Jehovah's Witnesses

A simple sign on the door not to knock. I don't think I would announce there was a baby in the house or I worked third shift but something to the effect that "No one should come over unless an appointment is made. Please don't knock. "

M.

I put a sign on my door when my daughter was a baby that said, "No soliciting. Please do not ring the doorbell. Baby may be sleeping." It worked just fine.

Put sign on over doorbell that says, "do not ring children sleeping." And leave it up there all the time unless are expecting someone. I used to do that when my kids were little and it worked.

Then if they go ahead and do it anyway, politely say to them, "as you can see here I have a sign asking no one to ring the bell, please respect that." And then shut the door, I would think they'd get the hint.

Well, you certainly don't have to do what I did...but it worked!
I worked the second shift at my old job, so I didn't get home until about 2or 3am sometimes. I would sleep late.
They seemed to knock on my door at LEAST once a week, around 10am, even after I told them repeatedly that I was NOT interested in their church, I had my own...blah blah. So, one morning they got me in a bad way, knocking away, and I stormed out, answered the door and told them to go AWAY!!! They looked shocked, and it was then that i realized that I was STARK naked with crazy hair (I sleep nude and had bed head). They left rather quickly and never came back.
L.

Years ago, my mother had a friend who lived on a farm. She and her husband bred cats. One of their cats was in heat, and a scruffy, nasty old tom cat kept lurking around their yard looking for... um, companionship. The husband, who apparently was something of a hothead, was getting irritated and said, "The next time that ____@____.com cat comes in the yard, I'm gonna shoot it!" Later on, he glanced out the window and saw the cat strolling across the yard. He grabbed his shotgun and tore out the front door, yelling, "You son of a bi---ch! I'm gonna shoot you!!!" What he didn't realize was that the Jehovah's Witnesses were coming up the driveway right at that time. They ran. Never came back.
It worked for him, but it's not a technique I would recommend.

I always say this: "I don't practice my religion, why would I want to practice yours?" It works for me:)

Put a sign on your front door, like a do not disturb - baby napping or something like that, and leave it up all the time.

Sometimes it is a challenge NOT to be rude, I especially have a difficult time with PHONE solicitors and don’t always succeed in being the nicest person. But I keep trying.

As for my home it is upstairs and I do have a gate, so if people are rude enough to open it and knock, I simply say through the door, “I don’t know what you are doing on my porch, that gate is there for a reason, please leave”. That has always done the trick.

In your case I suggest:

Put a “Shhh Baby Is Sleeping” (They use to give those out when one left the hospital, but you could easily make one on your own computer) or “Night Shift Sleeping” PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB/KNOCK OR RING BELL” sign on your door or walkway. I always put THANK YOU at the bottom of the sign.

If you have a gate, keep it closed and put a NO SOLICITORS sign on your gate.

Keep us posted.

Blessings....

My parents were robbed at gun point in their own home, in broad daylight. So if anyone unknown dares knock on their door, they will likely be met by the barrel of my dad's new best friend. I'm sure that doesn't help you, but just pointing out that besides the inconvenience, you can't be too careful these days.

Blessings to you.

I have the same problem. The situation has been made more complicated because the witnesses are the nicest little old ladies who also happen to live in my neighborhood. I put a sign in my door when the baby is napping asking people not to disturb us. I haven't figured out how to nicely tell them to please just leave me alone.

We get changing teams of witnesses coming to our house every few months – at least around here, they don't seem to keep track of which houses have asked them not to come. A clearly-worded sign on the door, stating "No salespersons, solicitors or missionaries – thank you." has worked.

I have the same problem, dog barking, baby sleeping, etc. I have a "Please Do Not Ring Doorbell" sign and a "No soliciting" sign but several times I have been informed by churches that they are "not soliciting". I'm sorry, but they ARE soliciting, they just don't think it applies to them for some reason. I don't have a problem with them coming back but if I did I would also put a note on there that churches are included, and as always a "thank you" at the bottom.

I taped a plastic cover over my doorbell when my boys were babies.
When I have mormons or witnesses come to my door, I invite them in and listen to their little talk. Then I start quoting scriptutes to them that don't backup what they have said. They don't know how to respond outside of what they have memorized. One was so desperate to leave in a hurry. My front door stuck and I thought she was going to try to claw her way out!
During the depression, people would stop at houses to ask for food. Certain marks were left on fenceposts to let others know whether to stop or not. I think the mormons and witnesses have left a mark at my house to tell others not to stop here! They don't come anymore.
Victoria

I have very close friends who are Witnesses. They actually laugh about how everyone hides from them. All you need to do is to tell them that you are not interested. They will accept it. But do keep in mind, that from time to time, their territories will change and/or new members will join. They keep track of those who are involved in home-studies. If you are sure you will NEVER want to talk to them, let them know that...otherwise, you will keep getting periodic visits.

