Door-to-door canvasser who perhaps needs a different career

eric May 29, 2007 (11:51 am)

I am all for free speech, but I think door-to-door anything should be banned. I say this as someone who went out doorbelling for campaigns in the 80’s.

Most door-to-door types I run into now are likely criminals, or travelling sales crews. They are all a PITA. see: http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/ for more info. I really think some of these people are simply “casing the joint”

[generalization]
The real clincher was when you called me a “f- – – ing bitch.”

Why is it that it seems that the far, far left (of which this person appears to be a member), seems to always revert to name-calling and intolerance of alternative viewpoints? I know that is a generalization, but that it what it seems to be to me…. I’m just askin’
[\generalization]

Jen May 29, 2007 (12:16 pm)

that lady needs to grasp firmly and pull the stick out. she sounds like a sad old bigot. I don’t blame the canvasser for using the language he did.

JT May 29, 2007 (1:42 pm)

Hopefully, next time this guy will find someone that is less accmodating and is doing yard work. I’ll bet a well placed garden implement would make him think twice about approaching people in their yard and being so arrogant.

MkH May 29, 2007 (2:32 pm)

How sad for all involved – an ignorant young worker who could not simply offer pity to a devout if not narrowminded believer, and a ‘good’ Christian who could have asked for info, said thank you, and then contacted the manager.

The Admiral neighborhood is constantly canvassed by political orgs, charities, inner-city kids training programs, and so much so that we turn everyone away. I’m pleased that no one has ever been so rude as this one experience had by Irene.

Aidan Hadley May 29, 2007 (2:53 pm)

This canvasser reminds me of those arrogant morons who stand on street corners downtown with their piles of cheaply printed booklets about how Cheney is Satan. How does that move the conversation forward? Isn’t there enough negativity where government is concerned? Rather than living for dissatisfaction (as many of these people do) I’d be more apt to respond to someone advocating a fresh, new perspective and a better option as opposed to wasting time on relentless venom.

Wes May 29, 2007 (3:15 pm)

The situation is sad, but these comments are hilarious! Jen already labels this woman a bigot because Irene disagrees with the canvasser…how dare she disagree, he should of shot her!
MkH aren’t you being narrowminded about Irene in calling her narrowminded? Why do you hate Christians?
It’s sad to me that most who claim tolernce for all often are intolerant of others that disagree with them.
Just a thought, you can now blast me with rude comments for sharing my beliefs.

Wes May 29, 2007 (3:49 pm)

The situation is sad, but these comments are hilarious! Jen already labels this woman a bigot because Irene disagrees with the canvasser…how dare she disagree, he should of shot her!
MkH aren’t you being narrowminded about Irene in calling her narrowminded? Why do you hate Christians?
It’s sad to me that most who claim tolerence for all often are intolerant of others that disagree with them.
Just a thought, you can now blast me with rude comments for sharing my beliefs.

Jen May 29, 2007 (4:43 pm)

Wes, I labeled this woman a bigot because she IS intolerant. This canvasser came to her, yes, and she proceeded to tell him his lifestyle was evil because HER religion says so. What she should have done, rather than provoke him to the point of an angry response, was to simply say “not interested, please leave” and there would have been no hurt feelings. I would not be surprised if other people had told him to bug off. But no, Irene had to get up on her Christian soapbox and show all of West Seattle, via the Herald, how righteous she is.

Mickymse May 29, 2007 (5:08 pm)

As someone who is happy to admit that he thinks Irene is an annoying bigot, I would strongly encourage folks to call the canvasser’s manager if an incident like this occurs to them.

This is NOT how we’ve trained folks to behave when out canvassing on any of the causes I have worked for. And I certainly don’t want this kid getting paid to turn people off to a political cause, or turning people against the candidate being represented.

What an idiot!

Jan May 29, 2007 (5:22 pm)

my take on things…they both displayed intolerance. And…she said she took the WWJD approach. I don’t think she really knows what he would do…nor do I, although I understand he was quite tolerant of everyone. She should speak for herself, and not for him…

let’s all practice more tolerance. Life is way too damned short to be otherwise. I’m sorry you felt you were going to be blasted, Wes. Your statement “ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s sad to me that most who claim tolerence for all often are intolerant of others that disagree with them.”
was right on…and applies to the lovely Irene just as much as it does the canvasser. They both should have walked away from it…just another opinion…

s May 29, 2007 (8:14 pm)

Thanks Jan, I agree completely with your comment from start to finish. I don’t know what Jesus would do either, but based on what they told me in grade school, I think he would take pity on both Irene and the canvasser. In fact, the whole story sounds like one of those stories they used to tell in church, with the two people acting un-Christian, and the big lesson at the end.

In my opinion, I don’t think Jesus would be anti-gay, and I don’t think he’d go door to door calling people beotches.

Jiggers May 29, 2007 (9:42 pm)

How can you be tolerant of someone when they get angry at you if they can’t get you to see their way. Its like with religion, I am Agnostic, but there are idiots who’ll try to tell me that I am wrong for choosing to be that way. People need to grow up if others disagree with you.

