Salesmen/missionaries that knock on your door: Is this offensive?

[Sahkuhnder]

How do you feel about unsolicited/uninvited salesmen or missionaries that knock on the door to your home?

Do you see this practice as offensive to your privacy or disrupting your personal affairs?

Related link.

 

[jamiethearcher]

It doesn't bother me that much, I just tell them to go away. Then again, it would be nice to not have to tell them that in the first place.

 

[CaptainF]

Yes.

It is very arrogant to presume that people want to give up their personal time so as to be wined and dined by a religion/marketer for that person's personal benefit.

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[Ramius75]

It doesn't bother me that much, I just tell them to go away. Then again, it would be nice to not have to tell them that in the first place.

Ditto, they are just doing their jobs, normally i wont be interested in them and tell them quite straight.

Some evangelists does get quite persistant thou, but usually i enjoy a good chat with them, if im free.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Fine with me.

 

[Yuri2356]

Annoying, yes. Offensive, no. The salesmen are just doing their jobs, and the missionaries have their beliefs. As long as both are willing to accept a polite 'no', I'm fine.

 

[The 777 Hoax]

I don't mind it. It can be a nuisance, but I don't see it as offensive.

 

[Bill3000]

Extremely offensive, in the conversion case.

It's one thing to try to sell something - it's another thing entirely to change someone's views on existence.

 

[Aramazd]

Is it offensive? No. Is it annoying? Yes, especially when I am doing something.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Neutral, because I don't take "offence" really, just EXTREME annoyance. I am not offended that every two weeks some Mormon missionary tries to convert me away from my heathen-living (I think they have a church in my community or something, because I get bugged A LOT). I understand that they truly believe they are doing it for my benefit. However, when I am late for a class that will teach me actual knowledge I get frustrated and annoyed by them and have on occasion become glib.

 

[amadeus]

The houses here are too far spread apart to make it worthwhile for these types to campaign around here, so I don't have to deal with them.

 

[Cuivienen]

Annoying, yes. Offensive? Well, the doomsday cultists are. The Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses aren't so bad. I've never had a door-to-door salesman come to my house.

 

[downtown]

guess my answer!!

-if it bugs you guys, you can put a notice on your door, and missionaries wont ever stop by

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Well, the problem is that they run across the street to talk to me when I am walking. I have actually found myself running away from a Mormon guy once. Probably a nice enough guy, but I just didn't have the time.

NOTE: He was running after me too, waving a Book of Mormon.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Out of curiosity, why are people offended by this? I ask because half of the response has been in the range of somewhat to very offensive.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Meh. Maybe they have believe what the missionaries have to say, so they are offended that they would poke at their consciences and make them feel bad about themselves.

Us plain evil folk don't have that problem.

 

[Fetus4188]

If they're taking the time to talk to me in person I'll take the time to tell them no thankyou without getting worked up.

 

[Sahkuhnder]

guess my answer!!

-if it bugs you guys, you can put a notice on your door, and missionaries wont ever stop by

A sign saying 'no soliciting' or 'no proselytizing' won't work. People will just convince themselves that it doesn't apply to them.

Link to statement.

 

[Cuivienen]

Out of curiosity, why are people offended by this? I ask because half of the response has been in the range of somewhat to very offensive.

Some of them will try to force their way into your house, often by simply stepping forward until you have to step back. That's when it gets offensive.

 

[bhsup]

They're just trying to make a living (salesmen) or doing what they feel is their duty (missionaries). As long as they are polite and accept that I don't want to talk to them or buy anything, I'm fine with it.

Actually, I tend to enjoy the missionaries. Even though there is pretty much zero chance of me converting to Jehovah's Witness or LDS, I still enjoy a good theological discussion. I'm quite up front and honest with them about this so as not to lead them on and waste their time, but some will still stay just to have a good talk.