Speaking for those who don't like to be bothered, I don't pretend not to be home. I just don't answer my door if I'm not expecting a pizza or package. I don't like to speak to uninvited guests to my door any more than I like uninvited calls to my phone.

Setting a dog on someone, however, is appalling -- and quite likely illegal.

My dog is too friendly. So friendly that she wants to tackle visitors to the door with overwhelming joy and face licks. In fact, just the other day, she darn near knocked Rod Monroe on his ass while he was trying to hand me a Metro re-election flyer.

So, there are occasions -- when I'm working at home and I don't want to be interrupted, or I don't want to deal with "Oh mommy human, please let go of my collar so I can properly greet this new person while I've flattened them on their back!" -- that I just won't answer the door. I'm not sneaky about it and pretend not to be home. I just don't go to the door. I see it as no different than not picking up the phone if I don't feel like it.

I do also have a no soliciting sign, which, amazingly, caused an OSPIRG person to apologize and retreat last week.

While sending an attack dog on a person is upsetting, it is likely the last time Erin's visits that house unsolicited. If you are going to go door to door, for whatever reason, expect that the majority of these people do not want to be bothered.

Lots of folks have enough self-awareness to realize they're cowards, so rather than confronting a solicitor/uninvited visitor, they hide, or have big signs and dogs. Cowards.

I'm not condoning the behavior of the jerk who sent his dog out on attack, but how exactly does not wanting to be bothered translate to being a coward?

I work at home. I prefer to not have my work interrupted. Is that cowardice or just maintaining focus during work hours?

It's not illegal in the slightest. It might lead to civil liability only if someone is injured, and even then, having signs saying "Beware of Dog" and "No Soliciting" is a good defense. You're on his property, for Christ's sake. No soliciting means no soliciting -- you're trespassing. Get off his property.

Weak call on Erin's part. If you see a "No Soliciting" then you are not invited. Just because you aren't technically soliciting, it's obvious that you were not wanted there.

i've become a master of visitor evasion. i despise uninvited guests, especially if they are religious and/or political.

fyi, having signs doesn't protect you from a lawsuit whatsoever.

it's also illegal to booby-trap your house, which i find highly offensive. if i want a shotgun booby-trap, then i should get to have one dammit.

Erin,

I feel ya' on the doorknocking blues; it takes some special peeps to rap on the domiciles of the rose city wimpy and I admire everyone that's huffing and puffing and doing their GOTV thing for whatever motivation (even the right-wingers and haters; I don't agree with you, but I'll still hook you up with H2O and a man-hug...but no 'special cookies').

I'm an old school canvasser from back in the day who rattled around the South and Northeast around issues like CAFO's (hog poop), environmental justice, and candidates that look nothing like "the cut-out white man-matriculate to school-lick big $$$ booty" model. So I've had dogs, warthogs, hooded tweakers, etc.. unleashed on me at one time or another in my journeys. The only true riposte to the 'canvassing blues' is a good sense of humor and hooking up with powerful homies to trade wonderful tales of the door and enjoy some big, fat titilating beer from the Pac. NW, which will almost make up for the boners that make your night shitty.

I'm sad to hear about the dog incident. I admit sometimes I'm changing the baby's diaper and my hubby is in his boxers, and it's for the protection of the person at the door that we do not answer, but we mean no harm. We even have a No Soliciting sign, but we're pretty flexible. It's a nice neighborhood that we're in, where people purposely hang outside their homes on nice days in hopes of running into their neighbors. I like that about my neighborhood but sometimes when people are passing through, you can't even get a smile out of them, muchless a simple "hi." I wonder what people are afraid of. Why is it so difficult to make eye contact with a stranger? Why can't we even acknowledge the presence of a passerby who is also pushing a baby in a stroller? Are we still carrying around that lesson we learned when we were 5 not to trust strangers? A lot has changed in 50 years, I'd say. It's sad that a person has to hide from the outside world inside their home and then "protect" it with the use of their "pets." Thank you for your efforts, though. If everyone quit trying to interact with people just because of one incident, then where would we be?

Robin, in what sense were you not soliciting?

From Dictionary.com:

so·lic·it Audio pronunciation of "soliciting" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (s-lst) v. so·lic·it·ed, so·lic·it·ing, so·lic·its v. tr.

1. To seek to obtain by persuasion, entreaty, or formal application: a candidate who solicited votes among the factory workers.
2. To petition persistently; importune: solicited the neighbors for donations.
3. To entice or incite to evil or illegal action.
4. To approach or accost (a person) with an offer of sexual services.

v. intr.

1. To make solicitation or petition for something desired.
2. To approach or accost someone with an offer of sexual services in return for payment.

[Middle English soliciten, to disturb, from Old French solliciter, from Latin sollicitre, from sollicitus, troubled. See solicitous.]

