Handling "Conversation Stoppers", 1963 style.

Open mind

Old timers may remember that the WT used to print up "reports" of the assemblies in paperback booklet form during the late forties to early sixties. (This predates my memory, BTW.) I have a copy of the 1963 Report on the "Everlasting Good News" Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was about to discard it when I realized it may have some tidbits more radical than what are in the rest of the literature. I've only waded through the first 10 pages so far and it's 192 pages total.

Anyway, see what you think of this excerpt from page 10:

At another door the householder objected: "I am so busy this morning and I don't have time to talk to you. Please don't bother me." The publisher answered: "I am glad to hear that you are busy. The Bible condemns laziness. All progressive people are busy. But it is the busy, thinking people that recognize important things and are willing to pause for a moment to consider them -- as an example, the training of our children."

Did that kind of blather ever really work?

om

Open mind

Or, to look at it another way, how many examples of rudeness and manipulative language can you spot in this little gem?

Quentin

The preaching work was "very different" back then...it was not so much being rude as it was not to take no for an answer...we were encourged to use anything and everything to get the "house holders" attention...more often, than not, we were instructed to be polite and unobtrursive in our manner.

When you read through, if you can, take note of the "sales pitch" tactics that were taught...

OUTLAW

A Good JW..

Enjoys a good "Sales Pitch!!"..

Some of them do`nt have TVs..

.......................... ...OUTLAW

startingover

Don't toss it away, it may be worth some bucks on Ebay.

Titus

In my country they had a good infallible method - put the shoe in between door and doorstep, so the housekeeper cannot close the door.

And it really worked!

Open mind

Titus: They used to do that in the USA 50 years ago according to my parents.

Selective deafness was a tactic I remember one old brother using quite effectively. Either the householder or someone in the background would say something disparaging and he would just blow right past it like he didn't hear it. But, (and this is why I think it was intentional at least some of the time) let the heckler in the background say something that he could USE, and he'd grab onto it like a bulldog with a bone.

BTW, here's the part that I disliked the most from the 1963 assembly part:

But it is the busy, thinking people that recognize important things and are willing to pause for a moment

Now, the JW already commended them for being busy. So all that's left is "are you a thinking person, or not?" If you're smart you'll listen. If you're dumb you won't.

Classy.

om

Elsewhere

> Did that kind of blather ever really work?

Saying something like that would be a good way to get punched in the nose.

Mad Sweeney

At another door the householder objected: "I am so busy this morning and I don't have time to talk to you. Please don't bother me. (If I was rude, like some peddlers I've seen, I'd have just slammed the door right now)" The publisher answered: "I am glad to hear that you are busy. (because that is the objection I have prepared a canned answer for) The Bible condemns laziness. (but I wouldn't be able to tell you which verse that is, oh please Jehovah don't let him ask me what verse that is!!!) All progressive people are busy. (just like you and me!) But it is the busy, thinking people that recognize important things and are willing to pause for a moment to consider them (so if you are a thinking person you'll buy my magazine, otherwise you're stupid bird food) -- as an example, the training of our children. (which just so happens to be the topic of the magazine I'm going to sell you!)"

Open mind

Mad Sweeney,

BRAVO!

Handling "Conversation Stoppers", 1963 style.

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