The Mormons are coming...

[zinfamous]

When the Witnesses come by it's always women. They are usually older but sometimes they have a partner that looks to be in her twenties, (probably a relative). The Mormons are always men who sometimes have bicycles but always are dressed the same- white shirt, black tie and pants.

If I'm not busy i will chat with the JW's, since they are not pushy. I always get rid of them by telling them that I have some relatives who are members, (which is true). This always gets them a little excited and they leave happily.

The Mormons are different. I don't know what it is, but I always get this weird feeling when I make eye contact. It's like they are drilling right through my head and talking to someone standing six feet behind me. It gives me the creeps and I quickly shoo them away.

buddy and I were out playing disc golf many years ago on a local course, and stumbled upon a few dudes, appropriately dressed, midway through the course.

We began chatting with them, they said they were form out of town and just in for a few days, glad to find a local course, etc etc.

Then they said they were on their mission. Buddy and I must have given a wary glance, like, "OMFG run!" or something...but one of the Mormons said, "Ah, don't worry man, we aren't working right now!"

nice people.

 

[janas19]

buddy and I were out playing disc golf many years ago on a local course, and stumbled upon a few dudes, appropriately dressed, midway through the course.

We began chatting with them, they said they were form out of town and just in for a few days, glad to find a local course, etc etc.

Then they said they were on their mission. Buddy and I must have given a wary glance, like, "OMFG run!" or something...but one of the Mormons said, "Ah, don't worry man, we aren't working right now!"

nice people.

Lol! Nice story Zin

 

[FoBoT]

yeah, don't be honest, that'll never work

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always tell them that I've already found Jesus and that I am a born again christian. If they keep insisting I start preaching to them about Jesus Christ our savior who died on the cross for our sins and because I've accepted him in my heart I am saved and life is good. They go away. I do it politely too.

 

[Bignate603]

Or, and I'm just throwing is out there. You could be nice to them and just say hi. If you are not interested, telling them to have a nice day is also something you could do. You could even not answer the door.

Those guys save up their whole lives to pay their expenses during their mission. They are shipped either across the country or to some place in the world for a solid 2 years and can make only 2 calls home every year. Once on Christmas and Mothers Day.

Being nice to people who you don't share your views shows you are a decent human being and not a dick.

I agree. They're generally nice and are just trying to share something that makes them happy. If you don't want to listen just say you're not interested, thank them for their effort, and they'll head off on their way. There's no reason to be a jerk about it.

 

[mmntech]

When I was a driver for that car rental company, I worked for awhile out of Georgetown, Ontario. The town is notable for being home to the sprawling Watchtower complex. The Canadian HQ for the Jehovah's Witnesses. I'd occasionally have to pick people up there. They'd always ask me about my faith and if I'd like a tour. I'd politely decline and state that I didn't discuss my beliefs with customers.

I never liked going there. The place had a creepy cult vibe to it.

Another downside is it was also where they printed their magazine. They'd always drop copies of it off when they came in to rent a car. I'd politely accept them, then promptly toss them in the shredder when they left.

To get an appreciation for the size of the place, the press is one of the largest factories in town. The whole complex about the size of a medium university campus, complete with a large dorm hall.

 

[Zedtom]

*edit* "Ah, don't worry man, we aren't working right now!"

nice people.

Thanks for the perspective. I suppose all of us are a little different when we take off our "work faces".

 

[bononos]

...... To get an appreciation for the size of the place, the press is one of the largest factories in town. The whole complex about the size of a medium university campus, complete with a large dorm hall.

Where do they get the cash to maintain the place? Do Mormons tithe a substantial part of their income to the church?

 

[Bignate603]

Where do they get the cash to maintain the place? Do Mormons tithe a substantial part of their income to the church?

You misread, he was describing a complex for the Jehovah's Witnesses

But yes, Mormons do tithe to their church.

 

[Rage187]

Do Mormons tithe a substantial part of their income to the church?

10%. However, there is no personnel costs. Nobody gets paid from the top down. So the money goes to build new temples and maintain existing wards.

 

[zinfamous]

I always tell them that I've already found Jesus and that I am a born again christian. If they keep insisting I start preaching to them about Jesus Christ our savior who died on the cross for our sins and because I've accepted him in my heart I am saved and life is good. They go away. I do it politely too.

but their underwear is cooler than yours, and their women are hotter. SO you could have all that bullshit you already have, and the much awesomer stuff they have, too.

missing out, bro.

:\

 

[irishScott]

Or, and I'm just throwing is out there. You could be nice to them and just say hi. If you are not interested, telling them to have a nice day is also something you could do. You could even not answer the door.