"It's sad that a person has to hide from the outside world inside their home..."

i find that my home is the last refuge of privacy left in this crazy world.

i wake up in the morning, bolt out to the bus, spend 45 minutes standing on Tri-Met and being forced to listen to the insipid conversations of those around me. then its another 10 minutes waiting in line at the coffee shop where they blast crappy music (and again with the vapid conversation). next, a whole day at work with clients and co-workers asking me stupid questions. finally, another 45 minute bus ride home and a some more time wasted in the grocery store...repeat daily, ad infinitum.

at least at home i can ignore the phone and the stinkin' doorbell for a few blessed hours until bedtime.

I was pretty sure from my Bus Project days that "no soliciting" signs do not apply to political canvassers. I'm going to look at Oregon law soon, but I found this example on the Woodland, CA police dept. website:

Question: Does Woodland have an ordinance pertaining to door to door solicitation?

"Answer: Yes, solicitors are required to avoid homes and businesses where "No Soliciting" signs are posted and clearly visible from all entrances onto the property. An individual is in violation of the ordinance if they choose to knock at a door where such signs are posted. Religious and political organizations are exempt from this ordinance."

I think this is the general rule of thumb for most areas. The little signs mean nothing legally to a political canvasser.

Geez Jack--I guess I won't be knocking down the door to sell you a cuisinart anytime soon--

Can't we all just get along and acknowledge everyone's right to privacy while also regarding the trials and merits of local canvasses? Not everybody has a computer and blog to connect to---

off to knock on my own door and kick my cat in the ass!

Legal definitions of soliciting are meaningless. The guy who posted the sign wasn't referencing some statute. He was simply posting a sign saying that he didn't want people coming up and knocking on his door. It means whatever he wants it to mean.

Sorry, that was me on the block quote. I don't know how to go back and fix it now.

Twas a time once when DTD canvessors might be more welcome.

Even at my door.

Not any more.

I don't care if you're pushing candidates or the Columbian (yes, I recently moved across the river).

I hate to have my home space invaded by uninvited "knockers".

I get lots more of them at my NP office (complete with "No Soliciting" sign in the window) and its all I can do to respond to their interruptions with anything less irritated than terse "I'm not interested" comments.

Sorry about the dog thing -- don't agree with that. But can't you canvessors limit your stranger-to-stranger contacts to public places and not my doorstep? Come talk to me at Fred Meyer or Safeway. I'm much more likely to take the 30 seconds to listen and respond to you than I would if you invade my space.

In this day and age, it is foolhardy to answer the door to a stranger. If I see someone I don't know and didn't invite at my door, I make no pretense at not being home. I just don't answer the door. My kitchen faces the front of the house and I continue what I am doing without trying to 'keep silent'. I am completely visible to whoever is at the door, but I figure the fact that I am not acknowleging them should clue them in to the fact that they are unwanted. Learn not to take offense when your knock isn't answered. It is just safer. ~K!

I've lost count at the number of doors I've knocked on, miles I've walked, phones I've rung canvassing for various campaigns (Bus Project, BRO before it was BRO, various candidates). I always respected the "No soliciting" and "No trespassing" signs by simply moving on to the next house (and marking on the list that they probably should be removed from future walking lists). Legal or not, I think it is important to respect the spirit in which the sign was posted. The last thing any canvasser wants to do is piss off the very person you're trying to influence by doing something they feel strongly enough about to post a sign.

That said, I positively despise being interrupted at home by unsolicited phone calls and knocks on my door. Always have. I get little enough time at home and few enough opportunities to see my wife as it is. I do not want to spend what little home time I do have out on the front step talking to some canvasser - no matter how noble the cause. I always felt horrible picking up that phone or knocking on that door knowing exactly how I would feel in their shoes. It took me far too long to realize how hypocritical I was being by continuing to canvas and that I couldn't continue inflicting those offensive activities upon others. I haven't canvassed or phone-banked since.

Yes, I know the issues are critical. I know canvassing and face-to-face contact is by far the most effective method of convincing voters to vote your way and non-voters to vote at all. But conversely, has anyone ever studied how many voters are pushed in the wrong direction because of a canvasser? Even a die-hard liberal progressive like myself who has never, ever missed turning in a ballot has been thoroughly disgusted at the pestering of the likes of the Sierra Club and (by far the worst offender) OSPIRG. Quit preaching to the damn choir! You already had my vote, so don't screw it up by continuously annoying me.

No matter what, it's sad that our vote could be changed simply because we're so fickle about being "disturbed" or "informed" by canvassers of any sort.

We've lost all our past avenues of civic and community engagement to the television, and our idea of privacy--invaded more often by marketers than do-gooders--keeps us from knocking on our neighbors door to ask how our government can do better, or even getting to know each other better.