I second the note on the door when baby is sleeping. I had to do that when we lived in apartments to keep maintenance and such from knocking.

But to your question, next time they come tell them to remove you from their roster/list/or whatever the heck they call it. They are then supposed to take your address off their list for visitation. We have witnesses in our family and this is what they told us.

.

My MIL is a JW & I have VERY strong negative feelings about this religion so my approach was to say "I am not interested in your Cult" and chase them away by telling them how this religion ruins families & they prey on the week, but since you seem to be nicer than me :) I will tell you what my MIL says to say "I am not interested in your religion, please take my address off your door to door list." My MIL says that's their cue to respect someone's wishes & not go there anymore.

One of my friends has put a 'Do Not Ring the Door Bell' sign over her door bell - she has a 2 yr old & a 6 month old. They also have a similar situation where the dog would start barking as soon as he hears the bell and wakes up the little one who would then start crying and in turn wakes up the older one. She has had some success with that; however, there has been times when the dog gets excited when he hears a knock as well. See if that works out for you.

PS:- Your mom is funny:)

We have never had them come to our house, guess I'm lucky! We did have solicitors and kids selling things a lot and the No Soliciting seemed to get ignored? I now keep a sign up on my door that reads:
"DO NOT DISTURB for ANY reason you may have unless my house is on fire!! We never get disturbed anymore at all. I must admit I love your mom's answer, I may borrow it..LOL!

You're mom is spot on. When you act a little deranged they tend to leave you alone...they are just as nervous about knocking on your door as you are answering it. So, give them a reason to be worried to knock on your door. Maybe carry a machete. GL!

We live in Gilbert AZ, which outside of Salt Lake City, I think has the biggest population of Mormons. I simply don't answer the door! If you aren't expecting anyone, there is no point. And the few times that they have caught me driving up or getting out of the car, I say I go to Sun Valley Christian down the street (which is true) and I'm not interested in shopping for a new religion (which is also true!) and that is that. Good luck!!!

Love your mom's response.

When my daughter was a baby, I had the SHH baby sleepig sign at the doorbell and it helped.

Now, I have 3 dogs who sense someone on our turf before they ever get to the doorbell. MOST of the time, they go away when I say "no thank you".

I had a couple of young men come by a summer or 2 ago and insist praying with me. I guess I looked like I needed prayer with my summer clothes and hot Texas summer, LOL. After I said I was not interested, they persisted. At that point, I signaled daughter and she let the dogs out the back door and although the dogs could not get to the young men, they left.

Another issue I have with them is approaching me in the grocery parking lot. I was buying gallons of water once for the aquirium change out and one of the guys asked me why I was buying so many gallons of water. I said....it is the only water I bathe in and smiled. They went away, LOL

Just last night, a man stopped by our home from a Mosque and said he was "spreading peace".

I know better than to open doors to strangers. I like the reponse of opening the blinds so whomever is knocking can see the dog teeth.

idk how to stop them from coming by, but i NEVER NEVER NEVER answer my door to folks i don't know. it is VERY annoying to me when someone knocks on my door, i'll even open the blinds so they can see my doberman and myself, and wave. they get the message and don't come back, but it doesn't stop anyone from knocking the first time. if you feel the need to answer the door, poke your head out and say "i'm sorry if you find this to be rude, but please respect the fact that i have small children and don't knock on my door again".

I tell them I'm catholic (which is true) and they leave me alone. I like the idea of answering the door naked with bedhead, hahaha. But, I guess the sign would do it too.

Tell them you are Jewish. Works like a charm.

Hi
I had the same situation. When they even approached the house the poodle would bark and wake the baby, I'd step out on the porch to talk with them and my curious toddler would open the door often allowing the dog to run out and bark his head off running up and down the street.
I agree they are nice, but it is a disruption to my home. I tried several times just letting them know that I have a church and am not interested. They continued to come and would tell me that their lessons would only add to my scripture study and personal faith. Then each time they would tell me that churches teach false beliefs, I don't believe that is adding to MY faith. I really did not want to be rude so I kindly listened to each quick lesson and scripture verse. Finally, still being kind I thanked them for their kindness and reminded them that I have religious beliefs and a church and really didn't feel their visits were adding to my faith or benefitting me. She seemed genuinely surprised, I haven't heard from them since. I think being kind in a direct manner is probably a good way to go about it.
Best wishes, K.

They keep coming back? They must think you are open to them then.

I say, "I have a church I am very happy with. Thanks". Nobody EVER comes back after that. It's true for me, but that's not the point. The point is for them to get the message, "I appreciate your concern, but I'd prefer you didn't come back."

You could just come right out and say that.

