That is one of my pet peeves! I had jw's once that I had to ask three times, 'are you jehovahs witnesses?' Finally they admitted they were. I asked my jw why the dishonesty? Aren't they 'proud' to be jw's? He told me that if they say who they are right off the bat nobody will listen to them. I tried to point out that their reputation preceeded them but he didn't get it, of course.
Why don't Witnesses indentify themselves at the door when in service?
by RULES & REGULATIONS 42 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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WTWizard
I know that it is embarrassing to come across a classmate or neighbor (or someone you know) when you are going door to door. Telling them you are a Witness is a sure way to get that person cold toward you from then on. It is a good way to stop them from taking the magazines (if it's strangers), but I didn't want people to think of me as belonging to that religion. Especially since I could see the day coming when I stumbled and got disfellowshipped and then they would not accept me, thinking I was still a Witless.
And it's worse for children. Anyone who has to canvass the neighborhood is likely to run into a classmate. And when it happens, the bullying starts. These children are being forced by Ted Jaracz to wear an invisible "Kick Me" sign all the time. Usually, the person was getting along well until they find the classmate at the door, and then they spread it through the whole circle, and then the whole school. But I guess Mr Jaracz doesn't give a xxxx what happens to children as long as they come into his control.
Putting "Kick Me" signs on children is normal in lower grades. However, when the person putting those signs on children is more than 80 years old, that is about as low as it gets. I would like it if someone put a "Shoot Me" sign on Mr Jaracz and had him take a walk in Queens, in the roughest hood in the city. Perhaps he would get a shortcut to hell, to join his brother Schroeder.
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Amber Rose
Yeah, that was always really awkward. We must have been told not to say "Jehovah's Witness" right away because people wouldn't listen. I remember people asking "who is is?" and not knowing what to say. That's rediculous! Not knowing how to identify yourself. "Uh...uh... we'er... uh, volunteers" was the ususal response, followed by "volunteers for what?"
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hilannj
we were told to say.. representatives of the watchtower bible and track society.. they would think it was something way different and that way we were not technically telling a lie, just stretching the truth.
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freeme
When I started out, we would present ourselves as Jehovah's Witnesses, but then after a few years I remember it changed, mostly because people would slam the door right away if you said that.
So then we started the whole "We're in the neighborhood talking to people about the current state of the world. What is your opinion on how the world is today when you look at the news?" etc. Even when asked who we were, we would be evasive sometimes and try another round of "We're trying to encourage people to read the Bible" etc.
i always used and still use the magical word "jehovahs witnesses" and "the bible" for avoiding a senseless discussion :-) ya, i still go to service occasionally to calm down the elders.
Today, I understand the "doors" perfectly. If some strangers come to my door, the first thing I want to know is why they are here and what they're selling. Oh, and btw - I remember kinda laughing at people who we could see were home because the peep-hole in the door would go dark then light. Well - today I am that person on the other side of the door. I hate opening the door if I don't recognize the people standing there, and most often I don't answer...
yeah, i always laughed about that too. you sense how they try to make no noise lol :-) i always understood the "doors" :-) when i was no dub and someone came to my door talking about dub-stuff i wouldve thought "ignorant religious idiots".
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Jim_TX
I know this is probably inappropriate... but there was a joke going around when I was a JW. It goes something like this...
One time there was a circuit overseer (c.o.) visiting a congregation. During their Saturday morning field service meeting, a non-jw decided to show up. (I may not be telling this quite right - it's been a while.)
Anyway, the c.o. was setting up the car groups, and asked this fella if he wanted to work with him (the c.o.). The fella said, "Sure!" - so they dismissed and went to the territory and started doing door-to-door.
At the first door, the c.o. asked, "You want to take this one?" the fella replied, "Ok."
When the man answered the door, the fella started, "We're here to... ummm..." stammering and stuttering... until finally the man at the door got angry and yelled "What the he** ARE you doing here!!?"
At this point the c.o. stepped up and pulled out his pen and said, "We're handing out ballpoint pens." and handed it to the already irate man - and they left.
I remember we all got a laugh out of this... not sure if it was meant to encourage us or not... it just seemed funny at the time. Probably just another one of those 'urban legends'.
Regards,
Jim TX
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Mary
They asked if she was over 18. She replied that she wasn't. They left without indentifiying themselves. It bothered me that they didn't say why they were at the door and what their purpose was as for the visit.
I find that very strange and disturbing that they would ask someone if they were 'over 18' as I don't ever recall asking someone that, or being instructed to ask someone that. However, it's been several years since I've been out in Service, so perhaps this is something new. If so, the Society should re-think this approach. Two grown men asking a girl they've never met before if she's "over 18" without telling her who they are or what they want?? Christ almighty, someone's going to end up calling the cops on them if this is a 'new approach'.
Don't these dingbats ever stop to think how bad that looks? Apparently not.
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NewYork44M
we were told to say.. representatives of the watchtower bible and track society..
I remember reading somewhere that we were NOT allowed to say that we represented the watchtower. There was some sort of legal liability the society wanted to avoid. They want the r&f to go out and sell mags, but not take the responsiblity of allowing the drones to represent their legal interests.
I was always taught to use start the presentation with: "we are bible students visiting our neighbors."
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lonelysheep
They may have been the more standoffish Mormons who go d2d.
Aside from that, maybe she should simply say, "They can't come to the door right now," rather then letting two weirdos know she was home alone.
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Princess Daisy Boo
People who are tring to recruit for Amway do the same thing...!