Jehova's Witnesses in my complex and "soliciting"

[Lauri D]

I've lived in my current apartment complex for almost exactly six months. In this time span, I have been approached by three separate pairs of 'em *at least* half a dozen times - not counting the times that I've seen 'em coming and taken a different route to avoid being accosted yet AGAIN. This is always in the parking lot or on the sidewalk; see, they all live here (I have seen them leaving and entering their buildings).

Their MO seems to be trolling the parking lots (it's a really big complex) and sometimes venturing over to the shopping center across the street. I've seen them bug tons of other people too.

So here's the question. There are signs posted at every entrance of the complex - NO SOLICITING. So what's the deal, does it not count if they are residents? Is it not considered "soliciting"? I'm thinking about writing a note to or going into the leasing office... I'd been pretty much ignoring it for the most part - waving them off with "no thanks, you've approached me before", but it really pissed me off when I was approached at about one this afternoon, and then when I was leaving again at about five, the SAME PAIR started my way again and I felt like I had to turn around and take a different route just to avoid either being polite again walking to my own effing car, or lose my temper.

I'm just wondering if I have any recourse to take this up with the management. While I'm sure their leasing records don't identify "A & B in unit #357 are JW's", there are constantly leasing agents, maintenance persons, and security around on the property, and I can't imagine they haven't observed these interactions (also they are not exactly hard to spot).

What say ye?

[Brimshack]

I'd say bring it up with management. A reasonable response from management might be to simply send out a letter to the various tenets reminding them of the "no soliciting" policy and asking people to refrain from doing such things.

[ITSOZAZ]

saving souls is not soliciting! :D

annoying, but i'd probably just tell them that i only like talking about god when i'm high and if they have any weed you're in, but not until then. then look them straight in the eye and say: "Seriously. Do you have any?"

[Qingdai]

Also if you want them off your back for good, tell them yes, you'd like to speak to them especially since you used to be a Jehova's witness and ever since you were kicked out for getting that transfusion, you really, really want them to come over and chat.

They practice shunning of banned members, so then, according to their rules, they are never supposed to talk to you again.

Realistically, Brimshack's got the right idea.

[ITSOZAZ]

actually, Brim's isn't as good as your own, Qingdai...why be a rat when you could nip it in the bud yourself?

[godfry n. glad]

I say bring it up with the solicitors. When solicited, refer them to the "No Soliciting" signs. Note to them that you do not appreciate being solicited with their religious claptrap and that you are warning them. Future solitictations, direct or observed, will be taken up with the management.

You know they can't be illiterate, right? They try to press the Watchtower on you, don't they? That's reading material, just like the "No Soliciting" signs.

There is the possibility that the management is either Witless or Witless enabling.

[ITSOZAZ]

unless your concern is getting them to stop doing it to other people? :chin:

:Cartler:

[Lauri D]

One of the problems, I think, is that they don't seem to even remember that they've already bugged you and you said "nope" (probably because they bug so many people every day!) In fact, today (round #2 when I was walking to my car trying to avoid them) I saw them walk up to the guy cleaning out his car about six spaces over and clearly heard them say "hey, I think we've talked to you before..." - but it's not like people wear the same clothes every day, etc. - on at least three occasions I've reminded them that they've already approached me.

Sometimes they beeline toward me when I'm walking toward my car, sometimes when I'm the upper terrace of the complex walking over to the shopping center, sometimes on the other side of the pool area... I swear it's like they just troll the entire square block that the complex. So I'm not sure that telling them not to bug me again would work because they never seem to remember that THEY ALREADY HAVE!

[Qingdai]

My manager at my old apartment complex would chase people (religious or otherwise) and tell them that if they came around again she'd charge them with trespassing. As long as it's posted, "no trespassing, no soliciting."

I'm usually running in and out of places with a whiny recalcitrant child, so anyone trying to get me to stop to chat annoys me.

[godfry n. glad]

Use Qingdai's method. They certainly manage to remember people when they are motivated to remember people...like for shunning.

