How do you deal with getting proselytized to at your place of employment?

[Coriolis]

Tough? Is unwanted proselytizing tough for TJs? I doubt it.

It can be amusing, IF I have time for it, and have no obligations but to myself. Once I need to take into account the requirements or image of an employer, that makes it a much larger challenge. Left to my own devices I would say these folks deserve whatever civil retort I want to muster. They are adults, and surely know to expect unaccommodating reactions now and then. I don't need to pander to their sensitivities and coddle them. I do, however, need to represent my employer in the way that is expected, unless I am ready to find another job.

 

[StrawberryBoots]

It can be amusing, IF I have time for it, and have no obligations but to myself. Once I need to take into account the requirements or image of an employer, that makes it a much larger challenge. Left to my own devices I would say these folks deserve whatever civil retort I want to muster. They are adults, and surely know to expect unaccommodating reactions now and then. I don't need to pander to their sensitivities and coddle them. I do, however, need to represent my employer in the way that is expected, unless I am ready to find another job.

Well said. Also, it's okay to get advice from the boss. In my younger days, I had to ask for help on how to handle some people.

 

[Ursa]

One of you said "this doesn't happen in my country." Well, consider yourself fortunate, because the U.S. is a hotbed for these types of belief systems. And they feel emboldened and entitled to behave in this manner - we do have freedom of speech in this country, for better or for worse.

You may want to reconsider that. [MENTION=4347]Virtual ghost[/MENTION] has much to say about where he lives.

 

[Virtual ghost]

One of you said "this doesn't happen in my country." Well, consider yourself fortunate, because the U.S. is a hotbed for these types of belief systems. And they feel emboldened and entitled to behave in this manner - we do have freedom of speech in this country, for better or for worse.

I think that would be me.
Well, we also believe in freedom of speech, however we also believe in good manners and personal space. However to be fully honest: here at one point state did large scale attrocities against religious people and it even banned celebrations of Christmas and similar religious holidays for decades. So our religious people still have the general need to keep this for themselves, especially since half of the country is unreligious by US standards. (probably due to that long ban)

You may want to reconsider that. [MENTION=4347]Virtual ghost[/MENTION] has much to say about where he lives.

Not, really. However I find myself at odds with almost everyone here so I almost always need to clarify my position.

 

[Ursa]

Not, really. However I find myself at odds with almost everyone here so I almost always need to clarify my position.

It seems that I spoke out of turn. Then again you did say a lot in your response to her. Not many here in the U.S. are aware of what has happened in other countries. And I would hope that the OP considers her problem in the context of other situations. Free speech and proselytizers are not big problems. In fact they indicate that something is going right.

 

[Virtual ghost]

It seems that I spoke out of turn. Then again you did say a lot in your response to her. Not many here in the U.S. are aware of what has happened in other countries. And I would hope that the OP considers her problem in the context of other situations. Free speech and proselytizers are not big problems. In fact they indicate that something is going right.

That is subjective. I did need to google "proselytizers" to understand the term and to be honest I think this is more of a abuse of free speech than anything else. Especially since the government that was banning the religion was spread/founded through such methods.

 

[Amargith]

That is subjective. I did need to google "proselytizers" to understand the term and to be honest I think this is more of a abuse of free speech than anything else. Especially since the government that was banning the religion was spread/founded through such methods.

Exactly. Just because you're free to say it, doesn't mean others *have* to listen to it.

An interaction takes two willing participants, at minimum.

 

[Ursa]

That is subjective. I did need to google "proselytizers" to understand the term and to be honest I think this is more of a abuse of free speech than anything else. Especially since the government that was banning the religion was spread/founded through such methods.

Clearly I had you figured wrongly. Your definition of abuse of free speech is speaking freely? That sounds dictatorial. Here in the U.S. such freedom extends to every religion. Of course the government is prohibited from adopting any religion.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Clearly I had you figured wrongly. Your definition of abuse of free speech is speaking freely? Here in the U.S. such freedom extends to every religion. Of course the government is prohibited from adopting a religion.

Here free speech is more of "tolerating others" kind of a thing, or taking No for an answer. If the OP story is true then she has every right to call the police. (in my opinion)

Free speech or not proselytization is consider to be very rude and disrespectful in my parts these days.
As the saying says "Only the onces who do don't jeopardize the freedom of other can be free".

 

[Ursa]

If the OP story is true then she has every right to call the police. (in my opinion)

Free speech or not proselytization is consider to be very rude and disrespectful in my parts these days.
As the saying says "Only the onces who do don't jeopardize the freedom of other can be free".

She should call the police because she is offended? How is that just - or free? What if you offended me by your statements here? Should that mean that you should be put in prison? How in that scenario does that contribute to freedom - because after all your freedom would be curtailed?

Calling the police on someone because they voice an opinion that is disagreeable epitomizes being a liberty-hating crybaby.

When I said that you may have much to say on the situation in your country, your response was frankly surprising. Your country ranks well below mine on the Corruption Index. I don't wonder why.

 

[Lark]

No, no, just the one post. Because I can't see your body language and my gut tells me, it's for the best.

I dont appreciate your posting style. Twice now you've been rude to me.

 

[Virtual ghost]

She should call the police because she is offended? How is that just - or free? What if you offended me by your statements here? Should that mean that you should be put in prison? How in that scenario does that contribute to freedom - because after all your freedom would be curtailed?

Calling the police on someone because they voice an opinion that is disagreeable epitomizes being a liberty-hating crybaby.

When I said that you may have much to say on the situation in your country, your response was frankly surprising. Your country ranks well below mine on the Corruption Index. I don't wonder why.

