A sign I saw on a door for door to door people

[MoonCat]

OK, so here's one that doesn't involve anybody being nasty to a solicitor:

We were having a little get-together one day at our old house. All pagans, I forget the occasion, but there was a ritual involved (robed). Just as we were finishing up the "chat/gossip/shoot the breeze" portion (requisite at all such functions, you know ) I had to answer the door. It was a local politician who was going door-to-door to introduce himself and ask people to vote for him. Not a real convenient time for a chat.

I asked him a couple questions, expressed a view or two and said I'd consider him. I honestly don't recall whether I voted for him or not.

[Moon]

my own person concern about people going door-to-door, whether it's for religion or selling something else, is... what if they're really casing the place?

I currently do a little door-to-door sales for a major telecommunications company as a subcontractor. I'm surprised at how much information some people will give. About a week and a half ago my partner and I went to a door looking to make a sale.. They were busy getting ready for a holiday party. My partner asked if we could come back in a few days. The lady actually told us they were going to be out of town for a WEEK!

Now, we were legitimate sales representatives, but what if we weren't?? Our ID's could be made (and were, actually, by our office manager) on an ordinary inkjet printer. We didn't really have a uniform per se, but there was a company logo patch on our jackets, which also aren't too hard to fake (or get through goodwill or something like that).

[PepperElf]

o wow yeah. it's a bit like twitter you know... posting when you're gone on vacation.

now granted i've never actually shocked the people who knock on my door. my own personal goal is to tell myself that just because someone knocks doesn't mean i'm obliged to answer the door.

and i was stupid once, with an electric company rep trying to get to to switch companies... actually bringing out a copy of my bill, though thankfully nothing came of that. that's the hard part. knowing how to say no politely without giving out personal information.

since then, i've been polite but firm saying "no thank you" and "I'm ok thanks" etc until they left. the worse i've been was in saying, "this is the second time you've been here in the past week. I'm ok with my current company." the alternative electric company stopped sending reps over thankfully.

come to think of it, at that apartment, the *only* door-to-door sellers were the alternative electric companies. that's one of the benefits of being on the second floor with steep stairs. not many people want to come up unless they have to.


where i am now... i may answer the door (not sure yet) but it'll have to be "no" to everyone cos i just moved into my bf's apartment and i'm not on the lease yet. and i know he doesn't want strangers running through this place.

but really this place is quiet so far. quiet is good.

[bhskittykatt]

It was a local politician who was going door-to-door to introduce himself and ask people to vote for him. Not a real convenient time for a chat.

This reminds me of a funny story.

We lived in a community where all the mailboxes were in one communal area. A local politician was campaigning there as people picked up their mail.

The thing is, it was for a city election, and we were way out in the county. We were not even remotely close to his electoral district! No one picking up their mail there would be! Wish I could have voted in that election, so I could have voted against the stupidity...

[Barracuda]

That's why I like a particular sign: "Solicitors will be shot. Survivors will be shot repeatedly."

[zombiequeen]

I'm not too big on being nasty to people who show up, I mean it's their job (or calling) to sell door to door. I'm just not going to let them in, or trust them.

[Barracuda]

My mother actually had one guy who was selling something, I don't remember what, try to push his way in the door. Fortunately, our Airedale was there at the door--her ears went UP, her hair went BACK, and she gave the salesman a pretty "grin" while doing her best impression of a growling Doberman. My mom threatened to loose the dog, and that salesman took off like he'd been shot at.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Any body part someone uses to push their way into my house is a body part I sincerely hope the solicitor does not need, because he won't be getting it back.

I'm not going to be nasty to you in the least...unless you try to force entry into my home. Then I'm going to try my level best to fucking eliminate the threat.

[Mytical]

Any body part someone uses to push their way into my house is a body part I sincerely hope the solicitor does not need, because he won't be getting it back.

I'm not going to be nasty to you in the least...unless you try to force entry into my home. Then I'm going to try my level best to fucking eliminate the threat.

This. My thoughts exactly. I will be pleasant, I will be nice..until you cross that line. The door line that is. If you are not invited in, that line..think of it as the line in the sand. You step over, you are asking for trouble.

[AccountingDrone]

We keep a 6 foot long, 2 inch wide quarter inch thick piece of hull armor around as both a souvenir and an ice breaker bar. Works like a treat on feet shoved in doors. We stand it behind the door frame so it is handy for breaking ice on the driveway and in the trough. Probably weighs 15 pounds or so. Pick it up and drop it on the toes in the door. The foot gets removed pretty quickly after that.

[roothorick]

I've only ever once encountered JWs. They were pretty polite people, and when I said that I'm convicted in my beliefs (something I realized for myself, PM me if you're curious), they understood that that was that.

I've always wanted to come out and completely destroy their will to live by deconstructing their religion and their life, but I've never had the charisma or the opportunity to do it. Imagine, they come to your house to convert you, but you wind up converting them.

As long as they don't get too pushy, I figure live and let live.

Live, and let live..... The aim of the game, is to feel... real.... good.

Sorry. I love that song.

[SuperDan]

I've always wanted to come out and completely destroy their will to live by deconstructing their religion and their life, but I've never had the charisma or the opportunity to do it. Imagine, they come to your house to convert you, but you wind up converting them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hfFyGtbXwM

[Andara Bledin]

My mother actually had one guy who was selling something, I don't remember what, try to push his way in the door.

I always keep my foot braced against the door when I open it to someone I don't already know.

^-.-^

[Talon]

The last few solicitors I've encountered were all of the religious sort. My approach was polite, but very firm.

"Hello, and no. Don't even bother."

Only once did someone try to probe me, asking if I had my own religion. I let it slip that I was an atheist, which strangely enough got rid of them.

But there was one time that really had me flummoxed, when a small boy of maybe 4-5 years came to my door. He asked if I was concerned about the world. I asked him in what way? Environment? Politics? Kid repeated his question as he was no doubt coached, then started reading passages out of his holy book. At which point I tuned him out, I'm not going to be impressed by scripture no matter who reads it. But even I, the hardened misanthropic cynic that I am, couldn't bring myself to shut the kid down. Kid was accompanied by an adult, a lady with a creepy grin right out of the Stepford Wives.

Don't recall exactly how that ended, likely with a polite refusal from me. That was the only time I've been completely blindsided by a solicitor.

[PepperElf]

I'm not going to be nasty to you in the least...unless you try to force entry into my home. Then I'm going to try my level best to fucking eliminate the threat.

gotta love castle laws.