Those guys save up their whole lives to pay their expenses during their mission. They are shipped either across the country or to some place in the world for a solid 2 years and can make only 2 calls home every year. Once on Christmas and Mothers Day.

Being nice to people who you don't share your views shows you are a decent human being and not a dick.

Honestly, this. I'd just not answer the door if I knew it was them. I think what sets most people off is the intrusion of unsolicited advice and the inherent condescension of attempted conversion. Basically: "what, you interrupt my day at my home to tell me a good chunk of if not my entire value system is sending me to hell? You dick!" I know most religious missionaries, from their perspective, are being quite selfless, but to those that don't share their beliefs they're seen as little more than a nuisance.

Imagine if a sentient ant crawled up to you while you were eating lunch and started politely telling you why killing that any colony infesting your house is sending you to hell. That's how much sense missionaries make to many. Intrusion + condescension + apparent nonsense = asking for it.

 

[Lyfer]

"Sorry, we're Canadians!"

 

[FM2n]

Or, and I'm just throwing is out there. You could be nice to them and just say hi. If you are not interested, telling them to have a nice day is also something you could do. You could even not answer the door.

Those guys save up their whole lives to pay their expenses during their mission. They are shipped either across the country or to some place in the world for a solid 2 years and can make only 2 calls home every year. Once on Christmas and Mothers Day.

Being nice to people who you don't share your views shows you are a decent human being and not a dick.

This is by far the best response.

 

[highland145]

This is by far the best response.

SNAP.

 

[lxskllr]

I could count the times I've had religious people accost me on one hand. "No thank you" has always worked fine. I think it's the Jehovahs that hand out pamphlets. I do find that a little irritating, but whatever. It isn't a big deal.

 

[irishScott]

I could count the times I've had religious people accost me on one hand. "No thank you" has always worked fine. I think it's the Jehovahs that hand out pamphlets. I do find that a little irritating, but whatever. It isn't a big deal.

Scientologists do it too. There's a tiny chapter here on the University and one day they were passing out pamphlets. Said pamphlets had a photo of a lava flow and they were just handing them out in public without explanation so at first I thought the Geology department was giving a lecture or something lol.

 

[Ichinisan]

Are you sure they aren't Jehovah's Witnesses?

I didn't think LDSers went door to door.

I was going to say this.

 

[Homerboy]

never met a Mormon I didn't like. Nicest people on the face of the earth. Never met a pushy one either. In fact many would joke along with me cracking jokes.

 

[CZroe]

Are you sure they aren't Jehovah's Witnesses?

I didn't think LDSers went door to door.

I was going to say this.

I told you about running into them in San Diego all the time, locals and those on a mission. Remember when I told you about the Mormons from some compound that I saw trying to use the self checkout at Walmart? VERY sheltered people. They had no idea what a UPC was and just kept waving the milk cap at the machine and expecting it to do something. If I pointed it out to them, I'd end up laughing and sounding like a jerk, so I let the Walmart employee do it.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Into my neighborhood. I look outside my balcony window and see them making conversation with the residents. I think they come here because there's a lot of Latinos in my neighborhood.

I never know how to interact with them. I know the reason why they come. Should I be friendly? Cold? Shut the blinds and hide?

What does ATOT say?

If you're friendly, expect them to return. I like to laugh at them, if they return then I tell them to stay off my property or I'll call the cops....and let them know they can spread the word to their buddies to stay away also. But they still come around once in a while, JW's are more likely in my area

 

[ch33zw1z]

I could count the times I've had religious people accost me on one hand. "No thank you" has always worked fine. I think it's the Jehovahs that hand out pamphlets. I do find that a little irritating, but whatever. It isn't a big deal.

I like to deny the pamplet, and say "save the trees bro"

 

[Rage187]

I like to deny the pamplet, and say "save the trees bro"

You should write a book on how to be a badass.

 

[zinfamous]

We have scientologists that have been showing up at the BART station near campus, setting up their table and offering "free stress tests" with their little blinking machines.

What am I supposed to do with that?

 

[zinfamous]

I was going to say this.

Yes, Mormons go door to door. And if you were a California resident in fall of 2008, you could expect them at your front door about twice a week, ahead of the voting for proposition 8.

That's how things roll(ed) around here.


Funny thing: When my SO was last living in Latvia, the Mormons showed up at her office (she worked for the city council), and she politely dismissed them. She went home, hours later, and the same two showed up at her house! A bit embarrassed, they apologized and left. That town isn't all that small--~80,000 people.

They were teaching English classes for a month or so, maybe longer. A lot of residents went to those, as they were free English lessons.