Put a question to Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Education Minister

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AIBU?

Jehovah's Witnesses

139 replies

Dottie39 · 04/07/2017 20:15

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.

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AwaywiththePixies27 · 04/07/2017 22:11

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

No. It's seen as important missionary work. They're also not the only church to push this. I once went to a church where you had to have completed a small number of missionary tasks, along with others, before you'd be accepted onto their membership.

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Krispiesquare · 04/07/2017 22:11

I'm quite friendly with mine

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Scaredycat3000 · 04/07/2017 22:14

I put a no cold callers sign no my front door. The only people who ignore it are religious people. They point to it and explain to me me that it doesn't include them. WTF.

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raspberrysuicide · 04/07/2017 22:16

I imagine they have heard a lot worse than what you did op

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AwaywiththePixies27 · 04/07/2017 22:34

scaredycat you need something like this.

<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00JAF57E0/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1499203876&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=no%20cold%20callers%20sign&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00JAF57E0/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1499203876&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=no%20cold%20callers%20sign&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

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AwaywiththePixies27 · 04/07/2017 22:35

Sorry I'm crap at links. As is evident.

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IrritatedUser1960 · 04/07/2017 22:39

I'm a pagan as is obvious by the green man on my door and they always walk right past my house. i am upset that they think I am too far gone to be saved

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Tapandgo · 04/07/2017 22:47

Not rude at all - they were by-passing a parent to get something into your home you expressly said no to. I'd have been angry too.

They were seriously out of order discussing you with your neighbour too - trying to set people against each other.

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StrangeLookingParasite · 04/07/2017 22:49

I get where you are coming from but they generally believe they know the 'truth' and want to save people. Its coming from a good place and I think you probably did come across a bit rude.

I don't agree with this at all. ALL cults (big and small) think they have a monopoly on 'the truth'. I don't care.
And no, I don't think it's 'coming from a good place' at all - it's an attempt to suck children into their fantasy world, after their parent has expressly said no.
Not an overreaction at all.

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StrangeLookingParasite · 04/07/2017 22:49

Could I say 'at all' a few more times, do you think? Bleh.

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Scaredycat3000 · 04/07/2017 22:51

Thanks Away .
Small place so all educated on what no cold callers means. As the christian charity lady had so clearly explained that her training the previous day had told her not to call on houses with no cold caller signs, she thought she would all the same, I contacted the local head office and advised them their training wasn't working. They respond I really shouldn't mind local volunteers at my door.

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user1476869312 · 04/07/2017 22:57

'Fuck right off' is a perfectly reasonable response to uninvited, unwanted callers. Particularly those trying to interest you in their imaginary friend.
Our local ones have stopped knocking on doors and now hang out at the tram stop, getting in the way with their poxy magazine.

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nocoolnamesleft · 04/07/2017 22:57

"My life was saved by a blood transfusion" is true, and usually gets rid of them. I've never had to upgrade to pointing out that I sometimes prescribe blood products to children...

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karmacoma1 · 04/07/2017 22:59

I don't think you were rude.

I had a dreadful day last week, and two came to the door and repeatedly knocked it whilst I was feeding the baby.

I answered the door and snapped "Yes?!" They started the spiel and I sighed dramatically and shouted "No wasting your time this is a catholic household" and slammed the door.

I felt bad about it for ages after. Must be a shite job, trudging from house to house getting abuse.

I mean do they find this approach EVER works?.

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AwaywiththePixies27 · 04/07/2017 23:24

You're welcome scaredycat when I did the missionary work, it involved leafleting several hundred houses in a very very posh expensive area . I remember accidentally posting one through a letterbox (had the letterbox at the bottom of the door and in the dark). It was only after I put the letterbox back down the security light came on and I saw the big fat 'no leaflets etc sign'. I panicked thinking I was going to be told off by dsid house owner. The people on the leafleting walk with me told me not to worry. It doesn't count as junk mail/leaflets/random shit 'as it's merely an invitation'.

