with my dc being cared for in a house where 'Jesus Christ was denied' .

Pointed out that CM & her faith had a damn sight more time for JC than I did. I may have been rather peremptory at that point in ordering them Orf My Land.

I had some today, she handed me a leaflet whilst saying, 'Do you think the suffering will ever end?'

To which I replied, 'Not on my watch.', and closed the door.

Fuck That, I would have invited them in and dropped some red pillspill in front of my kids for that.

A PP said they come from a good place. I merely provided some evidence to the contrary. When ive previously been stopped by JW i always ask for their views on gay people and if they accept gay people at their church (im not gay myself but have gay friends whose lives have been made very hard by religious relatives). They usually say 'it's a lifestyle choice' and then walk away from me

My mum thought about becoming a JW when she was young but decided not to as she was passionate about being a blood donor. Her JW friends cut her off completely.

A friend of mine was answered the door to a lady handing her a copy of The Watchtower and asking her if she ever felt that the world was a dark and dangerous place. She replied, "No, but it sounds like you do. Have faith, sister." and closed the door! I thought that was brilliant!

Not rude at all. After you'd said no they shouldn't have got you to take one via the children.

Do what I did and get yourself a doorsticker. One that says no canvassers salespeople or religions etc. Couple of quid. Ironically they're the only ones that respect the sticker. Others use it as an 'lets see how much we can irrationally piss pixies off' invitation.