I imagine that most of us manage to maintain a certain degree of decorum when approached by religious proselytizers, so I wonder if you’ve ever been pushed past your breaking point. Nine times out of ten I’m polite but cold, and usually find a way to minimize the interaction time. On a few occasions I’ve decided to throw out something random, like, “Do you know Russian Orthodox?” or “Yes, I know Jesus, I’m a Coptic!”, just to see what kind of reaction I get (usually a blank stare followed by “Jesus loves you.”)
Today I was reading a book and listening to music on the subway when I was confronted by someone’s hot breath in my face. I looked up to see a guy in his 50s or 60s murmuring at me in English. Right away I noticed a couple Bible pamphlets in his hand. I very slowly removed an earphone and made eye contact with him, then when through the whole “Where are you from?” routine. Mercifully, his phone rang and he spent a few minutes on the call while I replaced the earbud, returned to my book and basically tried to look as unapproachable as possible. As he started wrapping up the phone call, I had the good sense to know that he probably wouldn’t read my cues, so I got up and walked over to the door, as if I intended to get off at the next station. I kept the earbuds in and the book in my face.
A moment later he was by my side, yammering about how he was a Baptist missionary. I gave him a few “uh-huhs” and “ohs”, and avoided eye contact. Then he grabbed my hand and shoved a few of the pamphlets at me. “I don’t want them,” I said, and tried to give them back. He looked a little shocked but then started telling me to give them to friends, that it was very important so we could all to go heaven.
“No. I don’t want them,” I said again. He then pushed the pamphlets back into my hand. I looked around, hoping (naively) that someone would create a distraction or otherwise intervene, but everyone just sat with their eyes down, glued to their screens. We were coming to the next stop and although it wasn’t where I wanted to get off, I realized I’d have to get off the train to get rid of the guy. I threw the pamphlets on the floor and, almost shouting, declared one more time that I didn’t want them. Thankfully the doors soon opened and I made my escape (but had to wait for the next train because of him).
I don’t really know why it rubbed me so badly this time, since his tactics weren’t any different than the thousands of other Koreans who do the same thing. I guess it was the fact that he singled me out on the train based on how I look, then felt entitled to interrupt me and start preaching. I absolutely cannot imagine being an English-speaking country, seeing an Asian-looking person on a train, and thinking Oh, I speak some Korean. They probably do too. I’ll go push my religion on them.
Again, it’s not much different than accosting someone on the street, but for some reason it really got to me today.
Ever had a similar experience?
submitted by /u/Koreanoir
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