It was many many moons ago but looking back I can see how cheeky that was.
I always mind univited callers, I usually dont answer (huge anxiety issues). Even one day last week someone knocked on and I didnt answer. (family has a system in place for emergencies so if it's not THAT knock I'm not answering anyway).

I'm intrigued by the green man. IrritatedUser.

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mylittlephoney · 04/07/2017 23:26

No you were not rude but coughing you certainly were.
I have no time for any religion as they all are cults.
My dh grew up in a JW family and it gave him the most skewed view on life. He refuses to have anything to do with religion now.

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TwoLeftSocks · 04/07/2017 23:42

We have a door sticker, works like a charm. Only once had JWs and they apologised as they only saw it as the door was opening, wished me a good day and went. All very pleasant.

Does mean the DC miss out on DH's attempts to convince them on evolution, often wearing only a precarious dressing gown.

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Longji · 04/07/2017 23:55

My window cleaner is a JW, I did have a good chat with him the first time he called as a JW (he doesn't push it during his day job) and I let him leave some leaflets but I just told him that the whole "no blood" thing would never sit right with me and he backed off not before trying to extol the virtues of bloodless transplants mind
He's pleasant every time he's collecting his window cleaning money---- and no one from his group have called to me since so they must have got the message.

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feelingblue123 · 05/07/2017 00:00

My DP was JW from birth to age 30 (hes been out nearly 15 yrs). His Dad is an elder, he married in the religion and is ex Wife is still practicing. With regards to the door knocking (its called Ministry work) its essential for all JWs to log at least 10-12hrs per month, even children. They do not get into paradise when Armageddon comes (been due any day now since the time of Jesus apparrently ) unless they have completed enough ministry work.

DP reckons hes done 4,500 hours at least in his lifetime and has converted absolutely nobody. A lot of JWs detest doing it but do so because they have to, to comply with the rules. So its more for their benefit than the poor people they are bothering.

DP reckons YANBU at all. The JW was rude. Put a 'do not call' request into the Kingdom Hall and site this behaviour - they have to make a note of it and you won't see them again. You can also complain to the branch in London who would report this behaviour to the local circuit overseer.

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LoupGarou · 05/07/2017 00:01

Just like every faction of society there are asshats and there are nice people. Following a religion is not the cause of the asshattery, that down to the individual.

Two of my closest friends are JWs, I came across them sobbing huddled under an umbrella sat on a bench outside my house in the pouring rain as I came back from walking my dog. One of my neighbours (this was where I used to live) had been nasty to them (she was a total cunt) and I felt sorry for them and invited them in for coffee and cookies, and to dry out a bit.

I had a skull door knocker, I have also had many blood transfusions and I follow a different religion but none of that has ever come into it. They are both lovely people, as are their families. Its not fair to tar everyone with the same brush.

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buttonhead101 · 05/07/2017 00:07

I've never known an atheist knock on doors looking for recruits. Just saying...

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AssassinatedBeauty · 05/07/2017 00:10

If you knock unsolicited on people's doors, attempting to push your religious viewpoint without knowing anything about the people you're speaking to, it's not surprising that some of them might be rude or unpleasant. The solution is not to go around doing that, then no trouble will ensue.

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Elphame · 05/07/2017 00:17

I think you were remarkably restrained. I am generally tolerant of most religions but I make an exception for the JWs.

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MotherPie · 05/07/2017 00:25

Yanbu. I recently had a visit and politely took a leaflet after saying I was busy. They spotted my 4yo and said "ooh, there's a website on the back he will need, bye!". Like he might reach out to them about the hardship of living in a council flat

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BadLad · 05/07/2017 02:53

My mother once told them we worshiped Satan in our house and then slammed the door in their faces. That's rude.

Good on her. JWs and chuggers - it's never wrong to be rude to those pains in the arse.

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