Green Party - leave me the fuck alone!

[GreensFuckOff]

In a hotly contested seat here and Greens and Labour are neck and neck.

I've been inundated with leaflets from the Greens, probably every day for the last 3 weeks. We've had canvassers to the door. And then yesterday, I got home to a hand delivered letter, with my full name and address written by hand on the front of the envelope (in a writing I didn't recognise). The kids had been in and the doorbell hadn't rung.

I've been in a DV relationship that ended about 6 months ago and I completely freaked out that it was something from my ex. I was even worried that it might contain some sort of poison to finish me off.

Eventually I managed to pluck up the courage to open it (in the garden, not that that would have stopped my demise if it had contained anything poisonous) and it was ANOTHER fucking letter from the Greens asking me to vote for them. I was so pissed off (and still in fight/flight mode) that I sent an email to the local candidate saying that posting hand written envelopes was a step too far, and although I'd considered voting Green, there was no way I was going to now.

To be fair, I did get back quite a nice (and speedy) reply from someone from the policy response team apologising and thanking me for making them aware that some of their campaigning techniques were going a bit far and that they hadn't considered the impact of hand addressed/posted letters on people.

And then just now, at not even midday, I've had a bloody Green representative at the door asking if I've voted. I gave him short shrift and told him in no uncertain terms that I have voted, and not Green, and that I feel the level of contact has been bordering on harassment. It's too much! Poor bloke was only out doing his job, but honestly, just fuck off now!

Has anyone else had this much campaigning at their door?

@GreensFuckOff

im sorry you've had to endure that.

we have had a single door knock (thankfully), lots of leaflets, spread equally over the parties.

the one that made me laugh was an independent whose main policy is to legalise cannabis. He's probably the only one telling the truth!

😂good for you.

About six leaflets through the door but no canvassers at all here.

Good for you also OP for letting them know how you felt.

I can totally see why the constant daily contacts would feel like too much and like you were being harassed but I think you've overreacted (understandably given your background) to a handwritten envelope. That's a very normal everyday thing, and although you find it anxiety provoking, I don't think that's a reason people should stop writing on envelopes. It's in the realms of trigger warnings on everyday things. I have anxiety disorders so am often triggered by everyday things. It doesn't mean those things should be changed to accommodate me even if they cause me a lot of distress. So I think that's an unfair criticism. You are quite right though to feedback the constant contacts though as that does sound way too much.

If the weather had been drier I was thinking of cutting all the various leaflets (we have had eight) into triangles and making bunting to festoon the front garden in a non-partisan way.

I love this idea

The GP are just getting you used to the abusive relationship you'll be in if you choose them. That sounds flippant but I don't mean it flippantly. I think any female who votes green has Stockholm syndrome.

I had a handwritten envelope and letter put through the door from my incumbent MP. (Well, printed, but it looked handwritten).

Seeing that envelope with a handwritten name and address but no stamp, so obviously hand delivered, made me feel uneasy too, even though I had no real reason to feel that way. A few possible scenarios flicked through my head in a couple of seconds, none of them nice. Mad letter from my ex's affair partner? Letter from landlord letting me know he's selling up? Complaint from neighbour? I'm not a generally anxious person but it was just a very weird and unsettling thing to receive.

So I agree it's going too far. The only reason to do this is because they know most campaign leaflets just get chucked in the bin, so they trick you into thinking it's a personal letter. If it had had a stamp, I don't think it would have caused the same reaction somehow. It's the idea that someone local enough to come to my doorstep needs to formally communicate with me, but weren't willing to actually speak with me, that gave it a negative slant.

Our village had this from the LibDems at last October's by-election. They made themselves so unpopular with their persistent leafleting often at godawful hours of the morning and even took an old lady down to the polling station after her son had expressly told them to stop harassing her.

She’s up against Thangam Debbonaire isn’t she? I wish she’d stood somewhere else, they’re both such excellent candidates it would fry my brain to have to choose one.

Endless Lib Dem leaflets.

They haven't replied to a single email I have sent, I won't be voting for them.

This is exactly it.

Wow that’s awful!

Greens lost my mum's vote ( she was thinking about it after voting Tory all her life) because their broadcast was too long and irritated her.
Sorry you had a scare OP. That's horrible 😔

Is it a normal every day thing, though, to have a hand written envelope hand delivered through your postbox?

I’ve been in my current house for 5 years and the only letters I have received in that way in those entire 5 years are Christmas cards from my neighbours. Hardly an everyday occurrence.

I have not experienced DV, and I still get a jolt at handwritten envelopes coming through the door. So i agree @GreensFuckOff

At least they bothered to leaflet you, greens haven't sent anything to us and the sorry Tory mp expected to loose didn't mention conservative on his leaflet that only arrived Monday after most postal votes were cast

They buzzed my flat three times this morning. Usually I ignore it unless I'm expecting a delivery but finally answered to a Green canvasser aggressively interrogating me who I'd voted for (I'm not exaggerating the level of interrogation, she would not let it go!). I eventually lied and said I'd be voting for them later just to get them to go away 😬 I've already voted for Thangam 😅

I get you OP, I have PTSD from a past relationship and HATE unsolicited calls, door knocks etc. I always have this fear that it's my ex. Obviously they don't know that but it still stresses me out hugely!

I've had no door knocks at all from any of the 6 candidates, as a predicted swing seat you would think someone would care

We're in a hotly contested seat and today there are about 100 green party members out door knocking. The leaflets have been almost daily from the post and also hand delivered.

Not had any candidates actually turn up though, I wonder if it's because of the type of housing in this area and lack of (potential) political interest.

I had a hand delivered personally written letter from Lib Dem and I thought it was going to be a card informing us someone had died. I agree it’s unnerving.

I went to bed last night at midnight and the hall was clear of leaflets, then got up at 7am and found three (including the Greens). I admire their zeal but Stella Creasey always wins so a lot of trees are dying for nothing.