Learned from long ago law enforcement classes ..most of those breaking into houses have been inside them … so we stay on the porch As mentioned around here, I’ll talk till they drop, so we stand. Problem is, and I’ve mentioned this to them, I’m either filthy from yard work or poorly dressed while hanging around the house … as they’re in their Saturday/ Sunday best..

I listen, question, then allow them to do the same. It’s fun. Love those mormon boys, old enough to be their dad ..or grandfather.. They appear to show respect, that alone brings a deeper, totally sincere and caring response from me. Not out to trounce them, nor back down to their nonsense, it’s always a decent exchange … and perhaps something one of them will secretly think about.. Eventually leading him here

I am even super open minded. But I know my scriptures.

I'm a southern girl, too....but I draw the line at invading my privacy, uninvited, babbling their bibble blabber. Your address must have STARS on it, when they set out in the morning. "GO HERE...COOKIES!"

I chat with them, swap a few ideas. I'm interested in what they believe and why they believe it, plus I'm not rude so I won't slam the door in their faces.

Good on you. A discussion may open their minds.

Hell No ! Do not have time for that nonsense.

I'm polite, but I say just enough to get them to leave.

I've never forgiven them for lying to me as a teenager. I answered the door and my mum was out. They claimed to be friends of hers, so I invited them in and they gave me the spiel. My mum wouldn't have allowed them through the door if she'd been there.

I know religion is based on faith that can't be proven, and often faith that can be outright disproven by modern science. But if you need to knowingly lie to sell your vision of God, then something's very, very wrong.

When I was in college, two Mormon missionaries stopped me on campus and we had a small chat. The invited me to one of their meetings, I obliged and took my roommate; I invited them to one of our meetings (an atheists club at UGA), they obliged. We all had an open mind to new points of view and showed respect for each other's beliefs. Mormon missionaries are usually really nice. You don't have to be an asshole to them.

My husband and I had some very interesting conversations with a couple of Mormon missionaries who used to come around.

I found the idea of a heavenly mother figure to be intriguing, but was quickly informed that it was inappropriate to direct any prayers to her. I took issue with that, and the church's response to my questions was to send female missionaries. After a couple of conversations with them, we stopped recieving missionaries altogether.

Never happens to me but if it did, I'd tell them to go away and never come back. I don't want to talk to anyone who believes it is a valuable use of their time trying to get people to join their cult.

I live in the South. I am NOT "always hospitable".
I wouldn't waste tea and cookies on those people.
I don't humor them, at all.
How "polite" I am to them wholly depends on my mood whenever they show up, uninvited, I might add.

As a former JW I would strongly suggest talking to them. JW's only have about a 70% retention rate which is the lowest of any religion that I know of. The key is to find common ground and get them to agree on something with you. Share facts and back it up with evidence. One of the reasons that I left was because I learned that tartarus was taken directly from Greek mythology and added to the scriptures, which as a JW you are taught that the bible is the literal word of god. That opened my mind to reason and really got me to doubt what I was taught. Other things that made me rethink what I thought was "the truth" was the scapegoat ritual, sending a goat into the wilderness for Azazel. I wondered who Azazel was. And then finally once I learned about Horus and how jesus's story was taken directly from his that was the what really woke me up. The majority of JW's really are great people that have just been lied to and brainwashed and really need help to get out so if you're really concerned about your fellow man take that opportunity to help wake one up. Just be polite and always leave them with a question to get them thinking.

"Come on in. And sit a spell."

I don't mind talking with them. I will sit on my doorsteps and chat. I invite them to come to a pagan ritual, but none have ever accepted. We usually have some lively discussions. One time they were at the neighbor's house and they told them they thought I was home. They must have told them my name was Tess, but that is actually my dogs name. They walked across to my house. I was outside pulling weeds. They introduced themselves and asked if Tess lived there. I told them yes. They said the neighbor said they should talk to her. I told them she was in the house but I would go get her. You can imagine their surprise when a 125 pound Cane Corso came out, drooling and looking very menacing. I told them that they would probably not have any more luck converting her than they would me, but they could give it a shot if they wanted to. They didn't try.

Man I love talking to them. I try to get them to come back. I want to see how long that fake smile will hold out.

Our local Mormons have learn who we are and avoid us. Such as this afternoon walking along Belmont Street in Aberdeen, my daughter and myself saw them approaching people unsuccessfully, but they dodged us. They have encountered us before in street debate giving them the good news that there is no god and here is why.....

I am mostly always polite if they catch me, but I have been known to hide in the house.

I have good conversations with them. Sometimes I even learn something.

When the Mormons show up answer the door with beer in hand and invite them in for a beer. That usually takes care of it.......

I offer them equal time.....I will listen to their "pitch" if they will grant me equal time to explain to them the Animal Rights movement and why they should go Vegan -- for the animals, for the environment, and for their health.

All told, I've had about 8-12 over the years agree to the exchange of information.

I had one JW that had been raised Seventh Day Adventist/Vegetarian take me up on the offer. After our talk she committed to being Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian again....and then, about 2 years later, she went Vegan.

The interesting things about JWs is that they 100% believe that the garden of Eden was all plant-based/Vegan and that mankind only eats dead animals because of their fall from perfection. They believe that the New Heavens/New Earth will also be VEGAN. So, they basically have no defense against not going vegan now "as practice" as I like to call it.

I also like to point out that "Jehovah" gave animals the ability to feel pain,terror, fear....as well as love and affection. If their dog can feel an emotion....so can a cow, a goat, a sheep, a pig...etc.
Once they make the connection....anything is possible.

Other than the one who I mentioned above...I never heard back from any of them. But, at least I planted the seeds.....

Last time those crazy little suckers in the black pants and the white shirts tried to come to my house I was sitting out on my front porch and they were at the top of the driveway and they looked at me and I just gave them the old Dead Eye stare and slowly shook my head back and forth and they just kept walking

Ack! Don't encourage them!

You might be suprised the south doesnt have a patten on manners.

My time has value.Ichoose to use it in a manner most reflective of my needs. i give with gusto I listen with honest interestI YOu chooseto justify your action as manners as a excuse to listen to a sales pitch.
I have to make appointments to get my nails done my teeth cleaned my car oil changed . Why would you think you r less worth than then person whom interupts your day with religion or a kerby vacume..

No more than I would invite in a vacuum cleaner salesperson. My home isn't a place to listen to any sort of sales pitch at the whim of the pitchman. I'm not rude to them (unless they catch me at a particularly bad time, in which case, I don't feel any particular obligation to explain why I don't want them to come in and take up my time -- and I suppose some people would call that "rude" if I say nothing more than "no" and don't wait for a response or take some literature). But I don't entertain or encourage them in this intrusive behavior either.

It is exactly the way I deal with junk phone calls. I gently interrupt the pitch, ask them to take me off their call list, and hang up. They are not my friend, and they have not behaved toward me in a friendly manner, either. It is rude to intrude; it's not rude to refuse the intrusion.

In my case at least, in-person invasions of my privacy are far less frequent than junk phone pitches; the latter come in at 2 or 3 per day, the former, probably 2 or 3 per year. But if the in-person stuff got as frequent as the phone stuff, you can bet that I would Take Steps.

One person I spoke to about this claims to have a doorbell that, instead of ringing, plays sounds of sexual ecstasy, which they claim is quite effective in driving such people away in confusion. I don't know that I'd go that far, as I have neighbors and delivery persons that I don't want to get the wrong idea, but I have to admit, it is tempting.