Discussion
Just ranting this morning. Well it is the lounge... Somewhere to let off steam..
Knock knock..
'Good Morning. Stop having blood transfusions.'
'Blimey. That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that. Of course I will. Anything else I've missed?'
'Christmas is out.'
'Well thank-you for taking the trouble for coming to tell me that. I was just going to carry on with silly Christmas Celebrations just like a dope.'
That's what that slightly oddly dressed man, wan lady, and child came to your door for, but the answers are not the actual replies.
What right had they to come and do that? What right to come at all? None whatever. They should 'Leave me Alone.' and everybody else as well perhaps.
Life seems sometimes very busy, getting up from sitting down, to answer the door or phone to importunists. In strongish terms, though whether terms can be too strong is doubtful, this calling is an impertinence, a perfect cheek, to visit or ring strangers with things that are absolutely nothing whatever to do with them. If you asked that question first, 'Has your call anything to do with me, personally?' They would probably say 'Yes', inasmuch as they think that what motivates them must fascinate the rest of us.
Do we have a grudging admiration for the dedication which makes them do it? No we don't. Not any more. When we were younger and had more time in front of us to waste, and were schooled that anyone older knew better, we wasted the time and got ravelled into their mumbo-jumbo until our immature heads went round. Not now, 'Leave us alone'
We develop our lives ourselves over years into the way we want to live, the fashion that suits us best, or as near as we can get, having failed to become a millionaire. I'm sure there are hundreds of religions, for example, we could try, but now we prefer to remain ignorance of them. We'll struggle on, it's our choice, thankyou. 'Leave us Alone.
Good morning. Stop Drinking Coffee'
'At Once.' And thank-you sharp suit, and long jumble of words to describe your religion.
'I used to like coffee, but fair enough. I'll switch to coke.'
'No Coke either.'
Any benefits in your religion?
'More than one wife.'
'I said benefits.'
It may seem that I don't like these calling people and their religions. I do. They're fine. Away from me. Doing what they do is generally harmless with a big question-mark against the blood transfusions. They are generally 'good' people too, but they must not disturb me and make me get up and have a confrontation I don't want. In the old days people had to be introduced by a mutual friend before they could even talk. Pity that's gone.They'd have a job to find a friend of mine to come with them to me to ease the passage of their message.
All callers without personal business, (postman, read the meter, your fence has fallen down, is this your dog?), leave me disturbed, jolted out of what I was doing for a start, dinner has cooled down ten degrees, everyone else has finished theirs, and you have to describe your latest ploy at getting rid of evangelists. We get harder on them all the time, but they keep pace and get more resilient on refresher courses.
'Leaving me alone' is not just about religion, or calling at the door. PPI, Accident companies, Double glazing and new kitchens are always telephoning or calling but now we have an added scourge on the phone and at the door, the 'Utilities'.
How nice they used to be. Electricity, a bit smarter than the 'Gas' with better slimmer shoes. 'Gas' in assistant stationmaster uniforms. Telephone men with a pigskin tool roll and unmistakeable technical wizardry. The present situation, where everyone can supply everything is hard to understand anyway. How is it organised?
Who gives the electricity people the gas? I wouldn't If I were the gas people. Let them get their own. Whose pipe is it anyway? Now I am called on and asked to change incessantly between various bizarre suppliers. A white clip on identity card, and he may already have been employed two whole days by Scottish Coal or Norweb or Octopus energy, or something. Having got up again and put down the book, or left Dad's Army unviewed, or half-mustarded a sausage, I attend their summons.
I have to decline all these offers of change, withstanding their incredulity at my lack of acumen, to try to remain in control. To actually remember where I get the light, the hot, and the wet from. I do pay three bills a month to somebody. I'm not touching it, so 'Leave me Alone.'
Knock knock..
'Good Morning. Stop having blood transfusions.'
'Blimey. That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that. Of course I will. Anything else I've missed?'
'Christmas is out.'
'Well thank-you for taking the trouble for coming to tell me that. I was just going to carry on with silly Christmas Celebrations just like a dope.'
That's what that slightly oddly dressed man, wan lady, and child came to your door for, but the answers are not the actual replies.
What right had they to come and do that? What right to come at all? None whatever. They should 'Leave me Alone.' and everybody else as well perhaps.
