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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Deleted thread about the Labour Party telephone canvasser

198 replies

Crossfitmyarse · 04/04/2015 08:50

Yes, this is a TAAT, so do your worst.

'We don't usually delete whole threads but we do so when it is to protect a poster's privacy.'

Aah, poor wee poster got flamed bang to rights on an AIBU so you delete the whole thread? BASED ON WHAT? Shock

Seriously MNHQ? SERIOUSLY? Hmm Which one of you is she related to? I can't physically roll my eyes back in my head far enough to express my cynicism and weariness over this.

What is going on around here these days? Who/what are you scared of, exactly?

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 07/04/2015 15:16

You're demonstrating right here that rational discussion and nice requests make no impact on you. Being rude is the only thing that appears to get through.

No. The exact opposite. Just ignore or say you don't want any contact. It mostly works. If someone is really determined, they won't care if you tell them to fuck off.

The times when it doesn't is no justification for being rude. And would you be brave enough to do it face-to-face?

I don't cold call people. When cold callers contact me I listen and invariably tell them I am not interested.

They never argue. Usually someone else from their company calls back in three months. I say the same thing. It takes about a minute.

As EElisavetaOfBelsornia said, if I were to say to them that I wished never to receive their calls again, it would probably work - I think most definitely in the case of political parties.

I know this because the only time I complained was when I received begging letters from the British Heart Foundation. I could have just binned them but I was very angry that they were one of the organisations that were taking part in the Work Programme so I took the time to complain. I said they would be free to contact me again if they resigned from the programme.

They took me off their mailing list immediately and have never bothered me again. Not that it was that much bother in the first place.

limitedperiodonly · 07/04/2015 15:28

The other time was nearly 25 years ago when I'd just moved in and was canvassed for the local elections by the Conservatives. I asked when Dame Shirley Porter would be coming back from Israel to pay her £40 million surcharge for her illegal policies as leader of Westminster Council and to face possible criminal charges.

We were all very nice about it.

Never had a peep out of them since. I think there's probably a secret sign on my house.

I find discussing this with people quite fun. Much better than not being asked for my opinion.

PaschalFancy · 07/04/2015 15:37

Limited, you have, on this very thread, attempted to minimise and misdirect from a poster explaining that her elderly mother is very upset by political calls.

So very clearly, explaining nicely to you is not having the desired effect.

You also state that the company which cold calls you does so every three months. So, being polite clearly isn't getting rid of them either, is it?

BTW, I'd be perfectly happy to tell you to fuck off to your face, if the situation required (not just for fun). I'm not sure why you're so hung up on medium.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 07/04/2015 15:44

The main problem on the initial thread, as I've said before, was that there seemed to be a group of, for the most part, normal nice MNers, who, maybe because it was a bank holiday weekend and drink was being taken, or maybe because it was the Labour party, or simply (and the names I recognised lead me to believe this one to be the most likely scenario) a group of generally quite kind and fluffy posters found themselves able to be, for once, part of that playground gang they had never quite fitted in with.

The posters I would generally think of as robust AIBU tell it like it is posters were the ones saying 'what the hell is happening here'

PaschalFancy · 07/04/2015 15:46

Er, interestingly imaginative construction, DrankSangria...

SuburbanRhonda · 07/04/2015 15:59

Sangria do you really spend so much time on MN that you have worked out which MNetters you believe are in a "gang" and which ones you think wish they were?

You must surely have a spreadsheet for that Smile

EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 07/04/2015 16:15

Paschal I think it was me who engaged in the discussion about older people being upset by canvassing calls. I said I was sorry it had had that effect and suggested a form of words for the future; I also pointed out ways to avoid future calls. I also said I thought tears were an over reaction.
As a direct result of this thread I have contacted my local organiser to arrange some campaigning activity. See you soon! Grin

PaschalFancy · 07/04/2015 16:18

Yes, you did it as well, EE.

You don't like that your behaviour is upsetting people. So you blame the person for being upset.

Nice.

SuburbanRhonda · 07/04/2015 16:19

I also said I thought tears were an over reaction.

Well, aren't you lovely.

EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 07/04/2015 16:24

Not blame really, I just think it's a bit neurotic. But I would be very sorry if anyone had that reaction to a call I had made, and would make a note to ensure there were no further calls.

