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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get a little snappy with the Jehovah's Witnesses

98 replies

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 11:21

OK, so I was going to post this in Philosophy/ Religion/Spirituality but I'd rather shove it somewhere more connected with the real world.

I've just had the sodding Jehovah's Witnesses at the door. DW made the mistake of being nice to them once and now they won't leave us alone. WHY do they think they are going to get anywhere with me? Pressing their mawkish little pamphlets on me and wibbling on about Adam and Eve. FGS, I have probably done more reading about religions of the world than the idiot woman who was proselytising to me. I mentioned Thor, Apollo, Zeus and Ra and her eyes glazed over! In the end I cut the "conversation" short (I use the word in its loosest sense) and shut the door on her.

I think they deserve about a minute of polite debate for having the chutzpah to door-knock. But it always degenerates into them quoting the sodding Bible at me. I'd rather have political canvassers - at least you can ARGUE properly with them....

OP posts:

chrissnow · 17/01/2008 11:29

My rule is

be polite then
be firm then
be firmer and somewhat abrupt then
be rude then
slam door Except our door is currently all warped due to all the rain so when I try to slam it, it just gets stuck halfway and I'm stood there looking like a total idiot!!

calzone · 17/01/2008 11:29

yes you are being unreasonable.

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 11:30

I hate to let their platitudes go unchallenged by logic, so I always let the argument go on longer than it would.....

OP posts:

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 11:34

Tell me why I'm unreasonable please.
I give them a minute and try to engage them in argument, which is surely what they deserve. But I rapidly get very frustrated with people who can't or won't argue properly.

OP posts:

MrsTittleMouse · 17/01/2008 11:34

My DH quite enjoys arguing with JW. We had a couple of nice ladies come around and talk to us. I skulked around in the background, but they started talking "science" with DH and he had a lengthy discussion with them that ended with them agreeing with some of his points and telling him that he had given them "a lot to think about"! We haven't had any since then.

Peachy · 17/01/2008 11:36

Weeeeeeell

if you're annoyed with them for their religion then maybe a bit unreasonable as they truly believe that theyc an save you (and themselves) by the door to door stuff and i think its important tor ecognise the intention in an action

BUT

if what is bugging you is being repeatedly ahrassed by unwanted callers, from that eprspective YANBU

its a complicated one. you know WHY they do it and understand the imperative; but just want 5 minutes bloody peace!

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 11:38

I know they think they can "save" me but I find it patronising and I just want them to see that and give up on me!

OP posts:

idlingabout · 17/01/2008 11:42

Well Unquietdad, the only unreasonable thing you did was hope that people like them would be capable of an informed, logical debate. IMO they are being very unreasonable by bothering people. The last time I had JWs knock on the door I was on the 'phone; I took one look at them and declared ''you are Jehova's Witnesses, goodbye '' and closed the door. I am not prepared to waste my time talking to them.

FioFio · 17/01/2008 11:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

indiechick · 17/01/2008 11:46

They came to our twice last year, both times during very exciting formula 1's where Lewis Hamilton was almost winning. Both times I asked them quite seriously where their national pride was and why they were not supporting the GB driver? DH was so embarrassed but weirdly they've not been back!

snorkle · 17/01/2008 11:53

I think the mistake you are making is the initial minute of polite debate and trying to get them to argue properly. Face it, it's not ever going to happen! Next time as soon as you can get a word in edgeways tell them politely that you're not interested and end the conversation as quickly as you can. You are doing them a favour really, if you're not 'convert' material they'd prefer to be on to the next house which might be.

FioFio · 17/01/2008 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sherby · 17/01/2008 11:57

UD, YANBU

As an aside your posts on religion always say what I think but can't seem to get out!

Yummers · 17/01/2008 12:00

UQD as i think you already know, you cannot win an argument with JW, because they are incapable of knowing when their argument has been lost. It's frustrating, but i have learned not to bother as logic and reason will never permeate that level of brain-washing.

contentiouscat · 17/01/2008 12:03

I dont think you were unreasonable at all - I think the thing is some people are so persistent that you just HAVE to be rude to them. I just think "fine worship whatever god you want to but PLEASE dont share it with me"

Every six months Yellow Pages try to get us to advertise with them, originally I let them do their blurb, explained why I wasnt interested etc and thought "theyre just doing their job" but they are SO persistent they just wont go away. Now I say "sorry, not interested, have a nice day, im putting the phone down now" and just hang up on them.

VictorianSqualor · 17/01/2008 12:08

When I was 15 I was severely assaulted by some girls from school and answered the door (with an awfully mashed up face) to Jehovahs Witnesses, I actually asked them what kind of God would allow such a thing to happen and they wouldn't even enter into conversation about it, that really annoyed me, if they'd have been able to come up with a good enough answer I might have listened but they couldn't, they should be taught to interact properly before they try spouting stuff they have no retaliation with.

SueBaroo · 17/01/2008 12:37

Didn't we do this thread last week?

Original poster

UnquietDad · 17/01/2008 12:38

DW once sent DD to the door for them (when she was about 5).

She said "My mummy is hiding upstairs."

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 17/01/2008 12:44

YABU.

All you have to do (apparently) is contact their local, er, "head office" (is it called the Kingdom Hall or something?) and ask to be put on their Do Not Call list.

I always find a simple "no thank you" and shutting the door works.

Twiglett · 17/01/2008 12:50

YABU .. you engage them in conversation so you encourage them to return

if you asked them to mark your household down as a 'do not visit' you will not see them for at least 3 years

but then you'd have nothing to moan about would you? [girn]

madamez · 17/01/2008 12:52

'Fuck off, I'm a satanist and if you don't get off my doorstep I will turn you into a toad'. THat's the line I used at the age of 15. They ran - it was great. But my mother had come down the stairs and overheard me... Ooops. Banned from answering door for 6 months....

VictorianSqualor · 17/01/2008 12:58

A toad?

bunnyhunny · 17/01/2008 12:58

I know a fair bit about religions, and am genuinely interested to know what they believe as there are JW kids at school and I'd like to know where they come from. I asked them questions and they thought I was keen.

Cue them calling round every sunday, trying to convert me - they even joked that they would 'get us' . In the end, I had a huge rant saying I had my own belief system that I am very happy with. They said, ah, but is God happy with it?

I exploded at them! How dare they suggest that their belief system is better than mine? and ranted and raved at them for a good 5 mins.

They never came back.

Klaw · 17/01/2008 12:59

They came to my house at 10am on Boxing day one year.... Not a good move!

Now I don't open the door if I know it's them cos I'm fed up with trying to be polite whilst findng a chance to get a word in edgeways to say 'no thank you'.

Cos even if you say that you are a happy regular church goer they don't respect that you are sorted out on the religion front....

UniversallyChallenged · 17/01/2008 13:16

THEY WERE "SODDING"???

and yummers - what proof do you have of them being "brainwashed"?

Funny really - cos as far as i know a knock on my door is a request to open, not a demand! Be brave UQD - put a sticker up or just dont open the door.

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