Life seems sometimes very busy, getting up from sitting down, to answer the door or phone to importunists. In strongish terms, though whether terms can be too strong is doubtful, this calling is an impertinence, a perfect cheek, to visit or ring strangers with things that are absolutely nothing whatever to do with them. If you asked that question first, 'Has your call anything to do with me, personally?' They would probably say 'Yes', inasmuch as they think that what motivates them must fascinate the rest of us.
Do we have a grudging admiration for the dedication which makes them do it? No we don't. Not any more. When we were younger and had more time in front of us to waste, and were schooled that anyone older knew better, we wasted the time and got ravelled into their mumbo-jumbo until our immature heads went round. Not now, 'Leave us alone'
We develop our lives ourselves over years into the way we want to live, the fashion that suits us best, or as near as we can get, having failed to become a millionaire. I'm sure there are hundreds of religions, for example, we could try, but now we prefer to remain ignorance of them. We'll struggle on, it's our choice, thankyou. 'Leave us Alone.
Good morning. Stop Drinking Coffee'
'At Once.' And thank-you sharp suit, and long jumble of words to describe your religion.
'I used to like coffee, but fair enough. I'll switch to coke.'
'No Coke either.'
Any benefits in your religion?
'More than one wife.'
'I said benefits.'
It may seem that I don't like these calling people and their religions. I do. They're fine. Away from me. Doing what they do is generally harmless with a big question-mark against the blood transfusions. They are generally 'good' people too, but they must not disturb me and make me get up and have a confrontation I don't want. In the old days people had to be introduced by a mutual friend before they could even talk. Pity that's gone.They'd have a job to find a friend of mine to come with them to me to ease the passage of their message.
All callers without personal business, (postman, read the meter, your fence has fallen down, is this your dog?), leave me disturbed, jolted out of what I was doing for a start, dinner has cooled down ten degrees, everyone else has finished theirs, and you have to describe your latest ploy at getting rid of evangelists. We get harder on them all the time, but they keep pace and get more resilient on refresher courses.
'Leaving me alone' is not just about religion, or calling at the door. PPI, Accident companies, Double glazing and new kitchens are always telephoning or calling but now we have an added scourge on the phone and at the door, the 'Utilities'.
How nice they used to be. Electricity, a bit smarter than the 'Gas' with better slimmer shoes. 'Gas' in assistant stationmaster uniforms. Telephone men with a pigskin tool roll and unmistakeable technical wizardry. The present situation, where everyone can supply everything is hard to understand anyway. How is it organised?
Who gives the electricity people the gas? I wouldn't If I were the gas people. Let them get their own. Whose pipe is it anyway? Now I am called on and asked to change incessantly between various bizarre suppliers. A white clip on identity card, and he may already have been employed two whole days by Scottish Coal or Norweb or Octopus energy, or something. Having got up again and put down the book, or left Dad's Army unviewed, or half-mustarded a sausage, I attend their summons.
I have to decline all these offers of change, withstanding their incredulity at my lack of acumen, to try to remain in control. To actually remember where I get the light, the hot, and the wet from. I do pay three bills a month to somebody. I'm not touching it, so 'Leave me Alone.'
It's only politicians who knock on my door (council ward with the lowest turnout in SE England, so every vote counts).
I'm electric only so the utilities sales people aren't interested.
I think I am on some sort of Jehovah Witness blacklist after answering the door very early one Saturday with a stinking hangover and a dishevelled appearance, they must think I am beyond salvation.
I'm electric only so the utilities sales people aren't interested.
I think I am on some sort of Jehovah Witness blacklist after answering the door very early one Saturday with a stinking hangover and a dishevelled appearance, they must think I am beyond salvation.
t crazy bloke they just met. 
Many years ago, two such people knocked on the door of my parents' house, and being the only one home I answered.
I had been quite well schooled in the subject and considerably better schooled in their particular subject than they were I think.
It may have cost me an hour and a half, but it was many years before my parents were 'bothered' by them again.
I honestly think they may have been questioning their own choices by the time they left.
How anyone could imagine I would consider giving up Christmas is beyond me
I had been quite well schooled in the subject and considerably better schooled in their particular subject than they were I think.
It may have cost me an hour and a half, but it was many years before my parents were 'bothered' by them again.
I honestly think they may have been questioning their own choices by the time they left.
How anyone could imagine I would consider giving up Christmas is beyond me
Spitfire2 said:
We have a "no cold callers, sales people or canvassers" sign on the door. I have seen many u-turn on seeing it and for those that don't I am happy enough to ask if they saw the sign and tell them to beat it.
