# Witness haters--are you happy now? :( **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 2, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221 "2013-10-02T23:02:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/441 "2013-11-26T05:27:18Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > The other guy created him. 🙂 Not really. He suggested that Spielberg’s next movie be an homage to Republic serials, and may have suggested the action archaeologist archetype, but the details of the character were hashed out between Lucas and Spielberg, and by Spielberg working on his own with his scriptwriters. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/442 "2013-11-26T07:43:14Z")
Lashed out? Do you mean Lucas and Spielberg went after each other with whips? _That_ must have been a sight to see… I don’t really like any moviemakers; and as for Spielberg, I understand he ran afoul of the law–labor law–in a couple of other countries. Did he? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/443 "2013-11-26T08:48:15Z")
You haven’t seen a movie in something like 30 years, right? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/444 "2013-11-26T09:56:12Z")
No, but I read the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/445 "2013-11-26T15:12:40Z")
> [@Zago](#): > > It seems that JW’s need to be persecuted - according to them this is set forth in the Bible, it brings them closer to God although (according to upthread posts) it doesn’t necessarily get them into heaven. So - if persecution is your schtick, and you went to 50 houses in a day - what would be a good day? One where a handful of people listened to you (I’m guessing this is the norm) or one where most everyone embraced you? If everyone embraced you wouldn’t that go against your penchant for persecution? Correct me if 'm wrong but isn’t it a peculiarity of JW’s that they take pride in their persecution? That sounds like all Christianity, maybe all religions for that matter. Maybe all _people_. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/446 "2013-11-26T16:39:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Not really. He suggested that Spielberg’s next movie be an homage to Republic serials, and may have suggested the action archaeologist archetype, but the details of the character were hashed out between Lucas and Spielberg, and by Spielberg working on his own with his scriptwriters. You sure about that? > [@](#): > > [The New Yorker](http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/03/spitballing-indy.html) > Lucas walked into the meeting with an outline of the story, but he wanted to flesh it out with his writer and director. In the transcript, he begins by articulating a recipe for the contemporary blockbuster: the picture will consist of one big set piece after another. > > “And each cliffhanger is better than the one before,” Spielberg adds, warming to the idea. “What we’re doing here, really, is designing a ride at Disneyland.” > > The hero, Lucas explains, is a globe-trotting archaeologist, “a bounty hunter of antiquities.” He’s a professor, a Ph.D.—“People call him doctor.” But he’s a little “rough and tumble.” As the men hash out the Jones iconography, they refer, incessantly, to other films, invoking Eastwood, Bond, and Mifune. He will dress like Bogart in “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” Lucas says: “the khaki pants…the leather jacket. That sort of felt hat.” Oh, and also? “A bullwhip.” He’ll carry it “rolled up,” Lucas continues. “Like a snake that’s coiled up behind him.” > > “I like that,” Spielberg says. “The doctor with the bullwhip.” > [@](#): > > [NPR](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89724552) > [T]he character, created by producer George Lucas… > [@](#): > > [Encyclopedia Britannica](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1493434/Indiana-Jones/) > American film producer George Lucas created the character… > [@](#): > > [AP](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=83oRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3614,2316709&dq=who+created+indiana+jones&hl=en) > Lucas created the “Star Wars” trilogy and the “Indiana Jones” epics. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/447 "2013-11-26T17:12:38Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > No, but I read the newspaper. Apparently not many. Juarez is rated as in the top 5 of most dangerous cities in the world on most lists I’ve seen. Sometimes #1. One of the highest murder rates in the world. But this one time its JWs and its big news to you. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/448 "2013-11-26T18:36:31Z")
> [@simster](#): > > dougie\_monty and the temple of doom? Dear Og! I was drinking coffee! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/449 "2013-11-26T18:57:13Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I hate people who reach for guns or violence to solve non-violent problems. > I hate people who push their religion on me. > I don’t see that I have to be happy in any way about this story, since no one with my stance is involved. Gun guy should go to jail. JWs should stop going house-to-house out of respect for other people’s lives, not out of fear for their own. THIS. > [@waterj2](#): > > Or dogs with bees in their mouths and when they bark they bark bees. That would be **EPIC**. