To just shut the door on religious door-knockers, with no comment?

[BeanQuisine]

I used to smile and say "I'm not religious", but a friend pointed out that this still confers some degree of social legitimacy on their absurd intrusion into my life.

I decided that a better tactic, when it becomes clear that a doorknocker is peddling religion, is to just silently close the door in their face.

Wondering how many people here agree that this is a reasonable response to unreasonable intrusion, and how you choose to respond to these people.

No it's not.

YANBU. The idea that the onus is on you, who’ve been disturbed in your own home, to be ‘polite’ is mistaken. I don’t feel any particular need to be polite to anyone trying to sell me something at the door, be it religion or dishcloths, unless they’re obviously people with special needs on some sort of scheme. Same goes for telephone cold callers.

If DH or I have the time and energy we may spend some time on challenging JWs and the like. Perfectly civilly, but I think they’d rather have been sworn at than have DH probe them on blood transfusions.

I just say no thanks and close the door

I say "no thanks" and close the door before they can reply.

Not had one for ages, but if it started happening a lot I'd put a sign up with with a couple of bible verses on it. Pointing to the most depraved acts of god in the bible 😀

2 Kings 2:23-24 is a good one.

No offence but that’s a rubbish response. They will just reappear a few hours later / next day.

I just say (and this covers all comers) “I don’t conduct my business on the doorstep” in a haughty voice.

Yep, burn them all.

The ones we get round here tend to bring their children with them, which I find particularly reprehensible. I tend to ignore the adult completely and tell the children to question everything, read everything they can, work out what they actually want to believe in and never feel like they have to believe ANYTHING just because their parents tell them to. At that point they usually take off at pretty much a run before I can say anything more 🤣

Its not as rude as them knocking on my door spouting their beliefs in the first place

You can get stockers from a very well known etailer fleabay who sell door stickers for cold callers, religious callers and utility sellers.

I have had mine for a few years and dtopped getting nuisvance door knockers but there have been x2 who did not bother reading it or delibratly ignored the sign so I suggest ypu choose a sign that is a good size.

It’s arrogant and entitled of them. The fact they may not realise this is part of the problem.

How on earth is that not rude?

It's so easy. Why do people have to get so emotional about it.

I don’t normally answer the door, because they are always smartly dressed. So I know it isn’t my home deliveries.
If I do answer the door, I just say not interested and close the door. When I looked very young in my twenties I use to say, I will go get my Mam and shut the door. Then not go back, which I know was rude.

It's not rude to knock on someone's door. If you don't want to listen to them then you can just say No thank you. You're being over dramatic.

I just say no thanks and shut the door.

It’s an unsolicited intrusion into a private space and whilst I wouldn’t advocate speaking offensively, I don’t see why it’s necessary to engage with anyone knocking at your door uninvited.

Of course it's rude. And arrogant. They deserve the door closed in their face. All sales people do. And that's what they are. Trying to sell you on having found The Truth.

Oh no. I love to have a philosophical debate with them. They are actually generally very nice. With a couple of atheist theologians in the family we can have a really good chat.

No it's not 🤣

It's rude of then to come knocking and I have no problem blatantly ignoring them.

Like councillors and canvassers?

If they’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, they’re there because they have to be. Their elders set them targets and door to door (whether they find it difficult or not) is a non negotiable.

They’re human beings and some might not even want to be doing it. It costs you nothing to just politely say, ‘I’m not interested, thank you’.

well we can do tis/ tisn’t till the cows come home. Many of us find people door knocking to be some combination of rude, arrogant and entitled. You saying it isn’t doesn't really cut much ice.

They're still attempting to invade my space. They're still not welcome.

Huh?