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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ‘be out’ when the Jehovah’s witnesses come back

289 replies

Lauriepop95 · 18/01/2020 10:30

As a background sort of story, I’m a super anxious person, I people please constantly and it is something I’m trying to change in the new year. There was a thread on here a few months ago about times you’ve been too polite to correct someone and therefore ended up with the wrong item (think it was about fish and chips)

Anyway, a month or so ago 2 Jehovah’s witnesses came knocking on my door. I was going out at the time and they could see this, they were really lovely ladies. They said they’ll come back another time and I said yep okay as I was trying to get DD out of the door and all the bags etc

Didn’t think anything of it

Well yesterday I got a knock at the door, it was the two JW. They handed me a leaflet and started explaining it, it was extremely windy and cold and I couldn’t hear what she was saying with the wind so loud. So I said they could come into my hallway. They were there about 10 minutes and I explained I wasn’t religious at all and I wasn’t really interested in learning about it.

They didn’t take no for an answer and started prying as to why I didn’t want to. After a while one of them said they will be in the area on Monday afternoon so will pop back for a longer chat.

I said I’m out Monday and I work 9-5 weekdays so sorry I can’t. She said “well I can come tomorrow evening I suppose! I couldn’t think of an excuse quick enough.

I feel that they wouldn’t take my “not interested” as an answer and I need to be a hell of a lot more assertive. But I really really struggle with this.

My only other option is to go out with DD for the evening (go to my mums or something) but then that’ll only be a temporary fix as they’ll come back another day.

How can I politely buy firmly get them to leave me alone? I have already told them I’m not interested and they are still coming. I feel incredibly uncomfortable at the thought of telling them sternly to leave me alone but I may have to suck it up and do it.

AIBU to just hide if I see them coming?

Anyone have any stories about encounters with JW?

OP posts:
Somanysocks · 18/01/2020 23:33

@Rubyupbeat I think we'll have to agree to disagree.

cabbageking · 18/01/2020 23:34

JWs don't vote?

Rubyupbeat · 18/01/2020 23:47

@Somanysocks
Best idea Smile

CruCru · 18/01/2020 23:53

When the JW ladies come knocking, I Smile and say something like “I don’t that knocking on doors is part of your religion but I don’t want to talk”. There’s no need to be rude to them but it is actually more polite to be honest.

BestIsWest · 19/01/2020 00:03

Splodge one of them did this to DD when she was about 15 and alone in the house. I don’t think there was any intent to do anything but it scared her. We told them never to come to our house again and they haven’t.

Unusualsuspicion · 19/01/2020 00:25

On the subject of Mormons, i thought i was about to be accosted by some in the street. I have no problems being assertive, so said 'i'm not interested thanks' as i marched away. Then i looked back to see one of them behind me holding out my hat and saying 'er, ma'am, i think you dropped this? Blush So they arent always after conversions Grin

TooManyPups · 19/01/2020 00:56

I answered the door whilst bf ds... They couldn't get away fast enough

I believe having since read more that its something to do with bf being a sexual act... I couldn't think of much unsexier than having a baby constantly attached to my boob... Now 2 of them at it lol

But they've never come back lol

NextdoorNeighbourIsATwat · 19/01/2020 01:08

I had this OP and the last time I just....didn't answer the door. There's a big, mottled piece of glass in my front door so they could clearly see me walking about in my house, ignoring them. Gave them the message.

The doorbell and the telephone are not summons, they are requests for your time. You don't have to grant it. I've taught this to myself and God it's empowering!

squeekums · 19/01/2020 02:23

You don’t need to be rude

You do when they wont take no for an answer. Been there done that. They take polite, chew it up and spit it back in your face, see it as a still open door
Plus its actually rude to bang on my door simply cos a JW wanna lecture me, wanna convert me, think there something wrong cos i dont fall for the cultish bullshit. Thats not only rude but arrogant to assume

Topseyt · 19/01/2020 02:45

You didn't need to invite them in at all. Nor are you obliged to answer your door if and when they call back. So what if they have to walk past your living room window and can see you!!?

Ignore them. If they are very persistent then just shout "Not interested, bugger off please leave" to them and engage no further. I have done this.

If I do happen to open the door to any of them unwittingly I do just say very firmly "No, NOT INTERESTED" and shut the door on them.

It sounds like assertiveness is not your thing. You really don't need to be polite to these rude and intrusive buggers who would invade your life and home if you aren't careful.

Gliese163 · 19/01/2020 17:22

I used to just point to my no cold callers sign, although they would try to convince me that they're not cold callers. They're no better than people who try to sell stuff at doors IMO.

