How did you deal with the Canvassers?

gent9662

I was in the gym yesterday evening. I heard some great stories regarding what people said to the canvassers when they opened their doors.

One guy said that he was ready to blast two Fianna Fail canvassers out of it but when he opened the door, the lady canvasser was in tears from the previous house they had called to. Seems people are not just accepting the leaflets and closing the door.

Liam Byrne

dclane wrote: »

I was in the gym yesterday evening. I heard some great stories regarding what people said to the canvassers when they opened their doors.

One guy said that he was ready to blast two Fianna Fail canvassers out of it but when he opened the door, the lady canvasser was in tears from the previous house they had called to. Seems people are not just accepting the leaflets and closing the door.

I had a flyer in the door from the local FF candidate this morning when I got up.

Suffice to say that it's binned unread (although as a note to anyone else, it doesn't burn).

If he'd shown up himself I'm not sure whether he'd have been quizzed on why he's still in a party that ruined the country and somehow still believes he represents me, or told in no uncertain terms to get the f**k off my propertly.

Fingleberries

What's a canvasser? They appear to be non-existent in our area. Not a single knock to the door, yet. (Apart from a bloke from Sky trying to sell his wares )

20Cent

Haven't had any yet. A few SF and Labour leaflets. Doubt FF will canvass where I live.

Mr Freeze

I was on for getting thick with FF and Green canvassers.

But the last thing I want is an argument with a staunch Fianna Failer on my door step after working all day, so I just lock the door and ignore the bell if it rings.

The cowards way out so to speak.

gandalf

Not a sign of a canvasser here in Dublin South West either. I have a big list of what I expect the next government to do printed out and ready to give to them. Maybe we should canvass the canvassers

takun

Have had FG and SF so far, both with the candidates among the canvassers.

Spoke to FG for quite a long time, asking for details about things in their policy I wanted clarity on - primarily health care, as I am not really convinced about their universal insurance system, also the economy. My questions were well answered, though I am still not convinced about anything.

Just said 'Thank you for calling, but I am not interested' to the SF canvassers, who accepted that and left.

Lockstep

Havn't had any canvassers yet, although I did have Republican Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil canvass in 2009.

If it's just a canvasser, I'd politely tell them I'm not interested. Being rude to canvassers is fairly sad.
Fair enough if someone wants to grill the candidate though.

K_user

It depends - although I haven't seen any yet.

Canvassers are just volunteers, they aren't policy makers. I'll chat to them if I have the time.

However...

The first one to tell me that the reason to vote for them is because it'll get FF out will be told to F**k off. I want to hear about policy, not finger pointing.

Laminations

K_user wrote: »

The first one to tell me that the reason to vote for them is because it'll get FF out will be told to F**k off. I want to hear about policy, not finger pointing.

Hmmm, how about a policy of finger pointing?

Its quite surprising you don't have the 'f**k off' policy for FF candidates.

vintac34

Will tolerate, and listen to, any canvassers with the exception of those touting FF.
They will be told in no uncertain terms to GTFO my property.
As regards being rude to canvassers....Well why not?...If they are hacks/cronys of a party that ruined our country!
By the way no one called yet.....Just got the leaflets from The
Dail delivered by An Post at our expense!!

cynder

Got a sign up saying no canvasing, it has worked so far.

county man

No canvassers have called to me yet but if any one for FF comes I hope they are wearing their flak jackets.:(

Days

I had great plans to give them abuse, but I chickened out when they actually called! I just felt the people who called weren't the actual politicans so felt bad giving them abuse!

Javan

Not a single canvasser yet in northern Kildare South.

Well... one guy dropped a 'sorry we missed you' at our front door. I was in the house at the time and I know he did not knock or ring the doorbell.

snubbleste

I hug them and tell them that God loves each and every one of us.

Mkb1441

snubbleste wrote: »

I hug them and tell them that God loves each and every one of us.

Right on.

RoryMurphyJnr

No matter who calls I just tell them I've always voted for them and always will
Then they feck off

the_syco

snubbleste wrote: »

I hug them and tell them that God loves each and every one of us.

Sorry, but this is great. Ensure to embrace them for at least 5 seconds, to totally weird them out

Stick to the Kebabs

I'm keeping a bucket of fish-heads by the door.

Beruthiel

gandalf wrote: »

Not a sign of a canvasser here in Dublin South West either. I have a big list of what I expect the next government to do printed out and ready to give to them. Maybe we should canvass the canvassers

Please send me that list Gandie.

seamus

Brian Hayes dropped round to my house on Monday night. Though at first it was just his helper; he gave me a leaflet, mumbled some stuff about the election, and clearly hearing that I wasn't going to just rant or close the door, Brian Hayes's head appeared around the door to say hi.
Only had a brief conversation with him, he's getting a preference near the top of my ballot anyway, so there was little to discuss

mikemac

Had a few knocks on the door but I'm not answering

The TV licence inspector is around and it might be him :eek:

Ghost Estate

The FF lads this morning weren't long disappearing when I mentioned the property tax.

