Posted by:
Nightingale
(
)
Date: July 20, 2018 05:16PM
You call that mild cussing? :P
It's verged a bit from the OP.
Re pleading for relief: Maybe you can try to get away from wrangling over the words and what they mean to you vs to them. Forget soliciting or proselytizing.
If things haven't changed too much since I was similarly annoying people (as a JW teen dragging along after the adults teaching me to save the world) they don't consider themselves to be soliciting, as we've said a few quadrillion times. Likewise, they're not strictly proselytizing, in their world, either. Rather, they are looking for "lost sheep". The focus the last I knew was on skipping the arguing, debating, proselytizing approach and only on finding those of a "like mind" who are openly and quickly receptive to the message. This mindset hastens and intensifies the closer to Armageddon they think we are (very close indeed at this point!).
Theoretically, if a non-JW is obviously disinterested the JWs should just move on as you are not a lost sheep. Many may have missed the message though or maybe it's changed and I wasn't sent the memo, haha.
Here's what I would try:
1. State firmly but quietly/politely/non-confrontationally (they may react to that and keep on trying to persuade; if you're quiet and firm many will accept that and walk away): No, thank you. (Don't even say "I'm not interested" as they think that you just don't know that you ARE interested and they may try to keep talking to you).
In this case, you don't even mention the words proselytize or soliciting, which they completely do not apply to themselves so they do not take it as a message to them to stay away. Rather they will say, to you if they get a chance, or to each other on their way out, "we're not soliciting" (as you know).
2. Try saying "I'm Jewish". Seems a pretty slam-dunk situation of someone who is not open to persuasion into an off-label Christian group. (However, they, like LDS, do include a lot of emphasis on OT Jewish stuff, especially in their yearly conferences where even the narrators of the play or film they present have Jewish accents - no offence - I mean maybe they had one old guy with a Mid-East Jewish accent that was the voice of God in the presentation - he sounded pretty darn good). So this too could be a crap shoot as to how it would go.
The implication to me of the "I'm Jewish" comment is that it means you are so very highly likely to be completely not interested that they may as well keep on moving away. And perhaps not coming back for a while.
Don't say "I'm not interested" - that's their clue to keep on trying to persuade you ("they just don't KNOW they're interested).
Don't say "I have my own religion" - they think you can always change your mind when you've heard their message.
Understand that to them the most important thing is for THEM to be out there following the commandment to "preach to all the nations". There is a smaller element for many who really do want to try and "save" folks. So they ain't gonna stop. It's a commandment for them to "preach to all nations".
The other mindset thing they have going on is that people are always moving. So even if you ream them out one time they will say to each other the next that you could have moved and maybe there's a lost sheep in your old place now. So yes, they will keep coming.
The best advice I can say is to save your own sanity by trying not to get too upset about it. (Easier said than done, I know).
Maybe I'm spoiled up here in Western Canada. They only knock now when they want to give you a leaflet announcing their upcoming conferences (2/yr) and one at Christmas and Easter (ironic as they decidedly celebrate neither - observe, yes - celebrate, no). I only see them on the street now with their literature racks. Most don't even try to engage with passersby any more. Maybe they think it's important to be visible but engaging in discussion may be of lesser concern to them at this point.
I do understand it's irritating (to put it mildly). Even I, who's been there, dun that, ask with exasperation why they must always be so highly visible (with their mag racks) on two of my favourite streets in two different towns. Sometimes I do say hello but even then they don't engage. That is a lot less in-your-face than we were taught to be back in the day. An easier assignment, iow. That also irks me, ha. (As in hey, how come they get off so lightly? Plum deal just sitting chatting to each other. We were strongly 'encouraged' to engage people. I didn't like it at all).
Anyway, return and report if you solve it. Others, I'm sure, would be happy to know how you managed it.