Answering the door

Do you always answer the door when someone knocks on it?

I work overnights and sometimes on my day off I just want to chill at home by myself. I know a person who is retired and gets bored and lonely. This person comes to my door every Saturday around noon and knocks and knocks on my door. Sometimes if I worked 12 hours on Friday night (usually makes five 12 1/2 hour shifts in a row so at noon, I'm not awake yet) I don't want to answer the door. When I see this person later they complain because they knew I was home as they saw my truck. They get mad because I didn't answer the door.

Sometimes I just don't feel like dealing with company or have plans I don't want to change so I don't answer the door.

Do you always answer the door when someone knocks on it?

Replies

thinmintme

Nay I don't. What's the point? I don't own this house so no, I'm not investing in fixing the gutters, replacing the shutters, putting in a new roof that I don't need seeing as that it was completely redone five years ago.
I don't donate my cans to school groups around here looking for money to support their sports teams. I pay the deposit on those things myself and I plan on getting every cent back, too.
I'd rather not buy cookies, tickets, magazines, subscriptions, etc.
Church? No, sorry, I have my own beliefs. Stop handing me pamphlets and pushing your agenda or else I'll go back inside, scan some documents of my own and shove those in your face. (Fortunately for us, they've stopped coming around this past year or so...can't hold my breath, though.)
No, the homeowner is not home.
If the mail man's here, I'll know because the truck has a distinct sound that everyone in this house can recognize and for that, I'll answer the door.
We don't conversate with our neighbors for the most part. We keep to ourselves. I'll mind my business if you'll mind yours. And after some of the things we've heard from the old lady across the street, I sure as heck won't be sharing my life story any time soon. (She knows everything! Scandals! Affairs! It's insane how much people talk in this neighborhood....)
Our dogs usually ward off anyone who rings the doorbell or knocks. Their growls and snarls are vicious and our beagle's howls are almost deafening. Most people just walk away. Thank the gods! Because, believe me, if the doorbell doesn't stop ringing or the knocking doesn't cease, the dogs won't shut up. And then I'm forced to go outside and snap at someone. Happened last Halloween. Porch lights were OFF. Dumb little kids still had the ignorance to ring our doorbell. We didn't even have decorations up. I can't stand people, sometimes....*sigh*

shanlynt

I generally don't answer the door and I never answer the phone. I talk on the phone all day at work, last thing I want to do is talk to someone when I get home.

AZDizzy

Nope, never answer it.

If one of my neighbors says something about it, I just say "you have my number...call." We have Jehovas Witnesses that come out every Tues, Wed or Thurs, so I usually use them as an excuse.

beccyleigh

We have a street level front foor but live on the first floor. I removed batteries from the bell as it would be pressed by drunk kids passing in the middle of the night so now anyone who want us has to knock. No one I know personally would come over without calling first so when someone does knock I can just lookout my living room window to the front door & see who it is.I will often ignore it if I don't know who it is with the exception of the postman.If some neighbour was *****ing to me about not answering my door especially after working night shift I would tell them to piss off. You could always leave a note on the door, something like "night shift worker, do not dsiturb before 3pm" that should be clear enough.

tracy337

When I lived at home, my mom always made me answer the door, so one time, an innocent, unsuspecting Jehovah's witness got the p!ss scared out of him. When I lived there, my brother had a red Siberian Husky and a lot of people thought he looked like a coyote for some reason, so when this guy asked me if he was a coyote, I said "Well, yeah, we had to get something to keep the Bobcat company..." He left right after that and we never had any other Jehovah's witnesses. :laugh:

You know what has worked for me, when I saw them coming (the same ones came every week for 6 months!) and was fed up with them not taking no for an answer. Standing outside chatting with a neighbor and as soon as I knew they were within ear shot but to far to talk to me I started going on and on about oral sex and one night flings ROFL! The look on their face was priceless and they never bother me or my neighbor ever again lol

livinginwoods

I have to laugh because I have spent half my day knocking on doors today. Sighs. It's my job. I work for the US Census. People hate me most of the time. I DO try and call first if your number is listed. Most other workers don't do that. But we do have deadlines and pressures and we have to do what we do. I never take it personal any more.

