OK! I've "jumped the shark"

[JanusAscending]

Today I've found in myself, everything I detest about the republicans!! For example the "GET OFF MY LAWN" mentality of McCain and Cheney!! This morning, while I was still in my robe, and sans dentures, came a knock on my front door, that sent my dog Flurry into a frenzy of barking. I thought perhaps it was my daughter, because she's the only person who comes to my house "unannounced". The storm door was locked, so I opened the inside door a crack to see who it was. There stood two strange men, and because the dog was barking so, I told them I was sick and couldn't let them in because of the dog. They proceeded to slip a brochure through my door and when I saw what it was, I breathed fire and I'm sure they thought I was NUTS !! They were Republican candidates for Town Selectmen. Now five years ago I worked my heart out as a Dem. Town Comm. member to turn this town blue after eons of Rep. domination. The slate of candidates we got in are not running this year. Long story shorter...after I breathed fire I yelled through the door at these guys, "I am a DEMOCRAT, take your brochure and don't ever come back"!!!
I don't know what got into me, but after I thought about it for a while, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!!! I guess they won't come back though !!! What would you have done? Maybe I should have let them in, breathed some germs on them, and sicked the dog on 'em (although Flurry would have kissed them to death) I'm thinking of asking the owner of the property to post a NO SOLICITORS sign at the entrance to the Park. In case no one knows, I own a double wide mobile home in a 6 home Adult Park. The owners house makes 7 in all. I swear these guys were lucky I didn't have a pitchfork handy. P.S. say a prayer for me that these guys don't get elected, or my name will be mud at the Town Hall !!!

[Sanity Claws]

1. Did it feel good?

I have a feeling that you liked it, even though it surprised you.

[JanusAscending]

2. It damned sure did!

I keep trying to "justify" my actions, but as per a post here yesterday, I think I'll just take that advice and say "FUCK IT"!!! :evilgrin: :rofl: Especially when I think how they almost ran over each other as they exited my very small front porch!!!

[I Have A Dream]

3. Hi, JA! I wouldn't have let them into my home...

(although I wouldn't have invited a Democratic candidate in either but more in that case because of safety concerns, being that I'm a woman), but I would have politely told them that I was not interested, that I was a Democrat, and I had no intention of voting Republican.

I've canvassed, and only a few people were rude to me, even when they were Republicans. The few incidents where people were rude stayed with me. I'm pretty much a "do unto others as you'd have done unto you" type of gal, so I would try to still be polite but firm.

I'm not judging you though. (I'm just answering your question as to what I would have done.)

(Disclosure: I will hang up on telemarketers (even for charities) who continue to call my home after I've asked them not to do so. They were warned though...)

[JanusAscending]

4. I'm certain that is what you would have done,

and what shocked me was, I would have done the same thing until this year, with all of the crap being tossed at our President and the blatent lies being told. I felt like maybe this was my only chance to let them know how many, many, many people across this nation are feeling aboout them at this point in time. I am disappointed in myself, but like I said above....it did feel good in the moment!

[I Have A Dream]

5. I don't think that you should feel disappointed in yourself, JA.

It's not your MO, and it was an honest reaction to the situation.

Now that I think about it, I had something similar happen one time when I was leaving the polls. A Republican candidate approached me. I respectfully told him that I was a Democrat. He said that the position for which he was running in the NEXT election had to have both Democrats and Republicans (a certain number of each) in office, and he wanted to get his name out to people who actually vote. He said that he was a Republican who tried to work with Democrats. I was so angry at the Republicans at the time that I told him in no uncertain terms that I wasn't going to be voting for any Republicans. However, in hindsight, I realize that maybe he was someone who should be elected if the position had to have a Republican in it and if he actually was interested in cooperating with our side. (BIG if...) I just couldn't get past my rage though. Afterwards, I regretted how I acted, but I didn't blame myself since it was an honest reaction to what was happening in the country. I will try to stay more balanced in the future though. (There is a small part of me though that thought that he totally had it coming for being a Republican candidate in the first place. :P)

[elleng]

6. I would have done something similar,

as I do with all unwanted solicitors, person to person or on the phone. 'Thanks, I'm not interested. Bye.'

