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

[Lauriepop95]

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?

Saying you are catholic or have had blood transfusions does not stop them. Their whole ethos is to save you and so you will live in paradise after armageddon. They are not awful people and really do feel a need to spread Gods word.
No, I am not a J.W. I am Catholic, but will always have a good old natter about their faith and mine, I find them to be genuine trustworthy folk.
But I understand people not wanting them knocking and if you, the op, tells them you are not interested at all and to please not knock again, they will listen, or put a note through the kingdom hall to say your door is off limits.

When it's my property, I can say what I want to people coming onto it to try to recruit me.

Now I live in a rural hamlet, we never get them, but when I lived on a modern estate, we used to get them every 6 months or so. The best was when I had just put a DD down for a nap and was looking forward to catching up with something and of course the doorbell rang. I answered it looking really angry and they said: "Aren't you disgusted by the amount of drugs being dealt round here?", to which I replied "no, what are you selling?" They scarpered and I never saw them again.

To people who know me in RL, I have never done anything harder than tobacco or gin.

@fantasmasgoria1 Jehovahs witnesses are Christian's too, same as Catholics, C of e, baptists, etc....

Inviting them into your house clearly puts out the message that you are okay with them calling round. It also suggests that you are interested in what they have to say.

If you take a copy of The Watchtower or any other literature from them, they will be back, sure as eggs is eggs. They will see it as an expression of interest (even if you were simply "being polite") and you will be targetted for further attention. Ditto with making conversation with them, especially about religion of ANY kind. (They'll mark you down as someone interested in religion who might be persuaded to join THEIR religion!)

To those saying "JWs are decent folk, I respect them", do you agree with how their organisation deals with complaints of child abuse? If the abuse has not been witnessed by several "upstanding" men in their own JW community (and how often IS child abuse witnessed in that way?!) they will shun the child making the allegation. Just google this and you will find plenty of articles about it. (I know they are not unique in this respect but that doesn't make it any better.)

"We're not interested, thank you"

Big smile if you feel like it, then close the door.

Works for everybody. Religions, charities, ex-prisoners selling stuff, roof repairers...

ok, it might not work on the mob. But I'm pretty sure the JWs don't think of themselves as organised crime.

I have friends who are JW. None of this^ shit ever happens.

Really? Where did you find JW who are willing to maintain friendships with non-JW?

I have a JW ex-friend who after she was ‘saved’ tried to convert me a few times and then lost interest in me.

Where did you find JW who are willing to maintain friendships with non-JW?

Do you want a post code?

I met a woman years ago who was JW and over the years met and became friends with her family and some of her JW friends.

We had JWs door knocking on Boxing Day - was a bit cheeky as we were expecting company so didn’t check before we opened the door - which I expect they were counting on! We were polite but firm and told them we weren’t interested. Felt a bit cynical of them to be door knocking on Boxing Day where they could possible come across people who had a bad Christmas and were more vulnerable to their spiel.

None have ever tried to convert me. Their religion or “work” is rarely mentioned other than “I can’t make lunch on Wednesday because of X happening” (X being some JW related thing)

@Rubyupbeat JWs are not Christians, they may use a Bible but they have their own version of the Bible that they have altered for their own teaching.

I don't know why people think saying that you are Catholic will get rid of them, it really doesn't. I had some last week when I was in my PJs. I just stuck at head out a gap in the door and said I'm not interested and I'm not dressed and shut the door. If you engage at all they think they have a chance to save you, however lovely they are. Shut the curtains and don't open the door.

Well you really shouldn't have let them in they think your keen .
Just woman up and say sorry not interested. Don't hope they get the hint they won't.

Don't answer the door to them. I don't. I don't appreciate people coming to my house to try and convert me to their religion.

You could say "I'm sorry, I've looked into your child abuse problem, I dunt think you are gods chosen people." THEN shout the door.

Save yourself and maybe save them.

A friend of mine is a JW!! shes fine other wise:)

She tells me to tell them FIRMLEY to stop calling and generally they will.

After all their only trying to save your sorry soul;!!!!

We had JWs door knocking on Boxing Day

Well if they bought a few bottles of boozey pop;)

They don't do Xmas it isnt on their calender!

@Justaboy yes but they know others do which is why it felt a bit calculated, if you had a shit Christmas and they said the right things they might win you over - just felt a bit cynical to try and convert people if they were in a bit of a low point.

@Somanysocks
They are Christian, they use the same bible, there are many different 'versions' theirs is the new world translation, there is the king james version which is only a few 100 years old, the versions are all very similar.
But getting back to them being christian, a Christian believes that Jesus Christ is Gods son and, thats what the JWs believe! So do Mormons,
Jewish religion believes christ existed, but not as the son of God, he is yet to come and Muslims believe in Jesus as a prophet, neither as the Son of God.

Paint 666 on your door.

I don’t understand why JW want to recruit more folk into their cult.
They firmly believe that only 144,000 of them can enter Heaven ... and by which date?
So it’s a good way of deflecting them by asking why they would wish to recruit more members if it then reduces their chances of entering Heaven.
Failing that, tell them that you believe that Satan is alive and that you’ll tell him/her to find them.
Failing that , say that you’ve had a think and that by confessing your sins then you’ll get an automatic ticket to Heaven.
Failing that.. hide and don’t answer the door.
Good luck!

My exh got of them once by opening the door wide to reveal his totally naked body. They had woken him from a sleep after a night shift

They didn’t take no for an answer and started prying as to why I didn’t want to.
"My answer is no thanks, my reasons are not up for discussion, please would you accept that & go on to your next call? Thanks, bye."

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.
You didn't need an excuse.
Excuses give people the option of "solving your problem" & haranguing you further.
"It's not relevant when I will be in, because I do not want another visit thank you. BYE!"

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.
I promise you - if you tell them you are not interested, & when they press on, tell them that you are ALSO not interested in discussing the reasons you are not interested, they will go.
I understand the struggle - but the thing to remember is, it will continue to be a sruggle until you start practicing the art of saying no.

"I don't want to discuss religion at my door, thanks for calling, I'm shutting the door now, bye."
And just do it.
Your problem is that you are waiting for their permission to dismiss them. You don't need it. Just tell them you do not wish to discuss, & close the door while they are still talking if that's what it takes.

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You don't have to pretend you're not in to not answer the door.

I stop them in the middle of their spiel and say “Thanks but it’s really not for me sorry. Have a good evening.” And then I shut the door.

Ignoring them will mean they come back the next day.

When you answer the door be polite and ask them to put you on the list not to come to you house. They will do so and wont turn up for another couple of years, to check k if you've moved on. When they come back just tell them you're on the list. I have JW friends and they told me about it and I never have any problems with them when I tell them that xx