General Zod

I'm a canvasser. Getting a decent reception at the doors, tbh. Usually those ready for a fight calm donw when I tell them I'm not from FF.

Cartman78

Have had a couple of very half-arsed canvassers shoving a leaflet into my hand and murmuring about "he's done great work for the area" etc.

One guy was smoking a stinky cigarette (it had to be a Major or Rothmans) - a prime example of how not to make a good impression.

Another thing (hopefully not too off-topic):
Can someone explain what is the motivation for canvassers? Do they get their potholes etc fixed quicker than the rest of us??

General Zod

Cartman78 wrote: »

Another thing (hopefully not too off-topic):
Can someone explain what is the motivation for canvassers? Do they get their potholes etc fixed quicker than the rest of us??

Simple. I want to get the person I'm canvassing for elected to the Dáil.

Halo Kitty

FF canvasser called Sat night... i handed him back his leaflet saying i was not prepared to put it my bin and pay for recycling of it.....Another called during the week told him to Canvass at social welfare office and listen to Real people with real problems.....Have no decided yet who to give my vote to but i will use my vote....

Cartman78

General Zod wrote: »

Simple. I want to get the person I'm canvassing for elected to the Dáil.

Thanks for the reply - would you be able to expand a bit on your answer?

I'm not trying to put you on the spot or anything, it's just that the candidates in my area are so genuinely uninspiring I genuinely don't know why anyone would want to give up their time going door to door for them

Akrasia

grindelwald wrote: »

Got a sign up saying no canvasing, it has worked so far.

Keeps tigers away too

stuckin

Cartman78 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - would you be able to expand a bit on your answer?

I'm not trying to put you on the spot or anything, it's just that the candidates in my area are so genuinely uninspiring I genuinely don't know why anyone would want to give up their time going door to door for them

Can't speak for Zod but I'm a canvasser as well so I'll give you my perspective.

I do it because I believe in what I'm saying. I do it because I believe my candidate to be truthful, I believe she will stand up for what I believe in. I believe she is the best person for the job. I was a party activist before I became a canvasser and I was interested in politics for a long time before becoming an activist.

Don't forget that the candidates are selected by a convention of party activists so most of the time they will be well liked by local activists.

Toblerone1978

I ask them a few question on parties I have a generla interest in (i.e. not SF, SWP or independent), but I generally tend to be polite and respectful to them, but letting them know at the same time if I disagree with them if the case.

At the end of the day, rather than moaning and complaining, these lads are off their backside, working for nothing and for the majority of them, doing something to make their contribution to society.

More than what can be said about the vast majority of people who gives out about them.

Sad Professor

I haven't come across any FF canvassers yet, but when I do I'll be as polite to them as I am toward the others. There's no need to be rude.

bazza1

Released the hounds!

Snakeblood

Cartman78 wrote: »

Have had a couple of very half-arsed canvassers shoving a leaflet into my hand and murmuring about "he's done great work for the area" etc.

One guy was smoking a stinky cigarette (it had to be a Major or Rothmans) - a prime example of how not to make a good impression.

Another thing (hopefully not too off-topic):
Can someone explain what is the motivation for canvassers? Do they get their potholes etc fixed quicker than the rest of us??

The motivation for a lot of canvassers is that they're related to the person being canvassed for.

Snakeblood

Sad Professor wrote: »

I haven't come across any FF canvassers yet, but when I do I'll be as polite to them as I am toward the others. There's no need to be rude.

I think there is need to be rude to FF canvassers, to be honest. It makes clear the extent of ill feeling and if they give up on FF, I see that as a good thing for the country. I'd rather they sat at home and wept.

breadandjam

I, too, have a sign up saying "No Political Literature" on my letterbox- turns out it works on canvassers too. Isee them come to the gate, read the sign and walk happily away.

SafeSurfer

I like mine with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

darragh16

Brian Hayes and Sean Crowe were floating around the estate last week, or so I've been told. Still waiting for any sort of canvasser to knock in. Must be the bad weather stopping them.

General Zod

Cartman78 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - would you be able to expand a bit on your answer?

I'm not trying to put you on the spot or anything, it's just that the candidates in my area are so genuinely uninspiring I genuinely don't know why anyone would want to give up their time going door to door for them

I'm canvassing for an independent. I've no party affiliation. I cancass for them because they do a great job at the moment as a councillor for the area and posess the values I want to see in a local TD.