You could tell them you are a devout Catholic. Heh...heh...heh....:goatsonfire:

[Dingfod]

You could do what I did one hot summer day in Wyoming (rare that they are). You results may vary for a variety of reasons. I was on night shifts, woke up hot, sweaty, and thirsty, and a little peeved that the fan on the cooler had been shut off. I went to the kitchen to get a drink of water. Somebody rang the doorbell. I waited, thinking they would go away. It rang again. Now it was bothering me a bit, but I drank my glass of water down, thinking that they would surely go away. They rang the bell again. Okay, now I was mad. I walked the three or four paces over to the door, yanked it open and said "What do you want?" A nice looking, well-groomed couple was standing on the porch. The young man said "Do you know where you are going when you die?" Okay, that was all I could take. I said "I'm going to hell and I'm thinking about taking somebody with me." The look on their faces was priceless. I'm sure my own appearance was startling enough, what with my nearly shoulder lengthy hair sticking up at all sorts of odd angles due to the restless sweaty attempt at sleep I had so earnestly been trying a short while before, that and yanking the door open while standing there in my undershorts. Without another word, they turned and ran down the steps and down the sidewalk to the street. The rest of the time we lived there JWs never cast a shadow on our doorstep.

[Dingfod]

Or, zap 'em with a stun gun.

[godfry n. glad]

You could do what I did one hot summer day in Wyoming (rare that they are)... The rest of the time we lived there JWs never cast a shadow on our doorstep.

Heh...That sounds like my father's interaction. It was a hot, sweaty, summer day and he was sitting at the kitchen table in his holey wife-beater and grubby gardening trousers sharpening the kitchen knives with oil and a whetstone. He was smeared and dirty. He had a foot-long French knife in hand when the doorbell rang. He didn't even make it to the door, as the 'committee' of a family group with two small children were scurrying away by the time he made it to screen door at the open front door. They didn't even leave a Watchtower. I think it was the knife....but we never got JW callers again, either.

[Deadlokd]

I invite them in and tell them three things. 1) The Creation is false and an allegory. 2) That they are descended from monkeys. Sometimes I draw them a diagram to help them understand. And 3) That their god is probably really pissed with them for ignoring all the work he put into making them. The nucleotides, amino acids, cell signalling. The evidence in rocks showing that the Earth if 4.5 billion years old.

ETA: But in your case yes, I'd complain to the apartment management.

[Ymir's blood]

I'm usually running in and out of places with a whiny recalcitrant child, so anyone trying to get me to stop to chat annoys me.
Improvised weapon, two handed. 50% chance to knock down target.

[irukandji]

ok mate

here is insider info

the next time any one of them approaches you
ask for the name of the Chairman of the Body of Elders (elduhs)
and the phone number of the Kingdom Hall (kingdumb hell)
and then you call and do one of two things

1) simply ask to be placed on the "DO NOT CALL LIST"
2) inform them you are an apostate

i am an apostate and the people i used to
call friends would not piss on my head if
my hair was ablaze.....

make sure your JW neighbors get wind of it
and i can almost promise you that they will
crawl thru glass to avoid contact with you

seriously.... do the first one
(if you do the 2nd one they
might try to win you back!!!)

ETA: they ignore no soliciting signs as they are told by HQ
that they are not soliciting, BUT they have been told by the
Watchtower Society that if they trespass, they are on their
own if they get into trouble

[Qingdai]

I should just, say be right back, get the kid an espresso, an incontinent puppy, and leave him with them? Is that what you're suggesting, Ymir?

Or did I dream it?

:wish:

[Dingfod]

I got rid of a pair of JW women that greeted me at my door by asking I had 20 minutes to spare for them to tell me about their religion. I told them I did, but first they had to let me talk about my views on religion for 20 minutes. The elder of the pair asked me what my religion was.

"I'm not religious, I'm atheist."

"I'm sorry we wasted your time, sir."

Down the steps they went.

"Well, bye. Have a nice day!" I said to their departing backsides. I'm sure they had already shut their ears to me.

[BrotherMan]

I should just, say be right back, get the kid an espresso, an incontinent puppy, and leave him with them?

What'd that puppy ever do to you? :sadcheer:

[Watser?]

Bug spray, industrial strength, delivered point blank.

Plus you will need to burn the nest :kiwf:

[BracesForImpact]

Just as a note, make sure the people working in your apartment complex office aren't JW's. Second, perhaps it's time to be rude. They are obviously being rude by scavenging souls like vultures outside your complex. I imagine if you are downright mean just once the word will spread to leave you alone.
Also, this is one of the few times telling people you're an atheist will work in your favor.

[LadyShea]

My aunt's church used to have counter witnessing booklets, you can maybe print a few off of some web pages (Search "Witnessing to a Jehovah's Witness") or print your own with gory medieval paintings of people being tortured in hell and something about Satan. The next time you see them you approach them. "Hi are you JW? I have some literature I want to give you. I hope you become a True Christian". Or put it on the ground and back away making signs against the Devil.