The House May 29, 2007 (10:52 pm)

What’s the saying? Opinions are like *ssholes…

Me May 29, 2007 (11:05 pm)

Oh no, Poor Irene!! I actually know this woman and she’s a WONDERFUL grandma lady. If you knew her, you’d love her because she’d be the first to say hello. This letter comes off so strong, but knowing her age & her beliefs I’m sure she was horrified and this was her outlet. My best friend is gay and I assure you, he would never call my mother an “F—ing Bitch” just because she doesn’t agree with his political or sexual beliefs. Couldn’t he have just walked away? I guess she could have, too…but she would have left a stranger in her own yard.
I agree with Jan…more tolerance & love is the key here – on BOTH sides.

Wes May 30, 2007 (7:33 am)

Jesus, was very intolerant of murder, lying, adultery, blaspheme, stealing, coveting, etc…
Who here isn’t intolerant of murder or rape? Is there someone here that is tolerant of these things? Who likes to be lied to? Do you like things stolen from you? Would you like to have someone you love be murder? Of course not! Don’t get upset if someone believes in absolute truth, it does exsist! There is right and wrong!
Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one can go to the Father except through Him. He just made an absolute statement that no one can go to heaven unless you repent and trust in Him. No other way. He’s either a liar, lunatic, or the Lord. Your life after death should be worth knowing.
As a Christian we speak the truth in love, not by a sword. We tell you about the amazing grace of Jesus because we love you enough to do it, even though you get mad at us and call us names. It’s not easy, but we believe in truth and will defend that truth even if that means taking persecution from people. I love all of you and tell you these things and encourage you to think about truth and how important it is. Sorry if I offend but I do it out of love. God Bless!

Soupytwist May 30, 2007 (3:39 pm)

Wes, you don’t do it out of love. You do it out of fear that if you don’t witness, that those of us who don’t share your beliefs might end up going to hell and taking you with us. If we don’t believe, it upsets your life and your world view.

It’s sad that what amounts to a generational difference (tolerance of different lifestyles vs. acceptance of different lifestyles) is being turned into an opportunity for Christian witnessing.

Sorry if I offend – but I do it out of reason!

Wes May 30, 2007 (4:06 pm)

Soupytwist, how do you know I don’t do it out of love? What makes you think it’s out of fear? How will you be taking me to Hell? That is a whole lot of slander and mind-reading(or guessing) for such a reasonable person as yourself. How is “generational differences” being turned into an opportunity for Christian witnessing?
Please be reasonable and explain. Thank you and I will be praying for you, out of love.

Sue May 30, 2007 (7:11 pm)

I deal with the public at work. And when I took training classes many, many years ago in this field, one of the things they had us do is mock phone calls where instructors basically abused us and we were to learn how to deflect those phone calls and not sound as if we wanted to tell them what to go do to themselves. When you work with the public, you’re gonna take abuse, right or wrong. And you need to learn to let it roll off your back and walk away. Door-to-door canvassers, salespeople, telemarketers, whatever . . . they’re more often or not bothering people. That doesn’t mean it’s right for the public to abuse them, but that means that if it does turn ugly, they need to learn how to say “have a nice day” and walk away and hope for the best at the next opportunity.
As for the Christian witnessessing discussion in the comments, my brother is born again. I’m a Unitarian Universalist pagan, which is about as far as one can get from born again. He often preaches his faith to me and tells me he prays for me. At first it annoyed me. Then I realized that, to him and in his beliefs, this is the only way. And it pains him to believe that someone he loves is not going to reap the same rewards that he believes he will receive due to his faith. My UU faith teaches the acceptance of each other and respecting of beliefs that are different from ours. I don’t have to buy into his beliefs (and trust me, I don’t), but I respect them and am glad he’s found something to bring him peace. Meanwhile, I don’t know this woman who wrote this article. Maybe she’s an incredibly annoying prostelytizer. Maybe she’s just like my brother who does it out of love. Doesn’t really matter. If the conversation goes where you don’t want it to go, and there doesn’t appear to be room to reason or have any mutual learning from the differences, then you have the option of taking yourself out of the situation. Very simple.

gina May 30, 2007 (7:35 pm)

There were some unpleasant solicitors working 45th on the 22nd. I have no idea if these folks were part of the same group, nor what their view was. As I was out walking I could hear loud voices coming from every home that they visited.

If I don’t recognize people, I don’t answer the door. Period. If they catch me in the yard, I let them know that I am really busy, sorry, have to go, bye. And I don’t answer whatever is being sold/witnessed/opionioned. The blank wall approach.

dinolicious May 31, 2007 (1:20 pm)

I had two of these people come to my door. One asked for money and became demanding. The other engaged in arguing with me when I would not open the door. They were both suspicious so I called the police on them. I was told by nice lady officer that most of these door-to-door solicitors are not representing anything–just trying to get $$$$

Tonya May 31, 2007 (2:37 pm)

Irene had the right to say what she wanted and she should not have walked away as she was on her own property.

Irene – sounds like you encountered a typical “Moonbat”… and they are prevalent around here.
I for one wished Irene would have snapped a photo of this nut and sent it in along with her letter.