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.