[I Have A Dream]

7. Yes, I never had a problem telling anyone that I'm not interested...

and that I have no wish to continue to hear their pitch. It's our time -- not anyone else's.

[JanusAscending]

9. I think this has been building for a few days.

My daughter took my grandson Aidan to the store where she buys a lot of her stones for the jewelry she makes. A woman asked her "if he is your son, why don't he look like you"???? Her grasp of proper English belies her overall ignorance. All I could think to say to my daughter is "you're lucky this is the first time it's happened in 3 yrs."!!! When she was a baby, people would ask me if she was a "fresh air child"! or some such stupid question. I've become used to this over the years, but my daughter was SHOCKED!!! If I had been with her, I'd have said no he doesn't, he looks like me, his Grandmother. I'm still feeling bad for her shock into reality, but she's never led a sheltered life. It's best she find out now how things still are after all these many years. If her very tall...white husband had been with them, I'm sure the question wouldn't have arisen. It's been one of those weeks, I'm sure all of you understand!:wtf: yeah, one of those!!

[I Have A Dream]

10. You HAVE had a very trying week, JA.

You need a big hug. :hug::hug::hug:

I'm sorry that this happened to your family. I can't even imagine someone saying that. :(

[JanusAscending]

13. Thanks Sweetie !

I needed that hug. Saw my grandson for a little while yesterday, but I couldn't give him any hugs (he gives good ones) 'cause I'm still taking the meds for thrush. Didn't want to spread it around. A while back, I'm not sure if it was you or MG who posted a photo of Aidan for me, because we were talking about "Crystal Children" This boy has the bluest eyes, and blond curly hair and "cherubic" face. His complexion surprised even me when he was born. Now his Mama is a dark eyed, black haired mocha skinned beauty, who is an "Indigo" child by nature! I wish I could learn how to post pics on our site, but I haven't quite got it down yet. The only recent GOOD one's I have are on facebook at the moment. I'm just putting this out there for any who didn't know my bio! Loads of love to all, and I am on the mend! JA

[I Have A Dream]

14. I'm sure that MG posted it -- she has her own crystal child.

:)

I'd be happy to help you to master posting images, if you need help, JA. Just let me know, and we can work together via PM to get things set up for you.

Here's another one, my friend: :hug:

[JanusAscending]

16. Thank you, I'll take you up on that

another day. I'm running on empty right now. I can't tell you how many typo's I've made today, just posting here. Me thinks me brain is turning to mush lately, plus I see the eye Dr. next week too, about my cataract's and to check for Sjogren's Syndrome. :grouphug:

[I Have A Dream]

21. Just let me know when you want to, and I'll work with you.

:)

[Kookaburra]

29. To this day I am floored by the sheer nerve of some people

I hope your daughter has a snappy comeback ready incase she runs into another clod.

And don't you worry about those campaign workers. They came to your door uninvited and too early in the morning. You take your chances when you decide to go door-to-door. Maybe they'll leave you alone from now on.

Hugs to you JA. I hope things get better for you soon.

[get the red out]

8. Good job!

Why should people put up with that stuff? Does not taking up for ourselves make us "mean". Believing that protecting and taking up for ourselves is something bad is just conditioning because people like those guys want us to feel bad about being honest.

You did the right thing, and if anyone says different they are FULL OF CRAP.

[I Have A Dream]

12. I disagree that if someone has a different opinion that...

they're "full of crap".

[get the red out]

23. We agree to disagree

:D

It's all opinion, and that was just mine.

[I Have A Dream]

24. ...