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > You didn’t provide a link. Did you expect us to Google it up? > And yes, a lot of Dopers might be diametrically opposed to JWs, but the real hatred comes in because the JWs are committed to going around and knocking on people’s doors. Even if we have a sign up. Most of us are opposed to ANYONE who goes around and knocks on the doors of everyone. It’s the BEHAVIOR of JWs that gets the hatred. Quit the behavior, and you’ll lessen the hatred. I’m a day sleeper, and my husband works odd and rotating shifts. It doesn’t matter how polite you are when you greet me. I’m going to hate you for waking me up. You started the encounter rudely, don’t be surprised when people dislike it. > > Leave me out of your religious practices and beliefs, and we’ll get along better. I don’t care if you feel a religious obligation to witness, I don’t want to be witnessed to, and I especially don’t appreciate someone waking me up to witness to me. > > And yes, I have answered the door in just my glasses, my flipflops, and my panties, carrying a gun. I’ve never fired a gun, mind you…but I used to live two houses down from a Baptist church, and every time they had a door-to-door campaign, they’d ring my doorbell, several times. THIS. I do not want to be woke up on my day off, to a house full of barking dogs, and then get “witnessed to”. I don’t give a flying fvck what someone else’s dogma says about it. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/450 "2013-11-26T23:30:03Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > […] > THIS. I do not want to be woke up on my day off, to a house full of barking dogs, and then get “witnessed to”. I don’t give a flying fvck what someone else’s dogma says about it. You know, if you would post this message, just as it appears on this message board, in a convenient place on or near your front door (preferably near the doorbell, if you have one), Witnesses approaching would see it and, convinced that you are _not_ interested, would not bother knocking. The point is that they have to **know that** first. And they will not **assume** that of anybody, one way or the other. Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8, 20:20. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/451 "2013-11-26T23:35:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Apparently not many. Juarez is rated as in the top 5 of most dangerous cities in the world on most lists I’ve seen. Sometimes #1. One of the highest murder rates in the world. But this one time its JWs and its big news to you. Well, that’s an interesting point… It was big news to me because the Witnesses are rarely mentioned in my local newspaper. (The OP was, of course, in Huffington Press.) FWIW, what are the other four cities? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/452 "2013-11-27T00:14:01Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I do not want to be woke up on my day off, to a house full of barking dogs, and then get “witnessed to”. I don’t give a flying fvck what someone else’s dogma says about it. > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You know, if you would post this message, just as it appears on this message board, in a convenient place on or near your front door (preferably near the doorbell, if you have one), Witnesses approaching would see it and, convinced that you are not interested, would not bother knocking. Maybe. But Mormons would. It’d be an additional challenge worth bonus points in the hereafter. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/453 "2013-11-27T00:37:43Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You know, if you would post this message, just as it appears on this message board, in a convenient place on or near your front door (preferably near the doorbell, if you have one), Witnesses approaching would see it and, convinced that you are _not_ interested, would not bother knocking. > The point is that they have to **know that** first. > And they will not **assume** that of anybody, one way or the other. > Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8, 20:20. We’ve been down this road before - many times on this board - do you really want to go there again? Simply approaching the door ‘close enough to read such a sign’ would be enough to alert the dogs - secondly - **your group ignores “no soliciting” signs now** (and feel they are special enough to do so) - so there is absolutely no reason to believe they would heed this ‘extra special’ sign - They even ignore their own “do not call lists” - after all how are they to ‘know’ that the person that is home is the one that hung the sign or hasnt moved or whatever bullshit excuse you want to come up with? You do this because that is what your little cult tells you to do - that this is the way you prove your faithfullness - so why don’t you just be honest for a moment and say the truth - that you will go door to door because its what you believe - and you simply don’t care who you disturb while you ‘spread this good news’. That, atleast, would be honest - something you and your group have proven you have no concept of. Now, maybe you should stop posting before you embarrass yourself yet again. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/454 "2013-11-27T01:05:44Z")
