AIBU to think my husband was too aggressive with a canvasser?

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We’ve had a few door knockers recently with local elections approaching. These are usually during late afternoon/early evening before DH is back from work.

Today, someone knocked slightly later and DH answered. He ranted at this person about various gripes with the country today (it was someone supporting a Labour candidate), not letting them get a word in and then said who he’d be voting for and ‘unless you change to that party, don’t fucking come back’.

He has some genuine gripes with Labour, he’s a business owner who has not been helped. But I think he was too strong.

His view is that if people want to knock on random doors, they should be prepared to face some strong words.

A horrible man who rants at strangers, sounds like a dreamboat 😡

That sort of rudeness is never justified.

I just tell them I’ve already voted. Usually means they say thank you and leave as they can’t change my vote. Postal votes were sent out this week so it’s possible.

I agree it’s unnecessary and he doesn’t sound easy for you to live with but canvassers have heard worse and they can move on if they want to.

Why would you speak to someone like that?
They are just volunteers. There's no pay for canvassing.

I don't vote Labour or Lib Dem but I tell them politely. They aren't there to preach, although of course will talk politics if the person on the door has any questions about the candidate or policies. They really just want your voting intention.

Swearing at someone rather than a polite no thank you seems odd.

Dickhead behaviour.

I canvass for the Tories and I honestly love it. Most people, even when they have no interest or in fact do have interest but are strongly against, manage to say so without swearing or being directly aggressive. I don’t count a sharply closed door as aggressive - ppl are perfectly entitled to not want to talk to me 😊

Might be worth pointing out to him that in 35 years of canvassing, literally 1000s of conversations, I’ve only been sworn at twice (once when I was 16 - nice 😡). That’s how rare the way he behaved is. Not something to be proud of.

It says a lot about someone when they can’t discuss their views and opinions without becoming aggressive and swearing.

He could have told him he’s not interested or if he wanted to talk politics, do it in a mature way.

Your DH has embarrassed himself.

If I was saying that to him, I would agree. But pointing it out to his wife that he is awful is not the same.

I hate door knockers so I think if you’re bothering people in their own homes without invitation it’s fair game. Not that I would ever be anything but polite, but I get it.

Agreed. I'm shocked by people saying they would swear at a canvassers. I hate Reform, but if a Reform canvasser came to my door, I would still politely tell them I'm not interested... because I treat people like human beings. Absolutely no need to be aggressive.

Nope. I don’t want them knocking on my door giving me a load of drivel, they’re all full of shit. If they knock and want to talk politics, I’ll give my opinion and thoughts.

How appalling and shaming. If you don’t want to engage then just say no thanks and shut the door. Some poor canvasser is not the person to blame for the faults of the Labour Party.

Is your husband is also abusive to call centre staff? It’s on a par with that.

Looks like it takes one to know one!

I think it's fair enough, he was rude for knocking on the door so late to talk about politics! What do they expect?

Guessing he’s voting reform.

What a horrid thing to do. He should be ashamed of himself.

I find reform policies more than ‘rather odd’ and supporters of the ‘14yr war on public sector party’ just as odd!
Is some random person knows my name & address then I’ll speak to them however I damned well like!

You do realise if you’re on the electoral roll, it can be public knowledge? Why would you be rude to a volunteer?

Yes he was very unreasonable. Canvassers are all volunteers who are trying to get a message out about something they believe in. If you don’t agree, you can very easily just say “no thank you, I’m not voting for that” rather than go on a power trip. And if you don’t want doorknockers, put a sticker up.

The person knocking on the door isn't the person running the country. Just a polite no thank you would have done. If your DH has such strong views he should do something about them not take it out on others who are at least prepared to do something - even if you disagree with them.

He was unnecessarily rude

I won’t engage with Reform people who knock on, but I do politely send them on their way

No, he’s voting for a party I hadn’t heard of until he told me called ‘Restore’.

It’s interesting reading the responses on this thread where there are so many people saying “no need to be rude” and “you can be polite”

There was an thread recently about religious people knocking on doors, and the amount saying they just shut the door in their faces, and you need to expect it if you knock on doors was very different.

I wouldn't swear directly at a stranger on my doorstep - even if they were Reform (!) as you are basically just bringing it down by acting out yourself.

I remember the days of vans with loudspeakers, booming out, constantly driving up and down roads.

That really was intrusive. 🙄

Of course he should rant - anyone who wants to be elected should listen to the views of the electorate. Using the f word was perhaps going a bit too far but he didn't say fuck off so I would say what he did was fine.