:thumbsup:

[JanusAscending]

15. Thanks!

I don't expect that anyone here would say I did the wrong thing. Other's I'm sure might. I usually tend towards the "do unto others" thing myself. The golden Rule is really the only "dogma baggage" I carry with me at all times. That is why I was shocked by my behavior, it just wasn't ME. I say to each his own, but not full of crap.

[get the red out]

25. One thing that I will always oppose

and oppose with some furor is the philosophy that a person must forgo standing up for their own sanctity, their own ideas, and their own privacy just to be conciliatory with people and make others, even those who oppose everything we believe in, feel good even if we end up drained by the experience. I do not promote harming those one wants nothing to do with, but being firm and harming them are two totally different things. I can firmly defend my personal mind and space without harming someone else because they chose to try to enter it. If someone offers me their opinion and I offer mine in opposition, I consider that they simply asked for it by engaging me. I will feel no guilt for this. As I feel absolutely no guilt in telling two young me who once sought to engage me with their religious matter that their religion promoted misogyny and I wanted nothing to do with it. They started it.

The idea that I must allow others to simply walk all over me out of fear of not being spiritual enough is one I encounter frequently in a particular spiritual path that I have been walking for almost 17 years, especially among women, who seem to feel they need to be "nice" to everyone and condemn themselves if they aren't just spreading sunshine to all they meet, even when taking care of themselves. I am a bit of a rebel at times because this idea seems to demand that we give up ourselves to make sure everyone is happy, even people that oppose decent treatment of people on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, religion, class, race; as Republicans do for instance, and most religions that send people door to door. I don't have to harm these people but I have every right to tell them I do not wish to waste their time or mine.

Short form, I encounter a lot of women so wracked with guilt and on a spiritual path that out of pure fear of being "bad" will not defend themselves, or feel guilty if they do. I am a little sensitive to it to say the least, LOL!

I will use a football analogy in describing how I feel about opposition, my poor alma mater's football team got SMASHED yesterday, but late in the game one of our young defensive ends got a good, clean sack on the opposing quarterback. I was thrilled, but then the qb didn't get up and I started praying like mad for the kid, my heart was in my throat!!! (His head had smashed into the knee of his own team mate and knocked him cold). I am competitive and wanted my team to at least get a good sack on the guy, but I hadn't the least desire in the world for any of the opposing kids to be harmed. We can oppose others, and that doesn't mean if their linebackers ask our running backs for the ball they hand it over, and if we get a good clean lick in on them more the better, but I don't want anybody carried off the field on a stretcher.

You got a good, clean lick in as far as I am concerned.

[I Have A Dream]

27. Of course you have the absolute right...

to decide how you will conduct your life, gtro.

However, please realize that not everyone who chooses to attempt to be civil (while still standing up for themselves by clearly stating that they're not interested in something) is being a milquetoast or a doormat.

There is a difference between standing up for what one believes and allowing our rage to control us. (I'm not saying that either way is the right way or that anyone here is the latter.) For me personally though, my life is better when I aim to be in control of my emotions -- to still have my emotions but not allow them to make the decisions in my life. I don't always succeed, but I'm a happier and healthier person when I am able to stay in balance.

I should state that I am a highly emotional person who has had serious problems with rage in the past. It has taken me a long time to get to the point where this aspect of myself was able to be used as a tool when it benefitted me rather than causing me problems in my interpersonal life. I used to really respect people who I now consider to be belligerent. I was proud of myself because I didn't allow anyone to push me around, and I didn't hesitate to let people know that they really didn't want to mess with me. It took me a long time to realize that I could still stand up for myself without having to have casualties along the way. There are times now when I'll even make the decision that I'm going to let something slide, and I'll step aside. However, when it's something that really means something to me, I'll never back down; hopefully, the earth won't be scorched after I'm through though. I'm not coming from the background of a meek person who has never learned to stand up for herself. I'm coming from the other direction where I've learned that, for me personally, it benefits me to pick my battles, and when I decide that I need to go into battle, to do as little harm as possible to achieve my goal.

