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

[Dragonlord]

@Eran

Since you seem to be honestly confused why people find door-to-door, telemarketing and the like offensive, I'll try to explain my view:

Take the missionary at the door. HE knows the chances of converting me are very slim indeed. I know that he doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. So any discussion is a total waste of time for me. So, what happen's? He starts in on a long spiel why he's come knocking on my door. Does he ask me briefly: "I've come representing Jehova's Witnesses, are you interested?" Whereupon I say 'No. Good-bye.' and close the door... I wish!!! They usually have a spiel whose sole purpose is to keep you talking... any polite attempts to terminate the conversation are met with more questions and ploys to keep you talking.
Most often the only way to get rid of these people is to be deliberately rude - close the door in their faces or hang up.
And that's what I personally find offensive about the whole thing - these people mostly (there are exceptions of course) force me to become rude and impolite myself, which goes against all my inclinations and upbringing and makes me feel guilty afterwards.

In other words, the missionary who is supposedly spreading tolerance and other virtues is actually contributing to intolerance and rudeness among people - because if you've been forced to be rude in this way often enough, it get's easier to be rude in everyday life as well.

So you're actually hurting your cause by door-to-door proselytizing. QED

 

[Lotus49]

People are free to knock (up to a certain point - then I call the cops), however I am not obligated to answer the door. And if I do choose to open it (doubtful), it's my prerogative to close it at any time of my choosing.

No need to get all hot and bothered over the issue. One must master the art of: 'not answering the door'.

Most people where I live have all kinds of anti-soliciting stickers on their door. You'd have to have some real guts just to knock, with some of the 'warnings' they have posted.

I just don't answer. Same with the phones - unless I recognize the caller, I ain't answerin'.

 

[punkbass2000]

I just want to let you know that I am offended by it. I already told you the principle of why and I hope you can understand (not necessarily agree).

However, if you came by, I would just let you know I have my beliefs and I'm not interested and would be polite about it. You wouldn't know I'm offended by my action because I have no desire in being rude or offending you.

Well said. The answer to finding something offensive is not necessarily becoming offensive.

Oh, and thank you VRWC and sahk. I do what I can

 

[The Last Conformist]

Tangentially, the only demographic that, IME, tends to like door-to-door salesmen's visits is elderly sadists.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

@Eran

Since you seem to be honestly confused why people find door-to-door, telemarketing and the like offensive, I'll try to explain my view:

Take the missionary at the door. HE knows the chances of converting me are very slim indeed. I know that he doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. So any discussion is a total waste of time for me. So, what happen's? He starts in on a long spiel why he's come knocking on my door. Does he ask me briefly: "I've come representing Jehova's Witnesses, are you interested?" Whereupon I say 'No. Good-bye.' and close the door... I wish!!! They usually have a spiel whose sole purpose is to keep you talking... any polite attempts to terminate the conversation are met with more questions and ploys to keep you talking.
Most often the only way to get rid of these people is to be deliberately rude - close the door in their faces or hang up.
And that's what I personally find offensive about the whole thing - these people mostly (there are exceptions of course) force me to become rude and impolite myself, which goes against all my inclinations and upbringing and makes me feel guilty afterwards.

In other words, the missionary who is supposedly spreading tolerance and other virtues is actually contributing to intolerance and rudeness among people - because if you've been forced to be rude in this way often enough, it get's easier to be rude in everyday life as well.

So you're actually hurting your cause by door-to-door proselytizing. QED

Congartulations, you have just described a different religion. That is not typically how Mormon missionaries operate. Bear in mind that as we don't know the person before we knock on their door, we don't know whether they are the one in a thousand who will end up converting. But we do generally make it quite easy for the person to terminate the conversation within 30 seconds (at most) if they are not interested. Our 'shpiel' is more along the lines of 'Hi, I'm Elder So-and-so and today we are sharing a message about our church/Jesus/whatever today. Would you like to here it?' Sometimes if they are amenable we will make small talk, but not always. And like I have been saying, we have lots of experience in the matter and we know that in the long run door-to-door proselytizing helps us overall.

