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.

I just politely say no thank you and close the door

There's no such thing as a soul.

Fair enough but I don't agree

I try to be polite - but once I lost it with two elderly women (JW) who caught me when I was exhausted and alone looking after my disabled daughter (she’s physically profoundly disabled) and they just wouldn’t leave. I snapped when one of them told me the answers to my problems (I hadn’t said I had any) was in the Bible so I swung the door open and said to step inside and explain to my daughter why she is disabled and will never walk or talk or eat and why her older sister is in the cemetery and to tell me which verse in the Bible helps with my life given god’s decisions with my children.
They were very shocked apologised and left and since then I just say “not interested “ to anyone selling anything- if they push it they’ll get a variant on that response.

This is excellent and tbf is actually engaging in an exchange of ideas.

I personally would never shut the door in another person's face unless they were threatening harm or being unpleasant. I'm not at all bothered by people having different views to me and being excited about them.

@BeanQuisine

Which particular religion is visiting you and how often, OP?

Can't miss what you never had

It's mostly young Muslims shoving religious literature at you around here, boys who look about 17. That's why I just say No and see no need whatsoever to be somewhat ruder. There's sod all employment around here and no, they probably do not have anything better to do that shove this guff they themselves have been indoctrinated with at people. I expect they'll get disillusioned soon enough.

Someone I know who left the JW got ostracised by his family. He has no contact with any of them now. It's very hard.

I think many posters are missing the point of the OPs post which is in her first sentence.
It’s about whether you think this sort of doorstepping is ‘socially legitimate’.

I don’t think it is. Because be it double glazing or religion, it’s likely to be vulnerable people who fall prey to doorsteppers. My attitude shifted after an acquaintance told me at length about her mother being sucked in by the JWs shortly after being widowed.

Although I think it’s rude to just shut the door on someone without a polite no thank you, I did just laugh out loud at your comment 😅

Is your address classified information or something? 🙄

I would say that shutting the door in their faces, without saying anything may be as rude as unsolicited door knockers trying to peddle religion/double glazing/whatever. It definitely isn’t ruder - and I see nothing wrong with meeting the rudeness of knocking with equal rudeness of just shutting the door, if that’s what you want to do.

🤣 🤣 Well then don't and we'll both be happier.

I think it’s rude not to say anything. I would simply say, ‘No thank you. I’m not interested’. And then close the door.

Good one! But I'm missing you already 🤣

I think it’s rude to knock on someone’s door entering onto their property uninvited with no consideration for their circumstances (for a lot of people religion aside this could be very anxiety provoking having someone knock on their door unexpectedly) and trying to peddle something usually quite forcefully towards vulnerable individuals but ya know 🤷‍♀️

Yes I always do the same with Labour and the Lib Dem’s. Although to be honest, both are so tied up with ideology over practicality and live in the land of make believe it’s hard to tell if they’re political canvassers or religious zealots

You wouldn't do it because you aren't a JW. That's a silly thing to say. They HAVE to do it. They will only engage if you show interest. They aren't going to kidnap you and force you to join them! You just say no sorry and close the door. I actually commend them in a way for doing it knowing the abuse they will get it's rather brave if you ask me. I think there is a lot of religious intolerance in this country. It doesn't hurt to be kind.

The only time this has ever happened I opened the door with a tiny baby in my arms looking half asleep. The lady very respectfully just handed me a leaflet and left.

What annoys me more is the charity knockers. One opened with ‘do you want to help disabled children?’ Which is really not a question you can easily answer no to, so my stumbled polite decline was met with ‘oh so you don’t want to help them?’. Can imagine elderly vulnerable people being sucked in and feeling unable to say no.

I just say no thank you, I find it difficult to be intentionally rude. Although I'm pretty good at the unintentional variety. Dh on the other hand will quite happily let me answer the door and just shout "tell them to fuck off". Although now we live on a retirement park so they don't bother coming.

I think it’s rude to intrude someone’s door step without invitation to yap about your religion.

Why do Jehovah Witnesses need to go round door to door?

I was out the other day and returned to find a long handwritten letter!

As my flat overlooks the road I can see the JWs going round and ignore their doorbell call

Add a no cold callers, junk mail or religious groups sign to your door.

I got it after it was becoming a daily occurrence, problem solved.

YANBU.

One response I’ve come out with a few times when answering the door to an unsolicited door knocker is taken from the film Hook.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=omA9FVT1pR4
I say, “it’s snowing!” in an excited voice and slam the door. Works best when it’s a dry day during spring/summer months.