Mormons proselytizing in Thailand

[turgid]

Ive been approached by the church of the latter days saints (Mormons) twice on the last two mornings. They are working the strip in pairs between Asok and Petchaburi stations in Bangkok and its different people so I assume they are rotating staff. The first day was fairly polite - the guy had a euro accent - possibly german.

Him: Do you want to come to our church on Sunday

Me: I'm an Atheist

Him: OK

Today was a little less polite - American

Him: Do you want to come to our church on Sunday

Me: Which god do you claim to represent

Him: Church of latter day saints

Me: Ah the mormons - no thanks i'm an Atheist

Him: Well you should come anyway to find the truth

Me: You should try giving up god

Him: Why would I do that

Me: Why would I adopt your stupid fantasy

Are these people allowed to do this ? I saw the scientologists pitching in Lumphini park a year or so ago promising all sorts of things.

This country has enough problems without these nutters wandering the streets spreading this nonsense.

[Stradavarius37]

Just politely say no thanks, and send them on their way. There is enough dickishness in the world without adding to it.

[Berkshire]

Read on another thread that these Mormon guys were only approaching hot young girls. Good to see that they are harassing all peoples in equal proportion.

[Sheryl]

Yes, they are allowed to do this.

Your handling of it on the second day was provocative. By asking questions -- any questions - and trying to bait you create the impression of interest.

Exactly the same dynamic as with a salesperson.

"Just say no",firmly, leave it at that, and move on.

Whether promoting a religion or selling a product, such people have no desire to waste their time on someone who is not receptive. Just make it clear you aren't and don't engage or prolong the encounter.

[bkkjames]

I reply to them in Japanese - ask them for directions to Soi Cowboy.

[David48]

Just politely say no thanks, and send them on their way. There is enough dickishness in the world without adding to it.

Pertaining to Thailand ... please define 'dickishness'.

[geronimo]

Their mission is to spread the lies and continue to keep the people hooked. They will always try.

[Sheryl]

Their mission is to spread what they sincerely believe to be the truth, and if they have been at it more than a day they certainly know that only a small minority of people are at all receptive to what they have to say.

It's that small minority that they are after. They have nothing at all to gain by wasting their time with the rest.

They approach everyone initially because they don't know which ones will prove receptive until they try.

All one has to do is make it very clear you are not receptive and they will move on. Engaging them in conversation - even in the form of hostile questions -- doesn't convey that, however. Quite the opposite.

Again, really no different than the dynamics of dealing with salespeople.

[Old Stud]

93% of the Thai's are Buddhists. That's about 60,000,000 Buddhists. Good luck Mormon boys. I personally don't trust drug pushers on bikes.

[Sandman77]

Mormons that one who make mass married !

Cannot talk with there parents 1 or 2 time every year!

Tell them you cannot join also internet not allowed in there policy!

And then you cannot join Thai visa!

Knowledge is the biggest enemy of them!

[noahvail]

Knowledge is the biggest enemy of them!

+1. Well said.

[Seastallion]

Suggest that many Thais in Pattani and Yala are not Buddhist, and thus they may have better luck there.

The first bit is not a lie, and the second bit might be true.

[JLCrab]

All Mormon males go on a 2-year mission and do so all over the world. Many of them are probably counting down the days when they can go home.

[Stradavarius37]

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Just politely say no thanks, and send them on their way. There is enough dickishness in the world without adding to it.

Pertaining to Thailand ... please define 'dickishness'.

Well, i looked it up in my handy dandy TV dictionary and found a picture of David48

[chrisinth]

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Quote

Their mission is to spread what they sincerely believe to be the truth, and if they have been at it more than a day they certainly know that only a small minority of people are at all receptive to what they have to say.

It's that small minority that they are after. They have nothing at all to gain by wasting their time with the rest.

They approach everyone initially because they don't know which ones will prove receptive until they try.

All one has to do is make it very clear you are not receptive and they will move on. Engaging them in conversation - even in the form of hostile questions -- doesn't convey that, however. Quite the opposite.

Again, really no different than the dynamics of dealing with salespeople.

Couldn't agree more with that.

Another example would be the spam email. Some people think it is clever to answer these obvious scams in the negative but this only proves to them that the email address is active. Then your problems begin.

Ignore is the word of the day...............

[Morakot]

It's that small minority that they are after. They have nothing at all to gain by wasting their time with the rest.

