JCS

Adults that send their children to my door have absolutely no right whatsoever to decide how I should respond to unsolicited bell ringers. If you don't like the possibilities then keep them away from anyone you don't know. It isn't my job to look out for the issues you don't want your child exposed to, especially when said child shows up at my door.

AquaVita

Ok let's assume that I had come to your door and you had done this to me.

You: ~above quote~
Me: Whatever dude.

And this is when I was about 10 or so...it would have been confusing and strange to me, but you would not have changed anything.

If you really want to make progress..don't sit around your house and preach to them when they come to your door. Go out and participate in the channels that will actually make a difference.

AquaVita

Sorry but this just sounds like the bitter old man syndrome. I'm not calling you a bitter old man, but that's exactly what you sound like.

As I said in a previous post...if you want to make a difference, then find a better way to do it then confusing children.

Mageth

That would be fine. Then you could explain why you're exposing your child to something they are not able to understand. You expose the kid then fault the individual that questions this exposure.

And you could explain why you harangued the child about something they are "not able to understand", and have no control over, instead of discussing it with the press, the parents, or the organization, where it would be more effective.

christ-on-a-stick

Whoa Nelly!!! Just got in and wow there are a lot of replies I want to respond to, but I really need some coffee first!

The one thing I want to clear up though *ahem* is what I feel is a mischaracterization of what I said -

I made a simple 2 sentence statement in a perfectly calm and polite normal-tone-of-voice.

I did not *discuss* atheism or sexuality with the girl, I did not *lecture* the girl on atheist or sexuality, and I certainly didn't "rant and rave".

Sorry but it bugs me to see my actions mischaracterized - I have no problem with criticism or discussion of what I said but calling it something it wasn't doesn't do much for the discussion IMO.

Be back after coffee and a girl scout cookie!!!! JUST KIDDING...

*Edited to add: I don't think what I said would qualify as "haranguing" either.

JCS

Says you.

I'm not saying these organizations are not a good thing for kids. I am saying is you can't blame the person who openly comments to the kids about the policies of the organizations. If you don't want kids exposed to these arguements remove their source.

So says you.

lisarea

So, then, do I not have the right to lecture children about how rude it is to ring my doorbell to sell me things, despite the No Solicitors sign on the door? If they're picking my roses or kicking my rocks around, do I not have the right to lecture them on that, either?

This whole argument puts me in mind of a major beef I have with Christians, in fact. People take something that they are very protective of, and just send it out into the world and expect everyone to treat it with the same reverence they do. There was a letter from some screeching harpy in the local paper recently, complaining that she'd seen one of the bibles the Gideons were pushing on the kids coming out of school, lying in the gutter.

If you feel so protective of something, PROTECT IT. Don't push it on strangers and expect them to know or care what your standards and guidelnes for its treatment are.

JCS

Already did, you must have missed it.

AquaVita

Yes...so says I. And I stand by my statement. Feel free to refute if you can.

Let me ask you a question...what do you hope to accomplish by preaching to these kids?

AquaVita

Oh please. How many times as a kid would you not even read these types of signs. Again I say...these are CHILDREN. We expect more from adults, but many times children simply forget to pay this much attention.

How is that in ANY way related to what we're discussing? In the case you mentioned...the child is doing somethng they should know is wrong. They are damaging property and acting foolish. How is that in any way related?