I assume they are no longer following you?
Welcome to CC:! You just need to learn to ignore unhelpful comments. On balance people here are helpful, but once in a while people are just rude or hostile. Sometimes you have to be the adult, and let the adult be the child.
Re post 76–the group was on our campus with same tactics over 30 years ago–they are still there and strong as ever.
Kids did flunk out of school because of time spent doing Bible study and they did cut off all relationships with parents and friends outside their church. The church would tell kids how to dress, who they would marry.
One student who I talked to about the church said she got out when they expected her to marry a boy whom she had dated exactly twice–and they had set up the dates. She said it was tough to leave–she basically lost all her “friends” but knew she had to get out. She said it was hard to believe she had followed them so long. That from the outside the rules seemed ridiculous but on the inside it seemed the right thing to do.
A girl who was in my main stream church group left to join them. She cut off all communication with her parents who called frantic to find her.
As a freshman, a friend on our dorm floor went to one of their “talks” and attended for a few weeks not knowing it was a religious group. She ultimately backed out but was totally devastated that all her new “friends” now shunned her. Fortunately she had us to fall back on for support.
I definitely warned my kids to stay way clear of them and Hare Krishnas (who have similar tactics but are easily recognizable at least).
A friend of mine spent a night with HKs as a lark–said it was definitely a brainwashing session.
He said it was more intense than he had planned on and was sorry he went.
The moonies were around also at the time busy selling 3 carnations for a buck. You probably only get one now…
koalalover12 - Do not be afraid of insulting someone who is wasting your time. Be dismissive and be clear. Do not use “please” or “thank you” as they are reserved for seeking permission and gratitude, neither of which they have earned. Any of these will work:
- Ignore and keep walking.
- Say “No” (not “No thanks”) then ignore and keep walking.
- “Leave me alone,” “Get away from me,” or any variation will work. Under no circumstance should you engage and acknowledge them.
Thirty years ago we lost a freshman classmate to the Moonies. I went to one of their info sessions because they had free pizza and soda. I think they knew they had no chance when I was laughing so hard that root beer came out my nose.
We were at a county fair once and some individuals enticed my s’s into their tent with some offer of something or other (I forget). They sat them down, I was a few steps behind them, and went in with them. As soon as they started preaching gospel stuff, we politely excused ourselves and were outta there faster than a speeding bullet. Their tactics are manipulative.
Magnetron post 83 is spot on. Don’t worry about being rude at all.
@jym626, there are some “Christians” who have a booth at our country fair every year at which they have telephones on which kids can talk to some kind of “spiritual advisor” or even to “god,” I’m not sure. We avoid them like the plague.
to add to #83…if they spit on you, hit them hard enough that they see Jesus
@consolation . There has to be a bad joke in there somewhere. Sounds like an updated version of dial a prayer.
Never give out a real email address to those types of people. That was a big mistake, for anyone you don’t know. Either makeup an email address, or give them someone else’s email address (like, perhaps, the Dean’s).
It would be nice, in addition to the huge religion-promoting material sent by my son’s college, they would send atheism information as well. At least they admit that they have only four chaplains - Catholic, Christian (specifically Episcopal at this point in time), Jewish, and Muslim), but give a huge list of other places of worship that welcome college students.
Spitting on someone is a crime. I agree that I would consider reporting the incident to campus police if they continue to bother you. If you have emails from them, that can prove which organization is bothering you.
Don’t hit people. You get into trouble.
“Never give out a real email address to those types of people. That was a big mistake, for anyone you don’t know. Either makeup an email address, or give them someone else’s email address (like, perhaps, the Dean’s).”
These people aren’t worth the time and effort that it would take to write down a fake email address.
^^Exactly. Learn what your spine is designed for: ignore and walk away.