My apartment complex is also a "No Soliciting" environment. We have a security company that makes the rounds in the parking lot several times a day. The closest we've gotten is a neighbor from the complex across the way came and gave a few of us a schedule for her church. No pushing and trying to get us to take literature or anything. Just "Hey this is our church, you're welcome to join us, have a nice day". Other than that, it's only local restaurants leaving delivery menus lol.
I remember when they first instituted the "proceed at your own risk" policy regarding Private Property and No Trespassing signs. A few older brothers I knew would still go... One sister forced me to go to a door with her where signs were clearly posted all along the driveway (it was a long driveway, winding through about an acre of woods...the signs were posted every other tree practically...). I kept telling her we shouldn't be going there, they clearly didn't want to be bothered. She pooh-pooh'ed my concern. "They don't mean US, they mean salesmen and stuff like that...". We got hollered at, threatened, and told to leave and never come back. On one particular morning, another sister ended up placing a book with the homeowner (I really hate the word "householder"...), but when we tried to come back, her husband ran us off and told us they "don't want that shit".
I think JW's today are more concerned about the number of hours they put in (and where they can cheat and get more to make their time slip look better) than actually talking to people and discussing the bible.
Think about it:
They are trained with short, canned presentations. They are not so much trained with "conversation stoppers" anymore. I haven't seen much focus on that in a long time. They carry the Reasoning book, but rarely crack it open...when they do, they pretty much just read off what's on the printed page. There is no brain work there. But, if there is objection, they will usually say "Have a nice day" and leave without asking why. Years ago, I remember my own mother speaking to people and asking what was the reason for their objection and then trying to use that tactic to further speak with them. I haven't seen that happen in a long time. A person who wants a REAL discussion of the bible and what it actually says is like the boogeyman to a JW. A good number of them knock and hope no one is at home, much less someone who may "think" they know the bible. When that happens, the JW goes into "we're not here to argue" mode. Or worse, they treat the homeowner as if they are an apostate and run away. There are a number of YouTube videos where this is the case. The homeowner was never a JW, just happens to know a lot about their beliefs...yet they are still called an apostate when they bring up different points about the JW religion. JW's are afraid to talk to people nowadays because if it involves anything more than handing them a Watchtower or studying with someone malleable from the Bible Teach book, they can't handle it. It's why they present Watchtower publications and use only one or two scriptures to show that they read the bible. They don't want to DISCUSS the bible. They want to discuss Watchtower doctrines. When someone isn't open to discussing that, but WILL discuss the bible, the JW's find themselves lost in most cases.
Russell would roll over in his grave...
