Proselytizing

[BirdMom]

I just really don't understand people that get so upset with someone handing them something. Why do you let it ruin your day? I can totally understand getting angered by a pushy person. But I don't understand getting so worked up by someone simply handing you a tiny pamphlet.

The point may not be who's hating or whatever. The point is handing stuff out to people who don't want it in the first place. Outside of D/L, I hate walking down Las Vegas Blvd - you can be pushing a stoller with kids in it and there are sleezeballs handing anyone and everyone (kids included) flyers for strip clubs with pictures of semi-topless women on them. I don't want them. I don't want *any* flyers. I don't want them on my car, I don't want them on my front door, I don't want some slimeball handing them to me or my kid, and I don't want some misguided well meaning person handing me one away from church. It's a waste of paper and resources as someone mentioned. And here's the deal. If I want information on something, I will look it up myself. Pure and simple.

Whether someone is trying to promote their church or their business - I just don't want it, and I don't see why all these people feel that they have the right to stuff something I don't want in my hand if they think that it's somehow going to "help" me. I don't want their help.

And it doesn't ruin my day. I just get annoyed. Talk about sweeping generalizations.

[Zazu]

I don't mind the tracts I'm handed. I credit the giver with good intentions (even if his faith doesn't match mine). Plus it's a whole lot nicer than the guests who spit on us! I can handle tossing a few pieces of paper, especially when I don't even have to bend over and pick them up.

I do get a bit annoyed at the tracts that are left about. They often blow onto the ground, make the place look trashy, and make more work for our already short-staffed custodial dept.

Can't speak for Disneyland, but Company Policy at WDW is to let them go -- unless we get a complaint from a guest. Then we call Security and they ask them ever so politely to stop.

I've only seen this done once, and the jerk insisted on pressing a tract on each and every guest as they came off an attraction. True, it *was* Mr. Toad and the guests *had* just gone through Hell, but still....

[Thatguy]

personally the only problem that I have with it is that I'm trying to work... it's work Jerad at that point, anything not work related is a bother. at any other time I'm glad to chat with those types and get them to try and wrap their head around the fact that a religion is so personal a thing you shouldn't just go an accept the next one that pops out of a cookie cutter mold.

(for the record I'm a combination tao/zoroaster/buddhist/shinto, I took what I agreed with from each and used it)

[VICisGOOFY]

I don't mind the tracts I'm handed. I credit the giver with good intentions (even if his faith doesn't match mine). Plus it's a whole lot nicer than the guests who spit on us! I can handle tossing a few pieces of paper, especially when I don't even have to bend over and pick them up.

I do get a bit annoyed at the tracts that are left about. They often blow onto the ground, make the place look trashy, and make more work for our already short-staffed custodial dept.

Can't speak for Disneyland, but Company Policy at WDW is to let them go -- unless we get a complaint from a guest. Then we call Security and they ask them ever so politely to stop.

I've only seen this done once, and the jerk insisted on pressing a tract on each and every guest as they came off an attraction. True, it *was* Mr. Toad and the guests *had* just gone through Hell, but still....

I agree with the WDW policy of handling this matter. I also dont mind recieving pamphlets, or at least make it annoy me or ruin my day. I agree with goose that in any case we should not cause a great disscussion with a guest handing pamphlets out if we either agree or disagree with their faith. But, like mentioned, its different if the guests persist in a converstion and eventually harrasing the CM.
My biggest problem is when guests are proselytizing other guests. If WDW does not allow CMs to wear the LIVESTRONG bracelets because it reminds our guests of the reality of the "outside" world while they are in our "magical" world of Disney Theme Parks. I dont think Guests and CMs as Guests in the park, want to bother with proselytizing.
If its our job to make every guests happy (whether we are acting or not) we have to make our proselytizing guests happy as well. A polite "No thank you" or " I have my own faith" is not to much to ask for. At least just try until you really do get offended.

thats my two bits

[LittleDollClaudia]

Okay everyone has a right to worship however they want or not at all but..I agree with Thatguy. When I am at work I do not appreciate the nuisance of it. Because it is never just handed to you, the ones who are doing this sit in my lobby accosting my guests for many minutes until I have to ask them to leave. At that point it is not simply giving out information, it is being disruptive. We have signs about not soliciting...isn't that considered a form of that? It is selling something in a technical sense. (sorry for spelling errors, worked graveyard and have not slept yet, damn typo demons)

[CujoSR]

What we need to do. Hire these people to pass out SGT cards. We would have so many members after that.

[saidthekat]

i'll do it for free.

[LegoDan]

That would be an excellent idea, but it should only be passed out by plain clothed people. I'd hate to see anyone get in trouble for this stuff.

What I would do if I was handed a pamphlet would be to find the nearest trash bin. You could say I don't like any established churches, yes they have a right to be there but leave me out.

As soon as this post came up I was reminded of the scenes in Airplane! with the guy running down the terminal being bothered by those guys with the papers and him just throwing them and punching them out of his way.

[SpamPutney]

Consider it this way.....Is it okay if people hand out flyers supporting their political candidate of choice? How 'bout if Chevy pays someone to go to the park and hand out brochures for the new 2006 models? Or if Trojan pays someone to hand out smaples of their new "extra-sensitive" condoms?

"That's offensive" you might say. That's your opinion. I'm offended, and bothered, by people who presume to know how to "fix" me.

I do "hate" these types of people, and not for their beliefs. I hate their self-important, know-it-all attitude and arrogance.

If the Nazis were handing out literature at Disney, I'm pretty sure most of us would agree that it is a bad thing. Who are you to decide that Christians, or Buddhists, or anyone elses' literature is any less offensive to me or anyone else?

[gurgi]

Speaking of religious beliefs. If you ever wanna see some Chrisitanity pushed to the point of humor. I highly suggest a visit to Salem, Mass on Halloween. We are talking handing out bibles, picket board walkers, pamphlets, people on boxes. Apparently, Halloween has become the night of Satan? I was not aware that dressing up in costumes and going after candy was a Satanic ritual? Damn you catholic school!! You didnt tell me THAT rule!! Now I'm surely not getting into Heaven. Dangit!