And if an actual Mormon missionary (as opposed to Jehovah's Witnesses or anyone else) is making it necessary for you to be rude, tell them that they are being 'less effective'. They will get it.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Why, BTW, do Mormon missionaries, who tend to be quite young, call themselves "elders"?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Why, BTW, do Mormon missionaries, who tend to be quite young, call themselves "elders"?

"Elder" in this case refers to an office in the priesthood (like how you have deacons/priests/bishops in the Catholic Church) that most Mormom men between the ages of 18 and about 60 hold. Also, Mormon missionaries used to be much older. 100 years ago it was mostly men at least 30s or 40s. They were called elder, and the name stuck.

 

[willemvanoranje]

I can't believe this got its own thread haha.. anyway, it's not offensive. If you don't like to talk to the person, just close the door.. And as for jehova whitnesses, you should make fun of them if they don't accept your 'no'. A friend's dad once did this:

Jehova: "We bring to you the God Almighty."
Dad: "Oh that's great! You can put him in the hallway. Do I need to sign anything?"

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I can't believe this got its own thread haha.. anyway, it's not offensive. If you don't like to talk to the person, just close the door.. And as for jehova whitnesses, you should make fun of them if they don't accept your 'no'. A friend's dad once did this:

Jehova: "We bring to you the God Almighty."
Dad: "Oh that's great! You can put him in the hallway. Do I need to sign anything?"

Or from the TV show My Name is Earl: "No thank you boys, we already have a Lord."

You can show a little humor. If it bothers them, there fault.

 

[MattJek]

Bold by me.

Where exactly did I say "every single christian"? Please take just a moment and actually read my statement.

Have you ever heard of Jerry Falwell and the christian group called "the Moral Majority"?

Do christians use their numbers as evidence of the correctness of what they judge as moral? Of course they do.

You said Christians, you didnt say "most Christans" or "some Christians" etc. Saying "Christians" assumes youre saying "every christian". You dont know enough people of the Christain faith to make such blanketing comments. You should really think before you write something, you have a nasty habit of making brash and offensive comments

 

[Sahkuhnder]

You said Christians, you didnt say "most Christans" or "some Christians" etc. Saying "Christians" assumes youre saying "every christian". You dont know enough people of the Christain faith to make such blanketing comments. You should really think before you write something, you have a nasty habit of making brash and offensive comments

Bold by me.

1. Reread my statement, your assumption is wrong. The default would be 'some' christians, not 'every' christian.

2. I was once a christian as a child, raised in a christian family, live in a christian country, personally know many christians including having some as friends and have met uncounted other christians throughout my life. Thanks for telling me I "don't know enough" christians as again your assumption is wrong.

If you find the results of this poll, or my opinion "brash or offensive", report them to the mods if inappropriate or please respect them as others right to vote as they see fit and as my opinion.

IIRC wasn't your exact original objection to my statement that you claimed I made a "gross generalization"? Think about what your quote posted above just did then may I please request you stop putting words in my mouth and telling me what I know? Thank you.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

For what it's worth, although I think sakhunder was a little careless in saying 'Christians' instead of 'some Christians', I think I understood his meaning. Since I don't believe that something is inherently wrong just because a majority of people find it to be so, which sakhunder is claiming 'some' Christians do, I felt that his comment didn't apply to me.

 

[Sahkuhnder]

For what it's worth, although I think sakhunder was a little careless in saying 'Christians' instead of 'some Christians', I think I understood his meaning. Since I don't believe that something is inherently wrong just because a majority of people find it to be so, which sakhunder is claiming 'some' Christians do, I felt that his comment didn't apply to me.

I apparently should have been more clear and added the word "some" to my statement. My apologies.

I always welcome the opinions of people who disagree with the position of my opinion, especially those who detail their own opinion and exactly how they consider my opinion flawed. I am not always correct and consider these discussions a chance for all of us to learn about other people and their differing points of view.

Glad that unpleasantness is past us now.