# The Jehovahs Witlesses called today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 29, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596 "2009-01-29T19:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/121 "2009-02-03T14:12:25Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > Then the last one’s to come started reading the Bible to me and I told them to come back when they could prove it wasn’t written by humans, called the word of God by humans and believed to be inspired by God by humans. They said,what about the encyclopedia? I said," That is my point the encylopedia is more accurate and because it is written by humans you are taking the authors word that it is the truth. No different then the bible". They haven’t been back in about 7 or 8 years. I agree with your sentiments, but I’d feel guilty trying to deprive them of their beliefs, even though I think they’re silly. It’s like convincing a kid there’s no Santa. Of course when the kid does something annoying like come knock on your door to discuss Santa with you, maybe he needs to be taught. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/122 "2009-02-03T15:02:00Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I agree with your sentiments, but I’d feel guilty trying to deprive them of their beliefs, even though I think they’re silly. It’s like convincing a kid there’s no Santa. Of course when the kid does something annoying like come knock on your door to discuss Santa with you, maybe he needs to be taught. 😉 I’d be a little more tolerant of a child coming to my door to preach the word of Santa. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/123 "2009-02-03T17:34:59Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Jehovah’s Witnesses are also vehementally anti-abortion (they use the term pro-abortion, so I’ll use its opposite). They do not allow abortion even to save the life of the mother, but if at childbirth only one can be saved, it should be the mother. > > So if a woman has a unwanted pregnancy that threatens her life, too bad. But if she has a child she wants that needs a blood transfusion to live, again too bad. The JWs do not have any bias over terms like “pro-abortion”, nor “anti-abortion”. They use the appropriate term but given their lack of political interest that haven’t politicized terms like that. They are certainly against abortion, seeing it as murder. But they have no such position that would require “the mother be saved” during childbirth at the expense of the child. That is a doctor’s decision, and JWs leave difficult decisions like that between doctor and family/patient. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/124 "2009-02-03T18:43:29Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > A friend of ours, a Mormom born turned pagan, greets JW’s warmly at his door and welcomes them in, then explains to them that he is a practicing nudist and starts to undress. Brilliant! We had a large Siberian Husky when I was growing up, so whenever we saw the JWs coming down the street, we tied him up to the front porch post. He was a really friendly dog, but very imposing, so they always crossed the street and passed by our place, as well as our immediate neighbors on both sides. We’ve lived in our house for five years, and the “no soliciting” sign on our door seems to work well. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/125 "2009-02-03T19:00:23Z")
> [@RunSilent](#): > > I would like to know if JW have ever really converted anyone by door to door soliciting, any time, any place, anywhere… Yes, my father. :rolleyes: I have specifically told him to remove my house and phone number from the JW database. We have never had a witnessing issue. In my old neighborhood we had Spanish speaking JW’s who apparently used their god-like powers to determine that my girlfriend was not only a lesbian, but spoke Spanish. Very weird since it was a mostly African-American neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/126 "2009-02-04T00:42:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think I may have even managed to convince them that the Book I read is superior to the Bible. and what book do you read? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/127 "2009-02-04T03:32:52Z")
> [@Estilicon](#): > > Catholics convert door to door? You certainly live in a pretty interesting country. > In Argentina JW are not a problem, mormons are. Strangely they are all americans, blondes and pretty stupids. Former Mormon missionary, current atheist, checking in. (And for the record, American, brown-haired, and only sorta stupids.) I don’t know, **Estilicon** , I saw plenty of JWs in Argentina. And yes, JWs and Mormons hate passing each other on the street because no one wants to talk to both on the same day. Besides, most people can’t tell the difference anyway. “Your friends were just here; we already talked to them.” ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/128 "2009-02-04T13:14:30Z")
Endorsain, I was refering just to Mormoms, not all americans. I hope I haven’t offended you. I also forgot to say that while stupid they are VERY polite. ---