> [@simster](#): > > . . . Simply approaching the door ‘close enough to read such a sign’ would be enough to alert the dogs . . . The dogs are enclosed, aren’t they? Like, in a yard with a gate? Do you have the “No Solicitors” sign out on the gate? Maybe a “No Trespassing” sign? > [@](#): > > **your group ignores “no soliciting” signs now**. . . Now? As if they ever did respect such signs? In my experience, they’ve ignored such instructions for decades. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/455 "2013-11-27T01:11:11Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > The dogs are enclosed, aren’t they? Like, in a yard with a gate? Do you have the “No Solicitors” sign out on the gate? Maybe a “No Trespassing” sign? My dog is indoors - the front yard is not enclosed in a fence - the dog ( a jack russell mix) goes bonkers at any approaching ‘visitor’ - well before they even get to the door. Point is - by the time someone gets to the door to read the sign - the dog is already on alert. Getting pizza and deliverys is a bitch, let me tell ya. > [@Trinopus](#): > > Now? As if they ever did respect such signs? In my experience, they’ve ignored such instructions for decades. Now and always - it was simply stating the fact that they ignore these simple signs ‘now’ - why would they heed any other signage? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/456 "2013-11-27T01:15:20Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > According to an Associated Press item from last Friday’s _Daily Breeze,_ dateline Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, a family, including a 2-year-old, was bound and gagged and knifed to death over a $115 dollar debt–something to do wioth dog breeding. The debt was a month overdue. ☹ > The people were Jehovah’s Witnesses. > I have not posted this item to rant or mourn but to try to improve my objectiveness in choosing subject matter to post (and technique, if that’s the right word). In fact, it seems obvious they were not even killed because of their religion. > Still, :(☹ Is this really the best you can do - imputing imaginary feelings to people? Look, I’m sorry people were murdered. I don’t want Witnesses to be murdered because I don’t want anyone to be murdered. But I don’t see how religion is even a factor here. Would you kindly keep your lameass rant to yourself and quit cluttering up the board? Your persecution complex is really annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/457 "2013-11-27T01:55:26Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You know, if you would post this message, just as it appears on this message board, in a convenient place on or near your front door (preferably near the doorbell, if you have one), Witnesses approaching would see it and, convinced that you are _not_ interested, would not bother knocking. > The point is that they have to **know that** first. > And they will not **assume** that of anybody, one way or the other. > Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8, 20:20. They really should assume that, actually. I imagine they will be right more often than if they assume folks want people to knock on their doors and preach or witness or whatever it’s called these days. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/458 "2013-11-27T02:10:30Z")
> [@simster](#): > > My dog is indoors . . . goes bonkers at any approaching ‘visitor’ - well before they even get to the door. . . . That makes things tough! (A flighty dog is both good and bad: marvelous personalities, but…flighty! Still, darn good protection against burglars!) I respect the abstract right of people to knock on doors to sell, or proselytize, or ask for donations, etc. But, damn it, the law ought to mandate that a “Go Away!” sign be obeyed. And, anyway, it’s a stupid waste of their time! Do they really believe the grace of God is so powerful within them, they can convert even the already-hostile resident? Do they have any ability at statistics? Do we have to set up cameras and record ourselves saying, “Never come to this door again” in order to bring the evidence to court to get a court order to stay away? (This could actually be kind of fun…) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/459 "2013-11-27T05:09:27Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > **They really should assume that, actually.** I imagine they will be right more often than if they assume folks want people to knock on their doors and preach or witness or whatever it’s called these days. (Bolding mine) Well, that’s your opinion. I’d say it’s up to each individual householder to decide that for himself/herself; wouldn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221/460 "2013-11-27T05:25:17Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > That makes things tough! (A flighty dog is both good and bad: marvelous personalities, but…flighty! Still, darn good protection against burglars!) > > I respect the abstract right of people to knock on doors to sell, or proselytize, or ask for donations, etc. But, damn it, the law ought to mandate that a “Go Away!” sign be obeyed. > > And, anyway, it’s a stupid waste of their time! Do they really believe the grace of God is so powerful within them, they can convert even the already-hostile resident? Do they have any ability at statistics? > > Do we have to set up cameras and record ourselves saying, “Never come to this door again” in order to bring the evidence to court to get a court order to stay away? (This could actually be kind of fun…) The reasoning in your third paragraph is flawed. Mainly, one would have to know that a particular resident is “already hostile.” Long before I was ever acquainted with the Witnesses I used to go from door-to-door in some neighborhood looking for yard work to do, to earn my own money (in high school I did this to pay for my own school supplies and lunches, even in my senior year). If I had an inkling that someone was going to be “hostile” I would not approach the door: front porch light on (they may still be asleep); shouting inside the house; a large dog, seen or heard; and so on. I carried this rule-of-thumb over into the door-to-door ministry. Incidentally, I never saw any “NO SOLICITING” signs in the neighborhoods, mostly in central Redondo Beach, North Torrance, and Hermosa Beach. (FWIW, I just looked up the word “solicit” in my Random House dictionary and the definitions given are not applicable to what the Witnesses do.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witness-haters-are-you-happy-now/670221.md?page=24)