The problem is that I am unfamiliar with what exactly "proselytization" means. The definition that google showed was that this an attempt to convert someone to your religion. What is in my place treated as very rude and as potential harassment. I would not call the police for this but I can totally understand people who would do that. What was said doesn't really matter but if you are too pushy you are preventing me from doing my job ... and that is enough to get the police involved. But you wouldn't get any real punishment for this here.


As a matter of fact I don't even know a single person that ever got arrested, what is exactly because here people tend to respect each other's personal space.

 

[Coriolis]

The problem is that I am unfamiliar with what exactly "proselytization" means. The definition that google showed was that this an attempt to convert someone to your religion. What is in my place treated as very rude and as potential harassment. I would not call the police for this but I can totally understand people who would do that. What was said doesn't really matter but if you are too pushy you are preventing me from doing my job ... and that is enough to get the police involved. But you wouldn't get any real punishment for this here.


As a matter of fact I don't even know a single person that ever got arrested, what is exactly because here people tend to respect each other's personal space.

Having the right to do something doesn't necessarily make it right. The right to speak freely doesn't come with a right to require someone else to listen. In certain cases, continuing to express yourself to a specific person after they have asked you to stop IS illegal, as it constitutes harassment. In public spaces, it can be hard to avoid someone trying to proselytise, or sell you something or get you to participate in a survey, if they are determined to be persistent. This is especially true if you are required to stay there as part of your job. I can tolerate being approached once, but draw the line if they continue to pester me after I tell them I am not interested. I don't know where the law falls on this, but it is definitely obnoxious and disrespectful to me. It is also a waste of their time, which would be better spent moving on to a likely more susceptible target.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Having the right to do something doesn't necessarily make it right. The right to speak freely doesn't come with a right to require someone else to listen. In certain cases, continuing to express yourself to a specific person after they have asked you to stop IS illegal, as it constitutes harassment. In public spaces, it can be hard to avoid someone trying to proselytise, or sell you something or get you to participate in a survey, if they are determined to be persistent. This is especially true if you are required to stay there as part of your job. I can tolerate being approached once, but draw the line if they continue to pester me after I tell them I am not interested. I don't know where the law falls on this, but it is definitely obnoxious and disrespectful to me. It is also a waste of their time, which would be better spent moving on to a likely more susceptible target.

I think this could easily be one of the main problems of America: If it isn't forbiden we should be doing that.
What ironically makes lawmakers aware of the hole and then they push more an more laws to cover the hole(s) ... until the point that everyone has to act like a robot to be in the boundries of the law. What then makes people get defensive and they try to justify themselves through constitution or something like that. Simply because there is a deficit of social common sense in this regard.

 

[EcK]

I've been ambushed by evangelical Christian types a few times now -- at work, where I can't just walk away or order them to leave, as it's not my property. It's a museum. The Mennonites and Orthodox Jews don't bug me. It's just these folks. How do you guys deal with it???

I would tell them to please fuck off or direct them to the nearest asylum

 

[ceecee]

I think this could easily be one of the main problems of America: If it isn't forbiden we should be doing that.
What ironically makes lawmakers aware of the hole and then they push more an more laws to cover the hole(s) ... until the point that everyone has to act like a robot to be in the boundries of the law. What then makes people get defensive and they try to justify themselves through constitution or something like that. Simply because there is a deficit of social common sense in this regard.

I see it as an inability to understand that personal morality and values do not extend beyond yourself. I'm also betting that these people do not demand that their boundaries be respected, which translates into not respecting the boundaries of others. It's a common problem with certain Protestant denominations in particular, in the US although some others do it too, Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter Day Saints for example. I don't see this as a - since it's legal, lets do it - thing. I don't think legality would deter these people from proselytizing.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I see it as an inability to understand that personal morality and values do not extend beyond yourself. I'm also betting that these people do not demand that their boundaries be respected, which translates into not respecting the boundaries of others. It's a common problem with certain Protestant denominations in particular, in the US although some others do it too, Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter Day Saints for example. I don't see this as a - since it's legal, lets do it - thing. I don't think legality would deter these people from proselytizing.

Maybe you should make it illegal, just to see what will happen.

Personally I think that being aggressive in doing things like this is possibly one of the most disrespectful things you can do to another person.

 

[EcK]

I've been ambushed by evangelical Christian types a few times now -- at work, where I can't just walk away or order them to leave, as it's not my property. It's a museum. The Mennonites and Orthodox Jews don't bug me. It's just these folks. How do you guys deal with it???

I mean maybe it's a pickup line. Like, join our cult so you can become one of the sister wives and birth 7 of my children ?
Ya know, crazy people got game too. Don't hate the player hate the game etc.

 

[ceecee]

Maybe you should make it illegal, just to see what will happen.

Personally I think that being aggressive in doing things like this is possibly one of the most disrespectful things you can do to another person.

I should have worded that better - I don't think it would deter these people if proselytizing were illegal. The one I never understood is the Evangelicals that go to Israel to proselytize the Jews. WTF people?? I'm always astounded that more of them don't end up killed for it, maybe it would help get the message across. But it's incredibly arrogant and ignorant. Kind of like the US government thinking everyone should welcome democracy.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I should have worded that better - I don't think it would deter these people if proselytizing were illegal. The one I never understood is the Evangelicals that go to Israel to proselytize the Jews. WTF people?? I'm always astounded that more of them don't end up killed for it, maybe it would help get the message across. But it's incredibly arrogant and ignorant. Kind of like the US government thinking everyone should welcome democracy.

Funny.
I said that this doesn't happen in my country but that is not exactly true. Since American tourists/pilgrims tried to do it to me with free "Bible and English lessons".
Of course the attempt failed.