**Author:** ![Pazu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pazu/32/15522_2.png) [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/129 "2009-02-04T19:53:09Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > We’ve lived in our house for five years, and the “no soliciting” sign on our door seems to work well. Interestingly, the last time we were visited by JWs, they told us that they felt the “No Soliciting” sign didn’t apply to them. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/130 "2009-02-04T20:09:01Z")
> [@Pazu](#): > > Interestingly, the last time we were visited by JWs, they told us that they felt the “No Soliciting” sign didn’t apply to them. And they were right. (and have the support of the courts as well) They do take your feelings seriously, however. If you didn’t want them to visit your home any longer you can tell them that and they will respect it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/131 "2009-02-04T20:11:33Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > And they were right. (and have the support of the courts as well) > > They do take your feelings seriously, however. If you didn’t want them to visit your home any longer you can tell them that and they will respect it. Cite please? Why are they exempt? Beside that second part is/was violated regularly by JWs. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/132 "2009-02-04T20:12:44Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > And they were right. (and have the support of the courts as well) Legally, maybe. But socially, they’re being dicks. Someone with a “No Soliciting” sign clearly doesn’t want to be solicited by anyone. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/133 "2009-02-04T20:13:03Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > They do take your feelings seriously, however. If you didn’t want them to visit your home any longer you can tell them that and they will respect it. For like a few months they’ll respect it, at least in my experience. I’ve lived in a couple of places (completely different towns) where I’ve told them not interested and I won’t see them for a while. About two or three months later, there they are again. It’s like they hope you changed your mind or something :\ My poor brother’s house is hounded incessantly by them once they found out my sister in law used to be a JW. They just won’t leave them alone. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/134 "2009-02-04T20:14:11Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Legally, maybe. But socially, they’re being dicks. Someone with a “No Soliciting” sign clearly doesn’t want to be solicited by anyone. They are not selling anything, and will gladly not visit you if you tell them that. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/135 "2009-02-04T20:20:20Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > For like a few months they’ll respect it, at least in my experience. I’ve lived in a couple of places (completely different towns) where I’ve told them not interested and I won’t see them for a while. About two or three months later, there they are again. It’s like they hope you changed your mind or something :\ > > My poor brother’s house is hounded incessantly by them once they found out my sister in law used to be a JW. They just won’t leave them alone. JWs encounter people every single day who show some interest in their message. Many of them at one point were “not interested” as you put it. If you simply say you’re not interested there will likely come a day when you will see them again. They have no way of knowing if _ **you** _ answer the door, or someone else. They have no way of knowing if your mind has changed. They have no way of knowing if you’ve moved and someone else lives there now. If you simply tell them you wish not to be contacted anymore at all, they will stop coming. Still, people move. Generally, in one year someone will call to see if you wish to remain on the “Do Not Call” list. They will make every effort to respect your wishes. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/136 "2009-02-04T20:21:22Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > They are not selling anything, and will gladly not visit you if you tell them that. In my experience, “No Soliciting” is not limited to salespeople. Anyone requesting the use of my time is soliciting me. For example, I would expect a person canvassing for a politician to honor my sign. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/137 "2009-02-04T20:24:49Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > They will make every effort to respect your wishes. This doesn’t fit with the rest of your post. Maybe you should say they will make a show of respect your wishes but look for ways to continue proselytizing, since their goal of proselytizing is more important to them than respecting your wishes. This also explains their decision to ignore “No Soliciting” signs. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/138 "2009-02-04T20:26:29Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > In my experience, “No Soliciting” is not limited to salespeople. Anyone requesting the use of my time is soliciting me. For example, I would expect a person canvassing for a politician to honor my sign. Well that is your interpretation of “No Soliciting” and you’re welcome to it. The SCOTUS has had to balance the needs of free speech of all sorts with sentiments like yours. This goes far beyond JWs. Stifling JWs (et al) also has the potential to stifle your “Indict George Bush” petition drive, and a thousand other Free Speech endeavors. The second part of my sentence still applies. JWs will gladly put you on an informal (actually, your address, not you) “Do Not Call” list and will not come to your door. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/139 "2009-02-04T20:28:53Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > They have no way of knowing if your mind has changed. You’ve lost me here. No means no. _I’ll_ tell \*you \*if my position changes. No need to keep asking. Do you mind if use your car? You do? How about now? Now? Still not OK? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596/140 "2009-02-04T20:32:42Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > Well that is your interpretation of “No Soliciting” and you’re welcome to it. The SCOTUS has had to balance the needs of free speech of all sorts with sentiments like yours. This goes far beyond JWs. Stifling JWs (et al) also has the potential to stifle your “Indict George Bush” petition drive, and a thousand other Free Speech endeavors. Can you point me to that decision? What does free speech have to do with what happens on my private property? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jehovahs-witlesses-called-today/483596.md?page=8)