I do answer the door most of the time but we have a security system and can see who it is first. I don't always answer the phone however. I have to be in the mood.

xSophia19

I am nearly 20 years old, and when I'm home alone looking after my little brother i will not answer the door after 8pm. I guess it's just something ive been brought up not to do? =/ my mum has always told me not to answer the door late at night! Many different reasons reallly, but i just cant open the door when my mum isnt home and its late, if anyone wants to come in at night time when mum isnt here, then they know to ring me so i know there comeing

livnlite

I can't say I have ever "NOT" answered the door. I don't have pesky neighbours, I don't often experience 'intrusions'. If had a troublesome neighbour .. I think I would be honest enough to say "If I don't answer the door, don't be offended .. I'm probably sleeping in". Unless it's something REALLY important, come back later.

iuew

i usually answer. sometimes not when it's a salesperson, however. i'm just not interested, so it would be a waste of his or her time.

Jain

My husband works away all week, so no, after dark I don't answer the door.
I actually live in a very safe area, but my next door neighbour works in a rough local pub & if the someone knocks on the door at night chances are it'll be one of her pissed up mates looking for her. I've even had one walk into my house when I'd forgotten to lock the door.:mad:

Qarol

If I'm still in jammies, hell no I won't answer the door. Usually they leave after two doorbell rings.

shine_

I don't answer the door if I'm home alone.

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

When I lived at home, my mom always made me answer the door, so one time, an innocent, unsuspecting Jehovah's witness got the p!ss scared out of him. When I lived there, my brother had a red Siberian Husky and a lot of people thought he looked like a coyote for some reason, so when this guy asked me if he was a coyote, I said "Well, yeah, we had to get something to keep the Bobcat company..." He left right after that and we never had any other Jehovah's witnesses. :laugh:

You know what has worked for me, when I saw them coming (the same ones came every week for 6 months!) and was fed up with them not taking no for an answer. Standing outside chatting with a neighbor and as soon as I knew they were within ear shot but to far to talk to me I started going on and on about oral sex and one night flings ROFL! The look on their face was priceless and they never bother me or my neighbor ever again lol

That is awesome! My ASL teacher said that one time she started speaking ASL to them, and the next day they came back with a person who spoke it too. They're tricky little boogers. But they don't like dangerous animals.

TheAnie

I'm a "housewife" so am frequently alone with a yappy little dog. If I'm home alone, I don't answer unless the person is wearing a uniform. I know that sounds silly, because a uniform doesn't mean safe, but we also own guns. So if the uniform person turns out to be dangerous I am very well prepared to defend myself. No uniform and I don't know them? Not a chance. I don't care if they peak through the window and see me, I'm not answering the door. I may have weapons and be able to defend myself but I'm not stupid either and am unwilling to put myself in a potentially dangerous position.

Though I would tell your neighbor off. We have a nosy neighbor like that. She's left me alone since her son(somewhere in his 40's) threw a super loud party one night that got louder until 3-4am. We tried the polite neighbor thing and told him it was late and to quiet down. His response was to turn it up. My response was to call the cops. She didn't appreciate the cops shutting down her sons party. "It wasn't that loud." Dude, I'm almost a street away and can hear it!

Ocarina

I live in apartments on school campus so we have tons of neighbors. One time a guy must of thought he was at the right place as he started yanking on the doorknob trying to open it. I was in the kitchen and a bit creeped out so I put up the door jammer thingy in case it was someone trying to break in and I opened the door. The guy was a foreign exchange student with a random piece of furniture. Next thing you know he has this look of complete shock and was down right embarrassed by what he did. I told him he scared me a little bit, good luck and closed the door.

It was scary but funny afterwards. People are so dorky. :laugh: Religious missionaries are also VERY annoying. I usually just tell them I have a faith and close the door on them. One actually got desperate and hand wrote a letter and pushed it in my door!!!

