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Philosophy/religion

This may have been done before, but how do i stop Jehovah's Witnesses calling at my house?

52 replies

Yannah2006 · 08/03/2013 11:35

It's happened 3 times in two months- two were within a week of each other.

They're always very polite, and i totally respect and understand why they do it.

However, we're humanists. We don't believe in gods and won't until there is significant evidence to sugest otherwise. Every time they call, i just say 'no thank you, we're humanists' and close the door. But they call at the worst time (10am on a saturday morning when we're [embarrassingly] still in our pyjamas). I've also recently lost a cousin (he was 30, an only child, married with a toddler and had suffered with leukemia for 5 years) so i'm not really in the mood to be discussing the existence God, as i'd like to give him a piece of my mind if i could!

The fact thats it's happened so often sugests to me that they're not going to stop any time soon. Is there any way to change this? If i asked them to stop calling at our house, would they oblige? It's a different person every time, so i'm not sure the message would get passed on. Could i contact the local Kingdom Hall and ask them that way?

I'm not really sure what the protocol is- can anyone help?

OP posts:
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BobbiFleckmann · 08/03/2013 11:36

hang a mezzuzah on your door jamb.

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lottieandmia · 08/03/2013 11:36

Just don't answer the door - I never do unless I know who is calling. Or you could put a label on your door which says 'no cold callers'

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Yannah2006 · 08/03/2013 11:38

Ha! Not sure if that'd stop them tbh! Plus a possible misuse of a sacred item Confused

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hiddenhome · 08/03/2013 16:33

Just tell them you're a Catholic Grin Nobody messes with Catholics as they know we're a lost cause Grin

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BeerTricksPotter · 08/03/2013 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PedroPonyLikesCrisps · 08/03/2013 18:24

Having them call at awkward times is not easily fixable, but I like to have a chat with them generally. It's good to understand where they're coming from and can help you brush up on your debating skills. Of course that's all assuming you have time to do so. I think I surprised a couple of Mormons the other week when I started debunking all their arguments. Nice chaps though!

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technodad · 08/03/2013 20:24

Tell them that you do not want to call on you again because you don't believe in god (politely).

If they do call on you again, follow them home (this might take all day though) and then knock on their door at any time of the day and night and try to politely convince them that there is no such thing as god.

Or, if they come to your door after you have politely asked them not to bother you. Get a loud fog horn and sound it at them the next time they knock. They will soon stop.

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Crikeyblimey · 08/03/2013 20:29

Possibly not the best way but...

On the morning of our wedding, dh was in his dressing gown and decided to polish his shoes. He wears some latex gloves to polish boots and shoes which are covered in brown shoe polish (from cleaning his hiking boots). JH call at the door.

Picture the scene - dh answers door wearing just a dressing gown and brown stained latex gloves. Not realising what he looked like he said "sorry, I don't have time to talk, I'm in the middle of something". JH people virtually RAN down our drive and haven't been back. :) :) :)

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thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts · 09/03/2013 08:54

I got blacklisted by the JWs on two occassions. First time was when they came round and I said 'yes I'm interested in religion, I'm studying theology' and waved a very large text book. Didn't see another one for 5 years or so.

Second time I was rushing to get a toddler and a baby in the car before a midweek service and I got waylaid by a determined and possibly new JW and I decided love was the answer. 'Wasn't it amazing' I said 'that being a Christian brought so much purpose, love and peace into my life. I'd love to stop and chat but I've got to pick up my elderly friend who just adores playing piano for the children at the service' I burbled on in this vein for quite a while as JW have a faith that is salvation by works (ie knocking on doors) and not by love and grace. That session got me blacklisted again.

This approach doesn't work for humanists but hey, I love the latex gloves approach. Worked for a friend in Alaska who had just been butchering meat so did have blood on her hands and apron and they never saw a JW again.....

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friendlymum67 · 09/03/2013 08:59

Someone I know suggested placing a 'Give Blood' sign on/near the front door!!

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friendlymum67 · 09/03/2013 09:01

Someone I know suggested placing a 'Give Blood' sign on/near the front door!!

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friendlymum67 · 09/03/2013 09:02

Sorry for repeat post - stupid iPad!!

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Nagoo · 09/03/2013 09:16

I told them I was as atheist as they were religious, and now they smile at me pityingly in the street but don't knock the door.

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sashh · 10/03/2013 05:31

If you phone the local Kingdom Hall you can be put on a lost of addresses not to visit.

You have to give permission for them to do this because of data protection.

You can also ask them when they call to add your address to your list.

Yes they are that organised. They have the local area mapped out so they are allocated a place to visit.

In the summer they hire a coach and take a packed lunch so they can cover rural areas.

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NandH · 10/03/2013 05:52

I had this yesterday at about half 10! (do we live in the same area!!!)

I was feeding my 4week old and had 2yo dd running around my feet so they could see it was a bad time and i couldnt really stop to chat, yet they kept trying to make convo! I'm one of those people that can't say bottle easily and I couldn't just shut the door...anyway reason for them knocking was to give me an invitation to go and celebrate Jesus on the 26th....

my question is...

why didn't they just stick the invitation through the letter box fgs!!!!!

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NandH · 10/03/2013 05:53

say bottle?? ...say no....clearly over tired!

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glastocat · 10/03/2013 07:45

Just tell that that you are not interested, thank you for calling, and shut the door. I had them the other day, They were all ready for a big chat, but i was firm but polite. I also tell them I was brought up a witness ( true) so do not need to know any more about it. Or I don't answer the door, I can spot a JW a mile off. Grin

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somanymiles · 12/04/2013 05:42

glastocat, I think I am right in saying if they do not go round and knock on people's doors they will get kicked out of the religion? That can be very frightening, especially for younger people who have been brought up in the religion and face the prospect of excommunication and losing their entire community of friends and family. So while it is annoying, I do have some sympathy. My Dad used to try to convert them to Catholicism, but I just smile politely and say (firmly) it's not a good time to talk.

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Sailormercury · 12/04/2013 05:55

Tell them you are Wiccan. That's what I did (because I am) and they've never come back.

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CreatureRetorts · 12/04/2013 06:01

Just tell them not to. Tell them you're not interested in studying.

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specialsubject · 12/04/2013 10:19

Those brought up in cults have to stop it despite the pain, or it just goes on to future generations. They could always just tell the chief that they've been door knocking and go do something useful instead.

first time, polite 'no thank you, please don't call again'. Repeat offenders; full treatment, 'oh good, we need two more for the satanic ceremony, come on in', or 'great, just off to the blood donor van and they've asked me to bring more people'.

and so on.

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StackOverflow · 12/04/2013 18:25
  1. Call your local Kingdom Hall and ask to be added to their no call list

    Or:

  2. Tell them you've been disfellowshipped (that's kind of like excommunication for JWs) - works like a charm
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slhilly · 12/04/2013 18:29

When they tell you they are Jehovah's Witnesses, say: "I hope he wins his case" and shut the door.

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Startail · 12/04/2013 18:51

Yes, being Catholic or Jewish works well.

My Jewish friend and her Catholic flat mate never saw the JW again after they answered the door together.

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waltermittymissus · 12/04/2013 18:57

Yy to being Catholic.

Also, handy to have some Catholic information pamphlets ready to give to them Wink

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