Debating JWs

[Ghost Rider]

Has anyone considered just not answering the door?

Then you wouldn't need pointers on debating thus not even remotely the point of the topic.

Somewhat like saying "So how can you make a burger taste better?" and someone suggesting the useless concept "Don't eat them".

Like I said last time, if you're not going to contribute, don't post. It is called spam.

[Darth Wong]

Has anyone considered just not answering the door?

What part of "debating JWs" do you not understand? Do you also suggest that evolution vs creation debates be won by not showing up?

How about the JW coworker I had once. How would you suggest I handle his obnoxious proselytizing? Just not show up for work?

[weemadando]

Has anyone considered just not answering the door?

What part of "debating JWs" do you not understand? Do you also suggest that evolution vs creation debates be won by not showing up?

How about the JW coworker I had once. How would you suggest I handle his obnoxious proselytizing? Just not show up for work?

I'd also like to add that I didn't answer the door once, due to being involved in other, less salubrious activities. They just kept knocking and ringing for 15 minutes because they could hear people inside.

I swore a LOT at those ones.

[Darth Servo]

Has anyone considered just not answering the door?

Yes and the idea was soundlt rejected for its stupidity and dullness.

[Kathryn]

Well, I don't mean to be spamming or anything so...

I don't know about anyone else, but when I was a Christian and when I was trying to convert people to my beliefs, the 'heathen' that turned me off the most (or at least the ones I hated witnessing to the most) were the people that just ignored me and didn't even open the door. When passing out flyers, it was the people that ignored me that turned off my gains the most. They probably made me think the most too

.....

Of course my complete deconversion was do to the fact of rational atheists I had been attempting to proselytize at that point. On the internet and other places. I guess it works both ways, depending how you look at it.

Witnessing was really...what made me stop believing.

As a former Christian I learned fast that those quiet people, it seemed were the toughest ones to crack. The ones that at least fought with me, or tried reasoning with me, I could at least play logic games with, or at least think I was bringing them closer to God. At least so I thought.

Maybe that's just under my experience.

But also, the JWs seemed to come more at the door when I answered it then when I just didn't. I mean, the last time the JWs came to our house, was when we didn't open the door. It's kind of like selling girl scout cookies, the girl learns fast that the doors that don't open, aren't worth a third trip. You know?

I guess intellectual arguments are good, it's just a lot of work, if you like that kind of stuff. lol.

As for a JW coworker that Mr.Wong was referring to, that is also a good point. If it was me, I wouldn't bother trying to argue with them, at least unless it really started getting out of hand.

It's like the phone calls we get during dinner, sometimes we'd just let the telemarketer keep talking on and on, thus wasting his time while knowing that he wasn't making any slight significance toward his product. It wasn't too hard just saying "Uhh...sure....right.." while he was talking. It was also slightly amusing.

Besides, I'm not very sure how religion is very 'work-related', and so maybe you could just remind them of that?

[Darth Wong]

As for a JW coworker that Mr.Wong was referring to, that is also a good point. If it was me, I wouldn't bother trying to argue with them, at least unless it really started getting out of hand.

The guy came to my cubicle and started preaching at me even when I refused to make eye contact with him. I was not interested in a workplace religious discussion, but he was. The instant he found out I was an atheist, he decided to make it his mission to save my soul. You just don't have enough experience being on the receiving end of the "atheist vs obnoxious proselytizer" conflict.

The only way to shut them up if you can't physically shut them out is to savagely belittle the bullshit they're trying to push on you until they're on the defensive, not the offensive. There's only so long that a Christian can tolerate being on the defensive before he runs away with one of those escape lines, like "I will pray for you" or "I'll ask my minister about that."

[Molyneux]

As for a JW coworker that Mr.Wong was referring to, that is also a good point. If it was me, I wouldn't bother trying to argue with them, at least unless it really started getting out of hand.

The guy came to my cubicle and started preaching at me even when I refused to make eye contact with him. I was not interested in a workplace religious discussion, but he was. The instant he found out I was an atheist, he decided to make it his mission to save my soul. You just don't have enough experience being on the receiving end of the "atheist vs obnoxious proselytizer" conflict.

The only way to shut them up if you can't physically shut them out is to savagely belittle the bullshit they're trying to push on you until they're on the defensive, not the offensive. There's only so long that a Christian can tolerate being on the defensive before he runs away with one of those escape lines, like "I will pray for you" or "I'll ask my minister about that."

Couldn't you have either told him to shut the fuck up, or complained to your manager or something? (Pardon my lack of knowledge about the specifics of the situation, please.)

[Darth Wong]

Couldn't you have either told him to shut the fuck up, or complained to your manager or something? (Pardon my lack of knowledge about the specifics of the situation, please.)

Going to the manager in an attempt to get a coworker in trouble over his religious behaviour is not necessarily good mojo. Other coworkers could very easily interpret it the wrong way. Similarly, telling him to shut the fuck up is an escalation of the situation. He is not insulting me personally; he is trying to sell me something. So, the most prudent response as a coworker is to do to him precisely what he is doing to me; no more, and no less.

I escalate conflicts verbally when the stakes are low. In the office, the stakes are not low. You have to watch your step.

[Molyneux]

Couldn't you have either told him to shut the fuck up, or complained to your manager or something? (Pardon my lack of knowledge about the specifics of the situation, please.)

Going to the manager in an attempt to get a coworker in trouble over his religious behaviour is not necessarily good mojo. Other coworkers could very easily interpret it the wrong way. Similarly, telling him to shut the fuck up is an escalation of the situation. He is not insulting me personally; he is trying to sell me something. So, the most prudent response as a coworker is to do to him precisely what he is doing to me; no more, and no less.

I escalate conflicts verbally when the stakes are low. In the office, the stakes are not low. You have to watch your step.

Understood. I guess that makes sense...