Greydove28 · 19/01/2020 22:21

Oh op i feel your pain. I had one two days ago. Said i wasnt interested and he shoved a leaflet in my hand and said he would be bk. Didnt tell him to piss off though as he was dragging his teenage daughter around who looked as pissed off as i was. Felt quite sorry for her actually 😒

midwintermorning · 19/01/2020 22:30

Tell the JWs to note you down as a “Do not knock” and they will not bother you - occasionally they knock to ask if I am still the same person who asked them not to call - I reply I am and they leave - it’s all very civilised.

Tattooedmama · 19/01/2020 22:37

Grin Grin Grin

Tattooedmama · 19/01/2020 22:38

I hope my picture posted 😆

Luckystar777 · 19/01/2020 22:47

Close the curtains and don't answer the door, they'll soon take the hint.

Luckystar777 · 19/01/2020 22:48

LOL @Tattooedmama !!!

stealingchristmascake · 19/01/2020 22:51

As an aside, it's not wise to tell strangers at your door that you're going out, will be out all day etc etc I'm sure these guys were genuine JWs and have no intention of any wrong doings, but it can be a ploy used by potential burglars.

LameSword · 19/01/2020 23:10

When I first moved in my house I had one knock on my door and I thought it was a parcel man or a neighbour coming to introduce themselves so I answered it and couldn't get rid of him! I told him I wasn't interested and was polite about it. This clearly fell on deaf ears. He then kept knocking everyday for about 2 weeks and, like your house, he had to walk past my living room window and I'd not got any curtains up yet! Sometimes he'd bring a woman with him. The first few times I told him I wasn't interested. After that I'd ignore the door despite knowing he'd seen me so he'd come back to the window and peer in at me. I'd avoid looking at him and go hide upstairs. One day I got pissed off and (not so politely) told him to stop knocking on my door and to stop harassing me. He never came back after that.

Deadsouls · 19/01/2020 23:13

Just say NO!

'Im not interested, please don't come back'
You don't have to creep around your own house!

fridgegrazer · 20/01/2020 10:58

Gliese163
That's why I included religious groups on my sign - as well as canvassers, but unfortunately the lady who knocked on the door to encourage me to vote for her party didn't think she was a canvasser because she lived not far away. Hmm

Pop2017 · 20/01/2020 11:01

I have similar issues to you. I am a people pleaser and hate upsetting anyone. I also cannot say no thank you.

Two Jehovah’s came to my door. Like you said lovely ladies. Asking me what my religion was. I’m rubbish with people and if it was my partner he would have just said no thank you. They said they’d come back again when I was less busy (I had two poorly Dc at time).

So a couple weeks later I was out front
Loading my car. I seen them approaching my house. I quickly got in the car and pretended I was off out 🤣🤣 I hadn’t locked the door or anything. I drove to the village shop and by the time I got back they weren’t around. Thank goodness!!

They didn’t come back again. I think they got the hint!

Southmouth · 20/01/2020 11:15

I’m my previous house we had a couple of ladies that would just not give up! It used to really annoy me. The first time they knocked, I was polite and said I’m not interested and said goodbye. They then started knocking on my door weekly, and would just stand there for a good few minutes repeatedly knocking, which also happened to be the exact time DD would be napping, resulting in the dog then barking at the door and waking her up! I opened it, said ‘look, I’ve politely told you I’m not interested, you’ve ignored that and knocked yet again and woken my baby, get off my property and DO NOT knock again’ Well what do you think they did? Still came back every single week Angry I took to ignoring them after that. Once I was cleaning the inside of my kitchen window that they had to walk past to get to my door so they knew I was in when I ignored them but I carried on cleaning and they just stood at the window gesturing me to open the door!

They are unbelievably rude!

Original poster
Lauriepop95 · 20/01/2020 22:02

Thought I should update haha, they did come back and I was in the kitchen with DD, they definitely saw me through the window and I just turned away and pretended to be cleaning out the cupboards (so I didn’t leave the kitchen, just turned my back to the window) they knocked again today but luckily I was upstairs in DDs bedroom. Wonder when they’ll get the hint

OP posts:
messolini9 · 20/01/2020 22:07

Wonder when they’ll get the hint

Why don't you stop hinting, & Use Your Words, OP?
"I know I said it was ok for you to come back the other day, but Ive had a think about it & have changed my mind. Thanks for your time, bye."

All this darting about avoiding the doorbell malarky you & other PP's engage in is utterly bewildering to me!

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