As a reformed JW :) I can give you this advise:
You need to have a sign (for everyone) saying 'No solicitors, No Proselytizing' because JW's do not believe they are solicitors (since they aren't selling anything). Also, if they come again ask to be put on their 'do not call' list. They will make a note of your address and it will be taken off the service map- yes they hand out maps to the door-to-door workers with notes on each house. Every time they come to your door they make a note of what was said like 'Mrs. X says she is busy at this time' but she didn't say 'Take me off your list' so lets go back in a month or two and see if she changes her mind'. Also, they don't have a quota to fill but they may have had a visit from their higher ups and have been galvanized into action for more door-to-door service. Good luck!

My standard answer is that I attend a church in the area that we are very happy with (the truth) and are not interested. Thank you very much. Then I shut the door or walk away. For some reason they have really been coming by alot lately (I guess it's quota time ?) but it tends to go in cycles and I figure that it will slow down again pretty quick.

You could make (or commission) a cute door plaque that points out that you have a sleeping baby, no knocking unless they called ahead, or no soliciting, causes, etc. We took our doorbell off altogether. I have my own approach to JWs, but I am also an evangelical Christian. I was interrupted out of NOWHERE when I was in college by some nice old ladies, very early in the morning, who knocked on my door and said, "Do you care about the rain forest?" I managed to say something not terribly rude before shutting the door.

(You could have a post-mark saying that girl scouts selling cookies can knock softly--I like to try to support them when I can.)

Maybe be a bit short next time...possibly abrupt. Maybe because your polite they think your on the fence about joining them?

Well... You could have a very big and intimidating male relative open the front door holding a baseball bat. Then if they are still brave enough to continue... Have him tell them in a very polite tone that if they ever knock on your door again, bad things will happen.

LMAO!! i must admit this is funny.. since not only do we have them trying to convert my husband and I.. but since my husband is Mexican they send a spanish speaking member specifically to our house (even though we are connected to another 12 townhouses!!! b/c they specifically want spanish speaking members in their congregation).. I almost died b/c they had this 3/4 yr old lil' boy all dressed up w/ his Bible talking to my son who was digging in the dirt. I just sat at my neighbors house & pretended I didnt live where they were knocking..lol I told them idk know the neighbor b/c I just moved there..haha (I was just praying that my kids didn't go in my house & blow my cover..lol) later I asked my son what the lil' boy was saying to him.. he's like idk mom, he was speaking spanish..lol So surprisingly they show up less and less here.. i just tell them that we're catholic and we're not looking into switching our religion.. Good Luck!!

LOL I like your mom's answer. Honestly I just tell them I am (insert whatever religion here), and no thank you. I have used mormon, catholic, buddhist, jewish..you name it. I think teh trick is to say it reall fast in one breath..."No.thank.you.i.am.catholic.i.already.have.a.church.good.luck.to.you." and then shut the door quickly. =)

the fact they come back, is rude.....respond in kind

I once spoke extensively with a couple who came to my door. I was extremely nice and polite. It was very clear they were just repeating what they had been told to say and didn't really understand the scriptures themselves. I asked them several questions they couldn't answer and suggested they ask one of their elders to explain the answer to them (knowing that he either couldn't or wouldn't). After providing my own scriptures and explaining their memorized scriptures to them, I invited them to come back for a Bible study. They promised they would be back the following Saturday at 11:00 and took my phone number. They were very excited about it. They never showed up the following Saturday. In fact, after that, I would see other JW's go to every one of my neighbors' houses and then skip mine. They must have done as I suggested and asked their elders the questions I posed; as a result I must have been blacklisted!

LOL... well, they stopped coming around our house when they asked if I wanted to hear about their religion and I said, "Oh, no thanks! We're Atheists! I can tell you why if you want?" And they tripped all over themselves to get off of my porch and down the driveway. Worked like a charm.

I like this sign:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51410112/no-soliciting-no-rel...

"No Soliciting, No Religious Queries, Children Welcome"

tell them you're Mormon :p

I wouldn't tell them to not come because my baby is sleeping because they may ask what time is your baby's nap.
If you already told them that you don't share their beliefs they may saw a little of doubt in your way of saying it. Perhaps you were trying to be so polite that you came across as you weren't sure.
I would be very direct with them and tell the you don't want to become a JW.
Put a sign on your door saying "Please don't ring the bell, baby may sleeping"
if they ring the bell anyway then don't feel bad to be rude at that point.

I've had the same problems. I am actually going to make a sign to put up that says "I am not JW, so please don't knock on my door. Sleeping kids in the house...please don't wake them."

I used to ahve JWs coming to my door probably every other week at the most convenient times until i politely told them to take me off their "list". They have not been to my house since, and that was over a year ago. You do have to be direct with them but don't need to be rude.
I must say your Mom's idea sounds a way more fun way to discourage them though.

I put a sign next to the doorbell that I had sleeping babies and not to ring the bell. It was never a problem after that.