Everybody is different though. I'm glad that you have something that works for you. :)

[get the red out]

28. I kind of thought that was what I was trying to say

I don't really consider it a battle to tell someone I'm not interested, just the opposite.

I guess I didn't state my case very well. I am not talking about raging on someone, that's not being firm that's being ridiculous and getting defeated in the end. I have experienced both firmness and raging. Raging looses, firmness holds ground. Letting someone slide can be firm as well when I simply separate myself from the situation and give it nothing of myself. There are situations that don't deserve to get one tiny bit of my precious energy one way or another.

Sorry I am confusing.

[I Have A Dream]

30. I agree.

I've enjoyed this conversation, gtro. I'm glad that we could discuss it. :)

:hug:

[JanusAscending]

34. Thanks again!

Just need to clarify something here...........these were not people campaigning FOR the Selectmen. They were the actual Selectmen that are running!! That's why I said I hope they don't get elected....they know me now, and will probably never forget me. LOL !!!! ( they must have a very small budget, and at least they knew better than to put their propaganda in the mailboxes out front!!)

[JanusAscending]

20. In addition to my prior post...

I will, however go after "lurkers" on GD if they are blatently full of shit an tell them so without hesitation! :fistbump:

[northernlights]

11. Way to go, JA!!!!! You tell'em!!!!!!

You should not be disappointed in yourself, JA. You should be proud of yourself!

I've long since concluded it is rude of people to harass you in your home and deposit their junk for you to discard. And that it is legitimate and even necessary to be equally or more rude in return. It's the only language such neanderthals understand.

I was rude to a Jehovah's Witness last year. I've repeatedly and politely asked them not to come back - they always seem to come knocking when I'm studying for an exam. The last time pushed me over the edge and I made it clear they were not welcome ever. The guy got pissed -- to effing bad. Better him mad than me. And ya know what? They haven't been back since! :D

[Mist]

17. Unloading snark on Rethuglicans is NOT "jumping the shark"--it's sanity-saving. nt

[JanusAscending]

18. LOL !!

:fistbump:

[Celebration]

19. "No solicitors" sounds like a great idea

I'm about ready to move into a condo just to avoid people knocking on my door. I completely sympathize. Honestly I don't think the Republican candidates here are much worse than the Democrats. It's hard to say.

Generally I just don't answer the door, but the next door neighbor kids did get me to buy some wrapping paper from them, for their school.

I really hated it when I got phone solicitations too. One time some painters went to the trouble of doing a reverse look up of my phone number, saying I needed to paint my house. It really took me aback, so I just said, "no I am not interested" and hung up the phone before they could say anything. So, then I got a call back, and the guy says, "well you may not want us to paint your house but it sure looks like shit."

:rofl:

The next day I scraped off the one place where there was peeling paint and fixed it by slapping on some paint. It probably took me 15 minutes. I still tell that story. For some reason it tickles me.

So, you and I might be kindred spirits. :)

[JanusAscending]

22. I wouldn't be one bit surprised !!

That is very funny!

[davsand]

26. Ummm, I have been on the other end of that type of exchange.

If you do too much door to door work while campaigning you are bound to run into that sooner or later. I usually talk a walk list with me (so I am not bothering anybody) but sometimes people move or houses sell and the new occupants are not of the same political persuasion as the prior ones. THEN it can get entertaining.


I have learned a few basic things as a result of doing so much door to door campaigning:

Never answer the door just because somebody is knocking, and ALWAYS look BEFORE you open the door.

If you adhere to both policies faithfully it will save you a huge amount of annoyance in life.


Truth be told, one of the meanest things you can do to any candidate is to invite them in and eat up a bunch of time with BS questions--THEN sweetly tell them you'll be voting for the other guys because of their party affiliation. They will for sure not come back because you just blew a bunch of time they might have been able to spend with somebody that might have voted for them.

Also, as an added bonus, by being engaged, you don't get written off as batshit nuts.

