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Original poster

what do I say when these Jehovahs come back?

119 replies

Cappuccino · 16/01/2007 11:08

I thought it was enough to tell them I went to church and didn't want to talk to them

now they claim to be coming back another day because it is nice to encounter someone with a faith

they will be arriving any morning ready to talk about the way God intervenes in our lives and how all these catastrophes are leading to a great event and it will be 'lovely to hear your views'

how do I get rid of them next time? I can't hide cos I have a half glazed door?

OP posts:
evamum · 16/01/2007 11:44

I remember my cousin had a great chat with the JW once.
He uses medicinal marijuana and asked them why they thought it was so wrong as god said that all the plants were for our use (or something like that)

Sobernow · 16/01/2007 11:45

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mellowma · 16/01/2007 11:49

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BettySpaghetti · 16/01/2007 11:50

Beware of getting into a rational debate as a friend of ours tried that with some JWs and they turned up at his house every week to continue the debate.

Our friend quite liked the argument and trying to wind them up so "entertained" them.

This happened until one day they woke the baby by knocking persistently and our friends wife, who wanted no part of their visits told them quite bluntly to go away.

batters · 16/01/2007 12:38

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nearlythree · 16/01/2007 12:50

I have heard that saying you are pagan can bring them round in droves to pray outside your house.

I tend to say, 'I have my own faith' and leave it at that.

My aunt and uncle (my dad's brother), both very dotty, are JWs and I think it suits them, it makes them feel safe.

When we were on honeymoon we were staying in a tiny cottage in a valley at the bottom of a 1 in 5 hill, and they still came, on foot, and knocked on our door - and then had to walk all teh way back up again.

MrsSpoon · 16/01/2007 12:56

You could have a discussion with them? Might not be that bad? Might even be interesting?

I think the dinosaurs business is just that person's personal opinion.

FioFio · 16/01/2007 12:58

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DumbledoresGirl · 16/01/2007 12:58

IME saying you are Roman Catholic (whether you are or not) gets rid of them. I once had a lovely friend who loved religious discussion better than anything else. He kept them engaged in talking for ages, then told them he was Catholic (which he was - fervently so) and they left immediately!

FioFio · 16/01/2007 12:58

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Tortington · 16/01/2007 13:01

i always have a lovely discussion with the JWs. takes up maybe 10-15 mins of my time. once every few months isnt going to hurt me. and being rude to them wouldnt be very christian of me.

Pablothelittleredfox · 16/01/2007 13:05

I just say 'sorry, I haven't got time to chat/I'm not interested' and I close the door before they can draw their next breath to talk.

If dh opened the door he'd be there till dark. He is crap at getting rid of callers - he's suckered in every time

DumbledoresGirl · 16/01/2007 13:07

I once had 2 lovely ladies call on me. I have no idea if they were JW but I suspect they were. I don't ever want to discuss things with strangers at the door, but on this particular occasion, I wanted to even less as all 4 children were home, milling about, running to and fro, maybe even waiting for their tea, I can't remember.

Anyway, to get rid of them, I tried the "not today" tack which didn't work, and then tried saying no to everything they asked me, as in:

"Have you ever thought about why we are here?"

"No"

"Are you concerned about your children's futures?"

"No"

"Does the world situation bother you?"

"No"

etc etc

It was the most ludicrous conversation as of course I have often considered the meaning of life, I am concerned for my children's futures, and war and disease and famine etc naturally concerns me. But there was I - obviously a kindly, nice person, making out I had all the social conscience of a psychopath!

They did eventually give up though, as I politely and slowly shut the door!

Sobernow · 16/01/2007 16:05

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Greensleeves · 16/01/2007 16:06

How about "Fuck off, I'm Jewish"?

Tommy · 16/01/2007 16:10

ah - you fell for that old trick cappuccino!

I did that once - when I was pregnant with DS1 and off on maternity leave I thought "Why don't I talk to these nice people now that I have time to do so....?"

And they became my 2 new best friends....
They kept coming and coming.....

In the end I said very politely "I have read all your literature and realise that we are never going to agree on what we believe"

and I've never seen them since!
(took mea few months though!)

SoupDragon · 16/01/2007 16:10

I go for "I'm not interested thank you". Only if they don't get the message do I point out that had my family been JWs I would have been left to die at birth. If they still don't get the message (and some once told my mother it was Ok, she could repent her decision to save me!) I would tell them to f-off.

It rarely takes more than a polite "no thank you" though and I've never had to get to stage 3.

Aloha · 16/01/2007 16:18

No thank you I am very busy and not interested.

mamalocco · 16/01/2007 16:22

DH actually knock at the local Kingdom Hall because he liked their block paving and wondered where they got from. Bet they couldn't believe their luck!!

Greensleeves · 16/01/2007 16:23

I had one who stuck his foot in the door once.

DumbledoresGirl · 16/01/2007 17:14

PMSL at poor unsuspecting Mamalocco's dh knocking to enquire about the block paving!

Original poster
Cappuccino · 16/01/2007 17:17

I'm not trying to be rude.. I just don't have answers to their questions and would just get confused and cry

I can only argue with strangers on the internet with any coherency

OP posts:
SueBaroo · 17/01/2007 09:42

It's worth knowing that they get training weekly on how to prolong even the slimmest of openings, and they have a book that gives them specific answers for a lot of the responses mentioned here.

There's no need to be rude to them, but if you don't want repeat calls, the best way to ensure that is to say 'No thankyou, please don't call again' and close the door.

If you give them any kind of positive response, or even if you don't, they note that down in their records. If you make it very clear you are not interested, they will likely not call again for sometime.

However, they will probably call again at some point in the future, in case you have moved on and there is someone else living at your address, or you have had a change of heart/life circumstances.

My friend who is a charismatic Christian felt compelled to share her faith back with them, but it quickly became apparent to her that it was a bit of a blind alley. She got rid of them eventually by opening the door and praying in tongues for them. Given that many of them fear this is a sign of demon possession, it did the trick. But you really don't have to go that far

misdee · 17/01/2007 09:49

no need to be rude.

well not unless its my grandad knocking on your door be as rude as you want then!

Greensleeves · 17/01/2007 09:50

IME they don't take no for an answer and unless you are rude they do come back, even if asked not to. And it's an underhanded trick to come with a child in tow so that people can't tell them to get stuffed.

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