Flixie00

Nope, I am a female living alone so I only open the door when I am expecting someone or a delivery. I like to shut my front door to the world and not be disturbed, so I have no patience with marketeers or members of religious groups (there are 4 different churches down my road). My nearest neighbour calls me if there is an issue relating to the building as he knows that I wont answer the door.

jimmie25

i never answer the door. seriously -never. when i'm expecting visitors they usually call first. of course if I know/see that it's the mailman thats different but other than that i NEVER answer the door. mostly cuz my neighbors are 24/7 drunk *kitten* and i cant think of a reason why i'd want to talk to them.

HauteP1nk

I never answer the door. Ever...lol We screen our door bell or knocks as we would our phone calls...haha
I especially don't answer if i am home alone.... lol If I am not expecting someone I don't answer.

Pepper2185

Only if they have Girl Guide cookies.

shadowkitty22

I've been known to turn the volume down on the tv and shush my kids in order to avoid answering the door before. Haha

Ireshgurl

Only if they have Girl Guide cookies.

I would def answer for this. Usually the only people ringin my bell is UPS/FedEx/Mailperson dropping off a package for the husband. I'm not too worried about opening my door bc most people get a wee bit scared when they see my baby girl. Pit Bulls seem to have that affect....

jennifershoo

Hell no! I never answer the door! People tend to knock when I'm in my pj, no make up on, messy hair, stinky and sweaty after a work out. :ohwell:

robin52077

I HATE IT when people stop by unannounced.

This is what cell phones are for.
If you're "in the neighborhood", I would rather you text me from your car in my driveway than actually knock!

I don't normally answer the house phone either, unless it's someone I need to talk to, and even then it's a quick transfer of info and hang up. I don't deal with "I just want to talk"....

The worst is when people call because they're bored...
"So, what are you doing? Nothing. Oh.....(silence)...I'm bored..."

GET A FREAKING HOBBY!

InnerPinup79

I live near a few prisons, correctional facility, and a psychiatric institute for criminals with serious psych issues sooooo no I don't. Twice police knocked on my door asking if I had seen certain people that recently escaped.

HeidiMightyRawr

No, I hardly ever answer the door unless I'm expecting someone, or a parcel.

Anyone who I'm not expecting is usually:
A) Somebody wanting to speak to the "homeowner" about something their no doubt selling - I'm renting, non applicable.

Jehovas witness' - I understand that knocking round people's houses is part of what they do, but I'm not interested, so I prefer not to waste my time or theirs.

Another reason why I don't tend to answer the door if it's unexpected is because about 95% of the time, people call round in the late morning, If I don't have anything of my own to do then (uni etc) then I'm usually not dressed yet by that time (yes I'm lazy and stay in bed late on my days off) and I don't want to rush about trying to get dressed, just to answer the door to something unimportant.

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

Hell no! I never answer the door! People tend to knock when I'm in my pj, no make up on, messy hair, stinky and sweaty after a work out. :ohwell:

One night, the RA for the apartment complex I live in came by with some packages for me, but I was pants-less, so I made my friend open the door. They have a rule not to give the packages to anybody that they're not addressed to, so he looked at her and said "I have to give these packages to Amanda." and she replied with "Well, she doesn't have pants on, so I can take them." XD

paisley2288

Heck no. People should call before they just come over.

TeeferTiger

Our local Police set up our neighbourhood as a "No Cold Calling Zone" so we *shouldn't* get sales people knocking. Therefore if someone knocks, it's probably going to be a requirement that I open the door such as gas meter reading etc.

However, I suffer from chronic migraines, and if I'm in bed either sleeping one off or just simply can't move for the pain, they can carry on knocking! The Postman knows that if I don't answer then I'm not well and so leaves me a note and either hides the parcel or gives it to my neighbour. The couriers are usually pretty good at hiding them too (they get bonuses for getting rid of them which helps I suppose!)

birdieintx

Nope I live on a quiet street where my neighbors are mostly gone during the day. If I haven't heard the UPS/Fed Ex truck pulling up there is no reason for someone to be knocking at my door. And I'm glad I don't. Just north of my neighborhood there has been a couple incidents during the day where guys are targeting women home alone, knocking on the door, using a taser on them when they answer, and robbing them.

Andrewcpimpin

yeah i normally always do otherwise my dog goes nuts forever. but little do they know there is a .40 cal in my back pocket. ****ty neighborhood ya know.