Last night, while browsing the how-to book section at a mega bookstore (yes, Bookstore Diva, your chain, although not your store) and just quietly minding my own business, I was ambushed by an overzealous Jehovah's Witness.
I was polite to him for about five minutes too long. (Chronic politeness is a South African affliction, you see.)
When I eventually managed to flee, and went to find the boy to tell him the whole story, he suggested that we should complain to management so that the guy could be thrown out. As upset as I was, I didn't really think that I had grounds for a complaint. I mean, isn't the very spirit of a bookstore centered around the exchange of ideas and freedom of speech?
The boy argued that what the guy did is a form of harassment. What do you think? Remember though: I was polite to him at first. Also, do you think we could've and should've complained to the store's management?
But, since this has been the third strange encounter that I've had in the past few weeks (stay tuned to the still-in-slow-progress Travelogue to read about the other two) the most important question that remains is: What IS it about me that weirdoes seem to find so incredibly appealing?!?
But just so you know, if your answer to that last question includes the phrase: "Like attracts like," I'll send you a virus!
Why do you attract these people? Why does anybody?!! The answer...
Because you exist!
One of these days, I mean to print out a card for use on those occasions when I am accosted by hippies, communists, fascists, Jehova's Witlesses, or any others of their ilk. It will say something like this:
NO!
I am not interested in saving the planet, saving my soul, saving your soul, saving the whales, etc, etc, etc.... but thanks for asking. Have a nice day!
first off, it's not just you south africans who suffer from chronic politeness, it's also us Canadians eh.
Now what is it that attracts wierdos? Personally I think they can spot a sucker... me included. Someone who will give them the time of day... that sort of person. It's pretty easy when you think about it. People who are uptight very rarely make eye contact with others... they're in their own world.
As for do I think this incident qualifies as harassment. That's a grey area. In my opinion if nicely told the person you didn't need another watchtower and you're comfortable where you are... and he still harassed you... then you can scream and get the managers attention. On the other hand, the dude shouldn't be peddling anything on private property... so forget what I just said, the dude should be tossed out.
I'm sure a mega bookstore has a policy against such things.
Okay, I know I'm being technical here, but Miked above wrote: "In my opinion if nicely told the person you didn't need another watchtower and you're comfortable where you are... and he still harassed you". I don't think the guy harassed you at all, so I don't think he'd be capable of still harassing you.
We have a problem in the western world, especially in the US, of feeling entitled to our space and our likes and interests--and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, necessarily--but it seems like culturally and societally, it's getting to the point that person A can't approach person B with some crazy viewpoint without B feeling "harassed." I'm so happy, Red, that you're questioning whether you had grounds for a complaint at all! (I'm not picking on Boy, I'm just saying).
Fifty years ago, people didn't fire up a lawsuit because they were stupid asses, and people didn't shout "harassment!" the minute a stranger got on their nerves. We live together, and we're going to have to deal with each other. If you tell someone, "Not interested, thank you," and they continue to speak with you, they are dense and rude. If you say the same thing and they start to call you obscene words or placing a voodoo spell on your children, that's harassment.
Next time you get approached by a stranger that start talking about something you don't want to talk about, make as if you don't understand him/her and start to mumble words in a different language that won't make sense to them. I'm sure that will make them leave.
harassment is anything that makes one feel annoyed. Meaning it's open to interpretation... everyone's different.
I hate to get involved in a debate (making jokes about other people's faith is much more fun) but harassment is most certainly NOT anything that annoys. Anything that makes you feel threatened, perhaps. But annoyed? If that were the case everyone on earth would sue their siblings. Except for the only children. I don't know who they'd sue.
Red Dahling,
You have really inspired a hot debate amongst the peanut gallery. This is what happens when you go to another location of the mega bookstore,where I'm not around to defend your honor. If I had been around, Brigitte & I would have thrown him off of the balcony and into the Inner Harbor. Back to the debate... Maybe nice people give off a certain aroma that only salesman & weirdos can smell. People will come up to me and start telling me there whole life story,and all I said was hello.It happens to me more often than not. I wish I was better at being rude,but I'm I'm not. I believe that even weirdos have feelings too. I don't think that I actually answered the question.