My biggest problem these days is that I know all the local GOP guys fairly well. When they show up on my doorstep they usually know who we are and they are knocking just to say hi. Kev and I both are known entities and more often than not we have probably either worked with these guys in government or on community projects. We try and keep it cooperative and (so far, anyway) it has made for positive results.


YMMV.


Laura

[Why Syzygy]

31. Someone came to my door Saturday too.

The high school is a couple of blocks from here. There was a teenage girl at the door. The puppy got outside, and she isn't supposed to be out front, so I had to catch her and put her back inside. I stepped out onto the porch because the other dogs bark when someone is here.

She told me she had a school assignment to go talk to people about "career motivation". She wanted to know about my "career". I told her I'm a floral designer, and asked what her plans were. She said she was going to be a teacher. I told her don't let anyone dissuade you. She kept talking real fast about how she is good with kids . yada blah blah. I asked her what the assignment was and she said, "We're going to come to your house for dinner, but we'll cook". I looked confused. She said, oh that's just a joke. I've been talking to her for 10-15 minutes and wondering if that's about enough to meet her assignment requirements. So, I asked her, what else, or something like that. She had been holding a bottle of water and pack of cigarettes. When she leaned over to set them down, I saw that she had stuck in the back of her jeans those magazine sales brochures. I don't buy magazines. My house mate gets several. She stood up and tried to hand me a brochure, and I just said, "No. I don't buy magazines. I'm sorry. I really thought you were sincere." And I turned around, went back inside and closed the door.

I feel a bit bad for her, but I think her method is morally wrong. I told house mate about it later (he had been gone). He said she's just trying to make a living. I said that's not a very honest way to do it. I felt used. I was honestly willing to help her, but she misrepresented herself from the beginning.

IMO, Republicans misrepresent themselves too. They do not have our best interests in mind. They are selfish, wrong headed, mean, bigots. Yes, I'll make a blanket statement. They showed up trying to convince you they are something they are not. Your friend. When people get what they deserve, it isn't our fault. If I could wave a magic wand and make everyone's life all soft and fuzzy, I would. Our world doesn't work that way. People are going to do things for whatever motive and the consequences are theirs to sort out. ...As painful as that sometimes is.

[JanusAscending]

32. Funny that you posted this here .

It reminds me of something similar that happened to me a number of years ago, when my Hubby was still alive. We lived in a heavily college student populated area. (Yale, Southern Ct., Quinippiac ) There came to our door one evening just before dinner a group of young male students who claimed to be in a contest with other students to sell the most magazines etc. We were avid subscribers to some mags that were due to expire, so we gave them an order for 3 subscriptions. They were overly friendly and told us not to buy any from anyone else that may be stopping by. The minute they left I began to have serious doubts about this. We paid by check in advance to some group other than the publishers. Well, the check was cashed, could never trace who cashed it, and we got no magazines. As a result we never again subscribed to any magazines. We did continue to order our TV Guide through the Company directly. Your experience reminded me of the cheating going on out there.
For pete's sake, I've gotten 3 telemarketer calls this Sunday A.M. for the first time in a very long while, and I am registered on the National DO NOT CALL list! People are really hurting out there financially, as we all know here. One was selling a "personal HEALTH PLAN, another was soliciting his services for tax preparations, and I hung up on another before they had a chance to even try! I think maybe they are scam artists going after "dumb Seniors" like me????

[Why Syzygy]

33. I worked

for a fund raising call center for the DNC and other liberal organizations, briefly. The one objection we could not overcome was, "We don't pay for (buy) anything over the telephone. You'll have to mail me something." The problem was, without a pledge, we had no way to mail them anything. It's a good objection, though.

I think when we lived in Las Vegas, I may have gone to an interview that was one of those door to door magazine setups. It's strange in Vegas. Even many job offers are scams.

[JanusAscending]

35. Well then I wish

that" what plays in Vegas, stays in Vegas"!!! :rofl: