Semantics. Am I wrong?

[herr_oberst]

I live in a neighborhood where every third house seems to have a "No Soliciting" sign on the front door, mine included - this part of town attracts door to door types for some reason. (Nice, older, established, well cared for homes, I guess.)

I just closed the door on some guy who told me he wasn't soliciting, he was canvassing for some cause. (I was polite and I smiled, but I gave him none of my time)

Seriously? He thinks that someone would put up a sign asking for privacy from "soliciting", but since he feels like he's "canvassing" that that same someone would be interested in what he has to say?

Is this chutzpah? Stupidity?

I'm not worked up or ranting or anything, I'm just curious as to this aspect of human nature. I mean, there are a LOT of homes with "no soliciting" signs around here - why not go somewhere more fertile to spread his word, where he will be dealing with fewer roadblocks for his cause?

[syncroid]

The policy at our house is: If someone is knocking at the door, we will answer it "if we feel like it." They can knock till the cows come home. Its my house!

[Baz]

Herr Oberst:

For me it all boils down to respect for others.

That guy cared more about himself than he did you.

That is the unfortunate big picture.

And in a nutshell that is what is wrong with today's society.

No respect for others.

[stomachmonkey]

I like answering the door.

Pulled onto my street tonight and see well dressed strangers going door to door.

One pair hit my next door neighbor as I pulled into my drive.

Bell rang so I opened the door.

They start their speech with an introduction and a "how are you today?".

Did not say a word, without breaking eye contact stuck my hand up and pointed to the Mezuzah on the door frame. They look at it, "Oh, ok, have a nice day" and left.

Works every time.

[Noah930]

I've got some Jewish group going around doing the same thing.

[Bill Douglas]

I get them ringing me up. They always seem to say "Hello sir, how are you?". I Always say "Fine thank you but I don't want to buy anything, take part in a survey, or make a donation."

Ha, I had fun with a caller from Singapore. I asked what she was doing phoning a crime scene and at the moment she is the prime suspect etc. She was very upset. Told her the number had been traced and for her to go to the nearest police station and hand herself in.

[EarlyPorsche]

Got to supplement the no soliciting sign with a NO TRESSPASSING ONTO THIS PROPERTY sign.

[trekkor]

Are there any strangers ( people you don't know ) that you would welcome to knock at your door?



KT

[BReif61]

If I am not expecting anyone, I don't answer the door. Anyone that would like to get in touch with me has my number and gets in touch with me prior to coming.

Plus I can't really hear the door as I spend most my time in the back of the house.

[Bill Douglas]

A couple of weeks ago a guy came to the door and I asked him did he shut the gate as per the two signs on the gate (as I have a dog). He said no he didn't. I really went off at him and told him in this country if the sign says to "shut the gate" "YOU SHUT THE FARKON GATE. AND IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT FARK OF BACK TO WHERE EVER YOU CAME FROM". Why should I have my dog escaped and run over on the road because some prick came onto my property to try to hawk a subscription to Sky TV to me.

[Tobra]

KT, the only strangers that knock on your door want something from you. I barely have time for the people I care about, not enough to give away to ones I don't know.

Halloween is about the only time I answer the door to strangers, and most of them are kids from the neighbor hood.

[aigel]

My wife (see Judge Judy thread) will open the door and before they can say a word she asks them "Can you read?".

"... uh ... yes"

"So, what does this sign say?"

"... uh ..."

"Thank you" --- slam

[LeeH]

The business we owned had a store front in an office park. We had so many people wander in selling stuff that we put up multiple no soliciting signs. One day a guy walks in peddling something - can't remember what. I asked if he'd seen the signs. His reply was, "Yeah, but I'm not a prostitute, I'm a salesman." I guess it was supposed to be funny. By the time he and I reached his car, I think it was clear that I was not amused.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Are there any strangers ( people you don't know ) that you would welcome to knock at your door?

Our neighborhood has a sign right at the entrance (only one road in and out) that specifically says "no religious solicitation", yet we get people at our door offering pamphlets, etc. on a regular basis. The latest were a couple of Mormon guys doing their thing.

If it happened once or twice I might be tempted to think they just didn't see the sign, but this is pretty often. Do you guys see the signs and just ignore them? Are you told to ignore them?

[trekkor]

I had someone knock at my door because somebody rolled their car nearby.
I went to the scene and helped until the EMT's arrived.

I get the feeling, some folks here do not have respect for others or have the ability to be polite because it may cost you 20 seconds of you busy day...

How do you act when your waiter comes to you table unnecessarily?
How about when a store employee attempts to assist you when you don't want it?
Or when the coffee counter person asks if you want a scone with that?



KT

[trekkor]

Our neighborhood has a sign right at the entrance (only one road in and out) that specifically says "no religious solicitation", yet we get people at our door offering pamphlets, etc. on a regular basis.

Are you stating that because someone makes a sign,

1. Everyone in the neighborhood agrees with it?
2. People in the community need to obey it?

I do not set foot on property marked with "No Trespassing" or " No Religious , etc".


KT

[Zeke]

Some are casing the neighborhood. Great them with a camera.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Are you stating that because someone makes a sign,

1. Everyone in the neighborhood agrees with it?

No. I never said that. But that is completely irrelevant. Everyone in the neighborhood might not agree with the stop sign that is also at the front of our neighborhood, but that doesn't mean they can ignore it without adverse consequences.

2. People in the community need to obey it?

Yes. I do not expect my neighbors to come over to my house and tell me I am going to hell. I don't appreciate that. Especially when there is a sign that specifically tells them not to do that. Just like I wouldn't appreciate them running the stop sign and t-boning me.

I do not set foot on property marked with "No Trespassing" or " No Religious , etc".

That's good to hear.

I'm simply wondering why some obviously chooses to ignore a sign. The sign says "no religious solicitation". It seems pretty simple, so I was wondering why religious solicitors keep coming to my door.

[Rick Lee]

I just don't answer my door unless I'm expecting someone. My doorbell is broken and I won't bother to fix it. A ringing doorbell is not a call to action. Most property crimes begin with casing the neighborhood. I don't leave my garbage or recycling containers out more than an hour after pickup, don't have newspapers out front and give no sign that the house is unattended. But there's no point in letting a potential criminal breach my door by voluntarily opening it. There is nothing to be gained from talking to strangers who knock on my door. They won't sell me something I needed and couldn't get on my own, they won't save my soul and I just can't think of any way in which I'd benefit from it. The neighbors know they're welcome to walk into my backyard to retrieve their kids' toys.

[JavaBrewer]

Knocking on our front door will cause one of us to discreetly verify the person. Door will not open unless its a friend/neighbor or little girl selling cookies. I don't like signs, bumper stickers, or licence plate frames with messages on any of our belongings.