SuburbanRhonda · 07/04/2015 16:29

I just think it's a bit neurotic

I didn't think it could get any worse than your last comment, EE, but somehow, you've managed it.

bruffin · 07/04/2015 16:55

I didn't say DM or DMIL would cry, I just said they would be upset Hmm

Between · 07/04/2015 17:24

Bruffin. You should (with their permission of course) register your MIL and DMs numbers with the TPS then they shouldn't receive any calls. If any canvassers do call then they will be acting illegally and should be reported.

I've registered all my older reletives at their request.

firesidechat · 07/04/2015 17:24

All of you posting "can't be a problem can't be a problem can't be a problem" and gliding over the posts explaining perfectly clearly why it is, in fact, a problem - you realise you're the reason people say fuck off, don't you?

You're demonstrating right here that rational discussion and nice requests make no impact on you. Being rude is the only thing that appears to get through.

Couldn't agree with this more Paschal.

I'm neither young, nor old and hate getting calls or door knocks from complete strangers. I wouldn't swear at them, but I'm not especially polite either. You do realise that there are a substantial number of floating voters who will be put off voting for you if you hassle them at home? You say it's not an invasion of privacy. Some of us on the receiving end are inclined to disagree. You aren't listening, which is one of the issues with politics that lots of us have.

firesidechat · 07/04/2015 17:27

EE you just don't seem to be getting it that some people are more vulnerable than others. Some will be old, some not. You appear to have an empathy bypass.

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 07/04/2015 17:31

You know, the original Elisaveta of Belsornia (and her Chalet School chums) wouldn't have dreamed of phoning strangers at home to ask about their private business. They'd have seen it as a breach of good manners.

bruffin · 07/04/2015 17:39

I did thank you Between, they have both passed away recently so this election they wont be bothered.

OOAOML · 07/04/2015 17:48

People do realise that this is something all the mainstream parties do don't they? And in Scotland last year there was a lot of phoning and door knocking from both Yes and No campaigns? Clearly the people who organise campaign strategies think it works.

Most parties have people out door knocking just now, but no matter what time of day you go out there will always be people who aren't in - so they phone.

Between · 07/04/2015 17:50

Bruffin sorry - that wasn't very tactful of me HmmHmmHmm

Between · 07/04/2015 17:55

OOAOML. The fact that all parties do it doesn't make it any less irritating. Confused

Hopefully I won't get any calls due to being registered with The TPS and because I have a 'No callers/salesmen/canvassers' sign on my front door.

OOAOML · 07/04/2015 17:58

Sorry, posting in a hurry - more that all parties are doing it, and presumably carrying out research into how effective it is. If it is so offensive to a large group of people (although obviously MN responses will be self-selecting) why haven't they picked that up?

I assure you I will not knock on your door if you have a no canvassers sign. I've only seen one of those though.

firesidechat · 07/04/2015 18:03

People do realise that this is something all the mainstream parties do don't they? And in Scotland last year there was a lot of phoning and door knocking from both Yes and No campaigns? Clearly the people who organise campaign strategies think it works.

I'm not being party political about this OOAOML. I don't care who you are, you are still bothering me.

(that's not you personally, just all those canvassers)

limitedperiodonly · 07/04/2015 18:04

PaschalFancy The companies call back every three months or so because I don't tell them to go away for good. That's because I might be interested in their offers in future. When I told the British Heart Foundation to stop contacting me, they did.

Ever since I made it clear that I don't vote Conservative, their canvassers do not call. I imagine that's because they have a list and can still see my name on the electoral register. I still receive leaflets though. They don't alarm me.

You just have to be clear. You can do that without telling someone to fuck off.

I'm delighted that you can be upfront. I still don't think it's necessary.

bruffin · 07/04/2015 18:09

Dont worry Between you werent to know

Jux · 07/04/2015 18:23

I can't remember whether I posted on the thread or not. There was nothing too disturbing on it, but I didn't look at it last night. I'm pretty sure that I didn't tell the op to fuck off, but hey! maybe I did? Sadly, can't check now.

The canvassers here eem to think that the important thing is that the call itself is polite. The canvassees find the calling itself rude. The canvassers do need to note that, as they essentially want canvassees on their side before the actual conversation starts. Particularly if they are the sort of person who might be offended or upset by being told to fuck off.

I suspect that the canvassers are more likely to be the sort of people who believe that their cause is worth pissing off a certain number of people before they start, though. I can't imagine any other way of avoiding the total soul-destruction which must come with the job.

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