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<p>^^^^^^^Ditto.</p>
<p>@Ema- that’s odd. I’ve never had a JW show up at my house. You and I live only a few miles away from each other lol.</p>
<p>I agree completely with a polite but firm, “no thank you” and close the door. but this statement puzzled me:</p>
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<p>Have we gotten to the point in this country, where approaching someone’s door whom we don’t know is automatically rude? When did that happen? They may not be welcome; They don’t have to be acknowledged or entertained, but–how are they a priori rude?</p>
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<p>To proselytize? Yeah, that’s always rude, in any circumstance, IMO!</p>
<p>But the quote comments on coming to your door period.</p>
<p>Besides, I still don’t think that intending to proselytize is in itself rude, as long as a “no” is honored. Unwelcome, maybe, but not rude.</p>
<p>While I’m busy saying “No, not interested…” I ALWAYS make sure to let my dogs out to say hello. And I don’t bother to tell them (the dogs, not the JW’s) to behave. It makes me happy. :)</p>
<p>I don’t like door-to-door solicitation, either. I used to get testy with Jehovah’s Witnesses until I learned that in the face of Nazi persecution they used their sophisticated printing and publishing operations to condemn the Nazi regime and the persecution of Jews and others. So the same infrastructure that produced those annoying pamphlets also produced anti-Nazi literature, in secret and at great risk. Now I either don’t answer the door, or I just smile, accept the pamphlet, say thank you, and close the door. They don’t come by often, they’re mostly elderly in my area, and they don’t proselytize because I don’t give them time to do it. I don’t see any reason to be rude to them.</p>
<p>Right. I don’t care if they are rude or not - it’s not worth my time to try to think of ways to be actively rude to them or not – my way of thinking is, I have my own stuff to do, I’m not interested, I wouldn’t bother even accepting literature because that gives them false hope, good-bye, close door. I feel the same way if it’s Amway or a window salesman or someone asking me to sign a petition for a cause or candidate I don’t support. No thanks and move on.</p>
<p>Okay–it was the “rudeness” comment that i was commenting on.</p>
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I agree, though I don’t think that obliges you to be rude back. However, I don’t think it’s rude to open the door and say “Thanks, but I’m not interested” and then to close the door firmly before they have another chance to get a word in edgewise. I also think it’s fine to peek through the peephole and decide you aren’t home to whomever is at the door.</p>
<p>I, too, see no need to be rude to the JW’s who come to my door. They truly believe they must do this door to door thing for their salvation. </p>
<p>The only way to make sure they don’t come back is to say No directly. Do not take their literature, which they will interpret as interested, and they will return if you do. </p>
<p>A sign on the door is also an effective way. A friend of mine has a general purpose sign on his door that tells all religious groups and sales groups to please not ring the bell.</p>
<p>Thanks to a recent lightening strike at our house, we now have a brand new intercom system, and I can “talk” to whoever is at the door without having to come to the door. This would be my strategy if someone is at my door who I (a) don’t recognize or (b) would prefer not to deal with, especially if I am home alone. Stuff happens, including home invasions. That said, sometimes burglars ring the bell to see if anyone is home before attempting a break-in, and although it is unlikely they would be dressed in a suit and carrying a bible, well… I suppose stranger things have happened.</p>
<p>I agree that the political, sales and fundraising calls have increased lately. I am usually polite and chatty, but consistent. If is is a fundraiser, I tell them to mail me something as I do not make any commitments over the phone. Their next line is usually to ask me how much they can put down on the form. I repeat my statement that I am happy to look over the materials (this includes fundraisers from organizations and schools we have contributed to in the past) and will do so with my DH. If they ask again for a number, I tell them “zero”. That usually stops the pressure from them. </p>
<p>My DH has volunteered for some of these phone-a-thon fundraisers. So far he has collected… zero.</p>
<p>**** Addendum:
I am thinking of trying out the doorbell intercom thing on halloween. Might cause a few to jump!!</p>
<p>“Thank you for coming by. I understand you want to convert me to being a Jehovah’s Witness. Can I try to convert you to atheism?”</p>
<p>I am in the “let the dog answer the door” camp. I shake my head while the dog is going nuts and shut the door.</p>
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Apologies for my hastily written post. It is of course not rude merely to approach someone’s door. Neighbors, friends, kids selling stuff for charity aren’t being rude, nor are people who need help in an emergency. I dont go around approaching strangers doors to promote my own agenda, though, because I do find it annoying when someone does it to me. Maybe its not intrinsically rude maybe its a character flaw on my part instead. Either way, Im not answering the door. :D</p>
<p>Long ago I had a friend who was a JW. She said you could call the local Kingdom Hall and ask them to put you on a list NOT to be contacted. I dont know if this is still true but worth the time to try. The halls are all listed in the phone book.</p>
<p>I am never rude. But I am very clear that I do not appreciate their efforts. Go on youtube and watch “john Safran Atheist door knocking” in which he goes door to door in Salt Lake City trying to sell his point of view.
JW’s or LDS’ers…keep away from my door.</p>
<p>Am I the only one who doesn’t open the door for anyone I don’t know? I’m fine asking, “Who is it?” through the door, then saying “No thank you.” Or if they say something in the line of “I’m your neighbor” then it’s “How may I help you?” then the “No thank you.” Works with anyone giving a sales pitch. (And no, I don’t feel rude.)</p>
<p>I guess there are benefits to living in an apartment building with a doorman! So far, our building doesn’t seem to have any JW’s residing in it, so none have made it past the doorman. </p>
<p>I must say JW’s are good people. We have several at work. They are required to spend a certain # of hours a month in public proselitising. One wonderful young woman who used to work in my office would get nauseous and have horrible headaches whenever it was time for her to do it. She hated it…but it was required. She’s very devout.</p>
<p>I worked with a JW who would not partake in any party celebrations in the office…but would eat the cake if we put it on her desk.</p>