I can't really expand further than that without repeating the same thing over and over again.

Kasabian

I haven't had one canvasser at my door yet even though I have seen them in the area, in fact at doors in my park, it's almost as if they have checked on who lives where and are avoiding the inevitable hard questions.

Judes

I've been out canvassing also - and like General Zod, I do it because I believe the person I'm helping will do a really good job, as she has in the past. There is no other motive for me other than supporting a good candidate. I mean we've been out there recently throughout very cold evenings/wind/rain/ice etc. so it can be quite hard. And that's after a day's work for some of us. But there is a camraderie amongst canvassers because we come from all walks of life and are there with one common aim - so it's very sociable also.

But all that aside - it's tough some times, I've found most people are apprehensive until they realise I'm not FF so then it's like a little smile appears on their face and you know you won't get a field of abuse. (Well, so it always had been - until earlier this week when one old man smiled, took my leaflet ripped it on front of me and told me to F..K OFF "twice"). I smiled and said goodbye sir. He's entitled to his opinion too but that kind of rudeness isn't required.

I've also had a lot of people very upset on their doorsteps - there is a lot of despair out there, people are despondent, betrayed, struggling, upset about their children/grandchildren emigrating, they need hope - they are crying out for change. They want to be heard but don't always want to speak with the politician directly so sometimes canvassers are a good liaison point between voter and politician / party policies.

So to all you canvassers out there - best of luck!!! And to all you voters, well firstly, we're sorry for disturbing you when you're snug infront of the fire watching "Corrie" or "The Match", eating your dinner, or putting the children to bed, we know it's intrusive BUT it's the only time we can catch you in and we never stay more than a few seconds - unless you want to talk to us.

Thank you

changeit

I saw a brilliant suggestion on another forum - get the kids' sponsorship cards ready before they knock on the door !

Tail Wagger

I've been looking at some of the ways people are trying to put politicains from posting junk mail at their doors. This time round people are really getting annoyed with the out going Government!

Instead of the normal "No Junk Mail" people are leaving out really nasty and personal notes for the FF canvassers!

Do you feel like this when you see them coming?

would you open the door to all the candidates and ask them a list of questions?

Hide and not bother to open the door, and still crib about all the unwanted mail they drop off?

Or have you selected a party like FF and left them out a personal note telling them to "Get Stuffed"

I left out a nice note for FF and they haven't called' I did see a couple of people walk up to my door , read the note and walk away!

If you were leaving out a note ! What would it say! and to which party would you be haggling at?

Bojetta

Have canvassed daily for over a week now and the "no canvassers, no political literature" appears to be completely cross party - only one or two signs have mentioned FF by name

Liam Byrne

Well they finally arrived to me earlier this evening - somehow managing to time it that I was in the middle of something - and as soon as I saw the FF logo on the leaflet they were trying to hand me I just quietly said "Not a hope in hell" as calmly as I could and closed the door.

So apologists will be glad to know that there was no "harassment"; partially due to the fact that their timing saved them - they escaped the full venom due to them because of their inexplicable support of their party.

I may, however, follow up on my idea of passing out copies of Biggins' excellent summary of their time in office over the weekend.

Sierra Oscar

Hehe - each election you always hear the stories of how your workmate "blasted" the FF/FG/Lab/SF canvassers last night when they came to the door.

The likelihood is that they politely refused the literature, or just said - "no not interested" . . . tbh.

Canvassers from any party will generally agree that people are usually civil at the doorsteps.

johngalway

I liked the idea someone had about taping cheese to the front door for the FF canvassers. Sounds about right, country going down the drain, sure let them eat cheese. Party going down the drain? Eat cheese!

Wibbles19

Regardless of who calls to my door I find "You have my No 1" works a treat, it gets rid if them really quickly and confuses the hell out of them

j1smithy

If even only a small percent of the bluster here on boards is true- and thats what it is, bluster, I'm tempted to vote FF to spite you all.

The idea that canvassers, volunteers that give up their time to become politically engaged, are worthy of abuse is anti-social to say the least.

Have people simply no respect for their fellow human beings?

Liam Byrne

j1smithy wrote: »

If even only a small percent of the bluster here on boards is true- and thats what it is, bluster, I'm tempted to vote FF to spite you all.

Well I might not agree with your motives, but at least it's the first tangible reason for voting FF that I've seen on boards, so I'll give you that!

The idea that canvassers, volunteers that give up their time to become politically engaged, are worthy of abuse is anti-social to say the least.

Have people simply no respect for their fellow human beings?

Respect runs both ways; it's earned! And any homeowner has the right to refuse to engage anyone on their doorstep; especially dodgy characters and their associates.

If the local priest turned up on your doorstep to defend his organisation's position on abuse, would you "show him respect" ?