I only have one that comes here, and she's sweet and I talk to her. But I've had fun with them in the past as well.

[godfry n. glad]

I must admit, when I first saw the thread title, I thought, "Gee, I didn't know the JWs turned tricks."

And it is too 'soliciting'. Tell 'em to look it up in a different fucking book, a dictionary.

[Ymir's blood]

I should just, say be right back, get the kid an espresso, an incontinent puppy, and leave him with them? Is that what you're suggesting, Ymir?

Or did I dream it?

:wish:Espresso kid: Frenzy, x2 attacks
incontinent puppy: chemical warfare grenade

[Qingdai]

Excellent!
:burns:

[Shake]

One of the problems, I think, is that they don't seem to even remember that they've already bugged you and you said "nope" (probably because they bug so many people every day!) In fact, today (round #2 when I was walking to my car trying to avoid them) I saw them walk up to the guy cleaning out his car about six spaces over and clearly heard them say "hey, I think we've talked to you before..." - but it's not like people wear the same clothes every day, etc. - on at least three occasions I've reminded them that they've already approached me.

Sometimes they beeline toward me when I'm walking toward my car, sometimes when I'm the upper terrace of the complex walking over to the shopping center, sometimes on the other side of the pool area... I swear it's like they just troll the entire square block that the complex. So I'm not sure that telling them not to bug me again would work because they never seem to remember that THEY ALREADY HAVE!

They just think you're hot, and that's why they "don't remember" having spoken to you. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on it.

[Lauri D]

:blush: @ Shake Considering the fact that in fundie world I am now definitely old enough to be their momma, if that's the case I would consider it a compliment! :D

UPDATE: I was at the leasing office today to advise them of a furniture delivery on Saturday, and spoke with the guy I know best about it. He confirmed that there have been other complaints about this issue but that they have no way of knowing who exactly the resident "violaters" are. However, he indicated that due to the recent uptick in complaints (must be the nice weather spurring on that proselytizin' vigor) the maintenance and security persons have been advised to "keep an eye out" for any apparently untoward activity.

So we'll see. I feel better just for having said something.

[godfry n. glad]

Now...we await the apocalyptic smack-down. And they have no idea it's even coming....

[Doctor X]

So you are 23?

--J.D.

P.S. Why do you not just kill them?

[irukandji]

Now...we await the apocalyptic smack-down. And they have no idea it's even coming....


the hilarity of this comment cannot be metered !!!
it is you i must thank for the chortled spray of coffee
i must now wipe off my screen.... undying thanks!

if there is one thing the assimilated keep foremost
in their thinking..... it is the "BIG A" also known as
Arm-a-fucking-geddon (they dont pronounce the
fucking part), and its ever-coming (yet somehow
never-arriving) certainty and their survival thereof...
JWs are in a doomsday cult, after all

exJW-ism is a culture unto
itself as well, just so ya know


behold! crystallized cult-speak

THE PERFECT PRESENTATION TO HOUSEHOLDERS
Greetings, I'm a member of the great crowd of other sheep rendering sacred service to the Ancient of Days in the earthly courtyard of the spiritual temple by following the example of the fine shepherd and engaging as a regular pioneer in preaching the good news of the kingdom with the sword of the spirit.

We are helping to warn those not familiar with the Divine Name that the second presence of the Chief Agent of Life has begun, and soon the last days will reach their culmination when the scarlet-colored wild beast will turn on the harlot and destroy Babylon the Great, beginning the great tribulation which is climaxed by Armageddon and the ruler of the world, now in Tartarus, being thrown into the abyss for the rest of the last Adam's millennial reign.

However, antitypical apostate Jerusalem with her man of lawlessness class is supporting the false prophet and fighting against the anointed remnant of spiritual Israel, the ambassadors of heavenly Jerusalem, and their envoys, who are keeping themselves without spot from the world and who would rather go to Sheol or Hades than Gehenna by rejecting the theocracy proclaimed by the Faithful & Discreet Slave and the Governing Body of the spiritual paradise on earth today.

So, if you don't want to take these magazines, here's a program schedule for the Kingdom Hall, where you can come and learn more about New Jerusalem, new heavens, new earth, new commandment, new birth, new song, new creation, new personality, and the new covenant which we can only benefit from by being associated with the 144,000 anointed Governing Body.

Thank you for your time...which is not to be confused with a time and times and half a time

sadly, ya can't make this stuff up :doh: