I've noticed lately how sneaky these religious people are when they knock on your door.They fire a question at you that is totally irrelevant and if you answer they fire off a few more and before you know it you're arguing about god with them.
I got caught out a few weeks back but today I was prepared.I opened the door to a couple of ladies but one of them was slow to hide her watchtower magazine.
"Hello,we're doing a survey,what do you think about swine flu"
"If this is about religion I'm not interested"
A polite 'ok,sorry to have bothered you' would have done,but no.
"Oh,may I ask why?"
"I'm an athiest"
Got you,I thought.
"A lot of people feel that way these days,why do you think that is so?"
"I don't want to talk about it" (polite goodbyes ensued).

Now this isn't really an anti religion post.More an anti sales techniques one.Ive had all sorts of salesmen round my house lately and they all employ the same tactic.

BEWARE

Punch one today!

I think they get a commission cheque perhaps... like monetary incentives.
As Mt Bowie would say, "That's Motivation!"

To tell the truth,the one I said caught me out was funny.It must have been the blokes first day on the job.Every biblical argument he threw at me I had an argument against.He was so nervous though that he wasn't even listening to me.
I reckon on a better day I could have converted him.

diabolical time travel, dinosaurs and why there are no kangaroos in the Bible.

So where is the passion when he needed it most? Oh, you and he kick up the leaves and then the magic became lost. 'Cause he had a bad day. He took one down. He sang a sad song just to turn it around and he said you didn't know, but he tole' you not to lie. He worked at a smile to take you for a ride? He had a bad day. You've seen what he's like and how does it feel for one more time. He had a bad day; He just had a bad day. Just encourage 'im to do his best and don't worry. Compare the best of his days with the worst of your days, he won't win.... With your standards so high, And his spirits so low, at least remember ... this was just you on a good day; him on a pale day. Just do your best and don't ... you know. Don't worry. The way he hung himself was just so unfair. See the best of how you looked, against the worst of how he was, and again, he wouldn't win; he couldn't win!

You might try something like:
"Lucky you're here...we were right in the middle of a Satanic ritual...any of you happen to be virgins?"
That'd clear them off.

Don't look at the carpet

Do you suppose it would have?

i believe in cheeses...

Thanks for the warning Lee. Why these people are allowed to spout their doctrine at people's doors is beyond me.

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Usually when anybody want to offer me anything, I listen them politely. Then when they take a breath, I say with a smile: " And now let me offer something to you, too." And I take any promotional material from my bag. They see it and make off very quickly. lol

I think if you take everybody positive way, you'll be able to stay quiet in every situation and people who live near you will feel better.

Violet

I often find the most effective and simple way to treat door stepper's whether religious types or just plain old sales people is to simply slam the door in their faces as soon as you suss out what they are about, usually when they are a few seconds into their opening spiel. The wife hates me when I do this and I have to agree with her, it is rather rude but hey! my home is my castle and these people have breached the draw bridge, not to mention my time is valuable so I'm entitled to repel them back by any means necessary as far as I'm concerned

Another pet hate of mine are charity cadgers now don't get me wrong I appreciate why they are doing what they do and their causes are usually very deserving etc, I'm also not adverse to giving to charities in whatever shape or form when I'm flush and not being pressured, but it's when I decide to do so and not them!

One very recent episode was when I'd stopped in a service area for my mandatory drivers rest break, I went into the main building to go to the toilet and situated either side of the main and only doorway into the place were two women rattling / shaking collection buckets right under my nose as I attempted to walk past them, they were counting on people feeling guilty if they didn't give. Please give to (whatever charity they were collecting for) they said in loud voices, I swiftly got my very empty wallet out and said in return, please give to the Royal Mail workers strike fund. Trying to be funny one of them said, NO! I said, I'm bloody well serious!

I think they got my point

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I believe it contravenes UK law to "shake" a charity box

The charity workers want you to sign up for a standing order these days.

I got collared by one and he actually refused my offer of a couple of quid towards his cause because it was against the rules for him to take cash.

<< I believe it contravenes UK law to "shake" a charity box >>

Quite possibly, but it's probably yet another toothless UK law amongst many that we seem to have that never gets enforced because its not viable to do so for whatever reason, hence we get rattled and shaked at 24/7 in every service station, supermarket,and public space known to man

Apparently I'm condemned to eternal hell and damnation because a few years ago I think it was, I reported to the manager of my local Morrison's supermarket, an over zealous Salvation Army collector who severely hassled me at the main door when I was going in to get the weekly shop with my Mrs. I explained to the manager after I explained what had happened, that I wouldn't ever shop in his store ever again and that I was going to write a strong letter to my local press etc, the Sally Army guy was asked to leave which led to the situation where I got my Fatwa from him!

CHARMING!

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"which led to the situation where I got my Fatwa from him!"

What? They're going to christmas carol you to death with brass instruments or something?

Mist.

<< The charity workers want you to sign up for a standing order these days.>>

And of course another tactic these days is if you do give them a standing order or put your money in a sealed official envelope, your gift apparently doesn't get taxed or something like that, so the charity gets more of what you give.

I think it's called Gift Aid or something like that?

Either way in this time of credit crunch, getting ripped off these days on a daily basis by every person and organisation within the UK, severe wage cut, no wage rise due to the convenient credit crunch excuse, and strikes! charity at the moment very firmly starts at home in my house.

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<< What? They're going to christmas carol you to death with brass instruments or something? >>

Where he said I was going, I reckon that instead of hell fire and brimstone I'm guessing I will be tortured 24/7 with Christmas carols and brass instruments whilst being hung bollock naked above an open fire.


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It's never occurred to me before but my two local Morrisons always have 'box rattlers' in the entrance.No other supermarkets do.
I suppose they think it's good PR but it's the opposite.
I don't want to have to avoid gazes when doing my shop.

It is indeed against the law to rattle the boxes, it constitutes begging I believe. Usually its old farts who do it.

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<< Usually its old farts who do it. >>

I'd better get my tin / bucket out then doc

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Does anyone else get plastic bags through the door asking for clothes, alluding to be for charitable reasons?



We're always getting them, especially from THOH (The Hand Of Help). I checked the wording and the terms which said that 50% of profits went to charity rang alarm bells immediately. A bit like Bowie gettign 50% of profits from Mainman, they could deduct whatever they wanted as operating costs and wages before calculating the profit.


Turns out my suspicions were right, they've yet to contribute any of their profits to charity. Their website says they will donate £1000 to Unicef, but haven't said when. There are a lot of similar scam organisations all run by Lithuanians in London.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569695/How-charity-clothes-line-Lithuanian-pockets.html

<< Does anyone else get plastic bags through the door asking for clothes, alluding to be for charitable reasons? >>

Yes, however they come in very handy for putting household and garden rubbish in etc

I never fill them with clothes though, when I get a load of old clothes I box it all up, ( washed and ironed ) put them in the car, and then seek out where the homeless / tramps hang out, then I give them the box of clothes and tell them to distribute whatever amongst themselves. They are usually very grateful and at least I know they are going to the needy and not some scammer.


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You're a true gent M.T.

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I'm like a one-eyed cat, peepin' in a seafood store.....
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A couple of organizations are getting small doses of my husband's clothes, but the direct approach works, too. When the Witnesses knocked on his door, he would sometimes converse with them at length - he taught Sunday school at an earlier part of his life - although in later years he would simply hide.

Don't look at the carpet

i thought this was gonna be a thread about hunt and tony ;0

They collecting for charity these days?

Don't look at the carpet

Nice one Chris!

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