I have one as well, but it doesn't stop salesmen knocking to see if I want double glazing or new gutters / soffits etc. I merely tell them that I can give them the address of a good optician because (1) if they opened their eyes they'd see all the work has been done and (2) there's a "No Cold Callers" sign at the doorbell which they had just pushed.Other lot have been politicians canvassing - I simply ask which party then reply "then I sure won't be voting for you if you can't read. Goodbye"
For a start. Not enough ,or any, swearing. 0 out of 10 for the rant.
Yes they can be annoying if you are doing something. I find that opening the door and telling them, politely, that I'm not interested does the trick. 2 minutes, not enough time for food to go cold. Chill.
We are on a regular round for them and my wife has become on good terms with them (two old ladies). they call once a month to drop of their "Leaflet". Nothing else. I also get a couple of youngish lads who are more interested in talking about the Caterham than anything else.
If any other cold callers come round trying to sell me something its "Sorry mate, just been made redundant" (Which I have) but it works every time.
I once got rid of a "Utilities Warehouse" person. She was persistent though and came back a year later. Should have listened the first time because she saved me £500 a year on , not only gas/electric but broadband, home phone and free LED light bulbs for the whole house.
As a result, and knowing I had been made redundant, she persuaded me to become a distributer. The only people I have signed up are myself and my mum. I won't be cold calling anyone as I have enough friends and family to pester.
Lesson learnt? "Sometimes it's actually worth listening".
PS this is not a "Plug" for UW.
Yes they can be annoying if you are doing something. I find that opening the door and telling them, politely, that I'm not interested does the trick. 2 minutes, not enough time for food to go cold. Chill.
We are on a regular round for them and my wife has become on good terms with them (two old ladies). they call once a month to drop of their "Leaflet". Nothing else. I also get a couple of youngish lads who are more interested in talking about the Caterham than anything else.
If any other cold callers come round trying to sell me something its "Sorry mate, just been made redundant" (Which I have) but it works every time.
I once got rid of a "Utilities Warehouse" person. She was persistent though and came back a year later. Should have listened the first time because she saved me £500 a year on , not only gas/electric but broadband, home phone and free LED light bulbs for the whole house.
As a result, and knowing I had been made redundant, she persuaded me to become a distributer. The only people I have signed up are myself and my mum. I won't be cold calling anyone as I have enough friends and family to pester.
Lesson learnt? "Sometimes it's actually worth listening".
PS this is not a "Plug" for UW.
I think I've been blacklisted by the Jehovas Witness lot after an incident last summer
I was in town getting the car MOTed, called my wife to say it had passed and to get the kettle on, she sounded a bit shaken, apparently a family of well dressed people had knocked on the door and started asking her odd questions about her life choices- drinking, sex before marriage etc.
Sounded odd
Got home and saw the "literature" they had left, got to a big page about why homosexuality is wrong but there was time to correct your sins etc. Now a close member of my family is gay so I saw red and went on a walk to see if they were still in the area, found them in the next road and asked politely if they had spoken to my wife and left the magazine with her, one guy said yes so I let them have both barrels, take their homophobic propaganda elsewhere etc. They had some teenage kids who looked like they just wanted to be swallowed up into the ground, curtains started twitching, I'm normally pretty chilled out but this just really got to me.
I don't care what people think or do in their own time but don't start invading my privacy and telling me what I should and shouldn't think.
I was in town getting the car MOTed, called my wife to say it had passed and to get the kettle on, she sounded a bit shaken, apparently a family of well dressed people had knocked on the door and started asking her odd questions about her life choices- drinking, sex before marriage etc.
Sounded odd
Got home and saw the "literature" they had left, got to a big page about why homosexuality is wrong but there was time to correct your sins etc. Now a close member of my family is gay so I saw red and went on a walk to see if they were still in the area, found them in the next road and asked politely if they had spoken to my wife and left the magazine with her, one guy said yes so I let them have both barrels, take their homophobic propaganda elsewhere etc. They had some teenage kids who looked like they just wanted to be swallowed up into the ground, curtains started twitching, I'm normally pretty chilled out but this just really got to me.
I don't care what people think or do in their own time but don't start invading my privacy and telling me what I should and shouldn't think.
These days, I treat my front door like my telephone (or my wife). If I don't want to answer it, I won't.
This is partly why:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
This is partly why:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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