Let's complain about something worthy, here. If you don't want to answer the door, don't. If you don't want to answer the phone, don't. But stop whining when someone offers you a friendly reminder that there are still folks out there attempting to engage those that, often, think they're just too busy to give a damn.

Props to the clipboarders and canvassers. Props to the informed voter. And a scourge on commercials, telemarketers, the patriot act and the other true invaders of privacy.

First of all, I am most definitely not "fickle". I won't change my vote, but I damn well might decide to take my contributions to a different organization who is a little smarter about how they put their resources to work.

Why should I keep contributing to an organization that wastes its time by canvassing a neighborhood that is so solidly progressive, activist, and liberal that there hasn't even been a Republican candidate for the district in years? What good can a canvasser possibly do preaching to the choir? It wastes the canvasser's time. It wastes my time. It's not going to make one whit of difference come November. If an organization insists on wasting its resources like that, then my contribution is better spent elsewhere.

Greg, it sounds like you need to get on the Bus and canvass in swing districts. No time wasted by the Oregon Bus Project.

Been on the Bus. Will probably get on the Bus again if I can find a way to help that does not involve accosting people on their doorsteps.

At some point, though, it just gets to be too much. Too many worthy organizations all wanting time and money - neither of which any of us has enough.

"But conversely, has anyone ever studied how many voters are pushed in the wrong direction because of a canvasser?"

This sounds like you think people are fickle enough to change their vote--and warrant a study. Not attacking you as fickle, just the idea that one could be.

As far as canvassers hitting "sure-win" districts, my guess is their trying to get more of those "sure-winners" to get out and do a bit more than vote. As you admitted, the only way to swing undecided voters (often the least involved) is to get out and talk to them. If you don't have enough folks to get out and talk to them, where do you go looking? Well, to the "sure-win" neighborhoods where folks are hopefully nicer and a bit more willing to give their time.

I don't think, as an unpaid volunteer canvasser, that I have more time than anyone else to hit the streets. And God do I hate it. But I smile and knock because no matter how many "urgent call to action" emails are sent, no matter how available you make yourselves at fairs and farmers markets, folks are inherently self-interested and not inclined to give time--valid excuse or not.

And, this is certainly not a vindication of my stance. I'm guilty of--valid or not--excusing myself from giving my precious, valuable, mine and no one else's time.

Truth is, if every American got out there and volunteered an evening a week for a cause they really believe in, I wouldn't have to spend my canvassing time making people think they ought to get out and volunteer an evening a week for the cause I really beleive in.

"...my guess is their trying..."

Geez. THEY'RE. Sorry about that.

Rachel -- were it only so simple.

Perhaps canvassers are being trained to be pushy and not take a "Not Interested" for the final answer.

To those who come to my door it takes me between 1 and 5 direct statements of, "No thanks, I'm not interested." to get them to cease, desist and leave.

After the first "No thanks" I'll get either an addendum to the initial pitch, 5 - 7 seconds in length or a surprised look and a "sincere" -- "Oh, and can I ask why?" [my preferred response because my answer is a simple "No" instead of repeating the "No thanks" mantra]. If I'm feeling particularly peevish with the particular solicitor of the day I may, in the most direct and shortest way tell them why I am interested in having a discussion -- and that can range from a brief rebuttal to their pitch or even a smooth "I don't discuss political theory with anyone who cannot read my clearly posted request to be left alone or sees it and chooses to ignore it. Is there anything else?"

Rachel -- perhaps its my cynicism of age, but the days of "community" that I had hoped for in my college days never materialized and the circle of people (let alone canvassers or even candidates) I truly trust has shrunk over time. Sure, acquaintences for various activities. but those with whom I would want a long and deep discussion of the state of the world are few and far between these days.

Remember the guy who wrote "Bowling Alone" about the death of social and civic connections -- he put into words what has been happening with me.

So -- canvassers -- allow me the freedom to tell you I do not want your contact and then -- please respect it.

Q: When is the best time of year to knock on someone's door to ask for their vote?

A: Halloween!!

Why you ask?

It's simple:

1. It's the 1 day when everyone is expecting visitors - albeit costumed ones begging for candy from perfect strangers.

2. Even those people who won't answer the darn doorbell any other day of the year will suddenly hand out bit-size Snickers bars to people dressed in sheets they've never even met before.

3. Trick-or-treating, if you think about it, is so passe. I mean, w/the advent of reality TV, digital cameras, & online blogs, isn't it time we update this fun, but slightly arcane, once-a-year pasttime as well?

4. Those fun folks from the Bus Project recently discovered a new, family-friendly yet politically engaging way of doing so called TRICK-OR-VOTING.

Want to learn more? Stayed tuned. The Trick-or-Vote website is coming to a laptop near you. Keep your eyes peeled for trickorvote.com (debuting this week).

And don't worry, you may be too old to trick-or- treat, but you're NEVER too old to trick-or-vote!!!