I once told a young Mormon missionary, who approached me on a university campus somewhere in the UK, that I teach comparative religious studies and that I find (the LSD founder) Joseph Smith's approach to translation controversial. With some air of desperation, the man inquired whether he could attend my lectures, to which I replied: that if he would do, he would very likely be ostracised from this peers and might not be allowed to talk them any more.

I didn't intend to frighten him, but he looked scared as I said this while walking away.

[Old Stud]

Knowledge is the biggest enemy of them!

+1. Well said.

Years ago after chasing away Mormon boys for no good reason, I got the Book of Mormon and read as much as I could stomach. When the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, that was quite metaphysical. Since I'm somewhat of a metaphysician, I started talking metaphysics with them - they ran away quicker than shit every time. In one part it goes on about grandfathers having sex with their granddaughters. I asked that if I become a Mormon, will it be OK to have sex with my children and grandchildren? Guess they never got that far in their book.

[Soutpeel]

The best solution I always found was tell them your Roman Catholic, even if your not and for some reason they run a mile...don't know why that is..

[Sheryl]

You really don't need to give any sort of reason or excuse, just a firm "Sorry, not interested" and walk away will do the trick.

[Morakot]

The best solution I always found was tell them your Roman Catholic, even if your not and for some reason they run a mile...don't know why that is..

Apparently some Mormons think that the followers of the Popish religion are presided over by Satan, other don't think this.

[Jingthing]

When I was a crazy kid before I was a crazy adult, I had this thing with my friends when approached by scientologists. We would start yelling really loud SCIENTOLOGISTS! and start running away as if being violently assaulted. Too bad we didn't have youtube back then.

I appreciate Mormons more since they didn't make a stink about the wonderful broadway comedy, The Book of Mormon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsQGJK6wjZo

[p_brownstone]

Their mission is to spread what they sincerely believe to be the truth, and if they have been at it more than a day they certainly know that only a small minority of people are at all receptive to what they have to say.

It's that small minority that they are after. They have nothing at all to gain by wasting their time with the rest.

They approach everyone initially because they don't know which ones will prove receptive until they try.

All one has to do is make it very clear you are not receptive and they will move on. Engaging them in conversation - even in the form of hostile questions -- doesn't convey that, however. Quite the opposite.

Again, really no different than the dynamics of dealing with salespeople.

Sorry Sheryl but i have to disagree with you here.

I live in a small Soi off Sukhumvit directly opposite a (the?) main Mormon Church / Accommodation complex.

Literally every time I walk up the Soi to the main road and I see these people approaching, invariably they will step directly into my path and ask "are you coming to our Church on Sunday"?

Very often I see the same Mormons (always in pairs of course, to avoid "temptation"), but they still make the same clumsy, and to me, offensive approach.

So they very well know they have "tried" with me but I am not in the least receptive.

Now when I see them coming down the Soi - they are easy to spot with their "uniform" (can't see the magic underwear of course!) - I make time to compose a flippant or mildly insulting response to their nonsense.

Patrick

[Soutpeel]

The best solution I always found was tell them your Roman Catholic, even if your not and for some reason they run a mile...don't know why that is..

Apparently some Mormons think that the followers of the Popish religion are presided over by Satan, other don't think this.

Ah thanks for that learn something new every day....

It might explain why I was chased across a town center one time by a group of Mormon's wielding crucifixes', wooden stakes and garlic....

[asiamaster]

The way to deal with Jehova's Witnesses should work on Mormons as well. Watch the video -okay it is in Dutch but very easy to get the message

[neverdie]

You really don't need to give any sort of reason or excuse, just a firm "Sorry, not interested" and walk away will do the trick.

Of course you are right Sheryl, but a bit boring, I like to excite people.

In the rare event someone approaches me normally tell them that I practise Canniblism then I start licking my lips and give them my crazy face. Normally freaks people out a bit.....when they start to run, I start to follow them, just for a little while.

[Jingthing]

If you oppose them maybe it's a good idea to waste their time and act interested, so they have less time to bother other people who might actually go for it?

[kwestroc]

I see these guys all the time bothering people. As someone mentioned, I often see them approach young attractive women. Forgive me for assuming but from observing their behavior, they seem like frat boys that wear Mormon gear.

[belg]

do those guys have work permits???

recently i even saw them in a mostly moslim area (just passing by car)

[Jingthing]

to those guys have work permits???

Religious visas are available, don't ask me why ...

[tw25rw]

They have to learn the language of the country they are sent to for their mission, so insist they speak to you in Thai.