Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Aug 6, 2012 11:17:57 GMT -5
I hate answering the door without knowing who it is - meaning, when I'm not expecting anyone. For the most part, I'm a grumpy social misfit who likes to be left alone. Rarely does anyone "just drop by" for the purpose of handing me a large check (and then leaving), which is really the only reason I would want to engage with random people at home. Plus, there's the issue of whether or not the house is clean. Yesterday the doorbell rang when DH and I were getting ready to turn in (we get up early so this wasn't all that late, just past the time where we would be remotely interested in talking to outsiders). I would have ignored it, but he got up and went downstairs to answer the door. Turned out to be some guy trying to sell a carpet cleaner. We don't even have carpet in the house So, I'm curious - do you always answer the door when you're not expecting anyone? Do you feel weird about not answering if it's obvious you're home (windows open, cars in garage, etc.)?
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 6, 2012 11:20:12 GMT -5
Didn't we just have this thread like 2 weeks ago?
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Aug 6, 2012 11:23:02 GMT -5
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Aug 6, 2012 11:23:24 GMT -5
I never answer the door unless I'm expecting someone. Even my family lets me know if they are coming. (Nope. They don't ask, they just let me know.) And I absolutely do not feel bad about not answering my door when it's obvious I'm home. I don't feel any obligation to anyone who doesn't call to let me know they are coming.
But then I live alone and I'm paranoid.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Aug 6, 2012 11:24:23 GMT -5
Didn't we just have this thread like 2 weeks ago? LOL!! The threads on this board are on like 6 subjects total. I don't think one more "repeat" is going to be noticed.
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Frappuccino
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Post by Frappuccino on Aug 6, 2012 11:27:17 GMT -5
I won't answer the door for strangers. I just talk to strangers through the closed door or ignore them completely. There are home invasions on the news in my area.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Aug 6, 2012 11:30:26 GMT -5
(Nope. They don't ask, they just let me know.)
That would bug me no end. We live right across the street from my parents, and believe me, neither I nor DH would ever in a million years have agreed to do that if they were the type of people to either drop by without calling OR calling to "let me know" they were dropping by.
We're lucky to have parents (and in DH's case, in-laws) who are both willing to call and ASK if they can come over, AND take "no" for an answer.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Aug 6, 2012 11:33:19 GMT -5
It doesn't bother me all that much, FB. As I said, I live alone so it's not like they are going to catch me having wild sex. And I suppose, when mom calls and says, "I'll be over in 5 minutes with cheesecake.", I could tell her not to come but DAMN. She makes good cheesecake.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Aug 6, 2012 11:33:54 GMT -5
It's mostly MY fault because I've never told them not to. My family is generally pretty respectful and non-invasive. I just haven't ever said "don't come".
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Aug 6, 2012 11:39:10 GMT -5
For me, it's not about the possibility of being in a compromising position - it's just that I don't like to be bothered. If I'm in my PJs on the couch eating takeout Chinese and reading a chick lit book, I don't want anyone else to see me. Even if I'm not, I don't like to chat up random strangers 99% of the time. I feel somewhat bad because I did a brief stint as a door to door salesperson (did that job ever suck) and I understand that it doesn't feel good to get constant rude looks and sighs and rejections of every flavor. But I still don't want to be bothered What I can't understand is why anyone would ever do that if they had a choice. Okay, some jobs require door to door sales - but why, WHY would you ever go around hocking your religion door to door?!? Has that EVER worked with anyone, even ONE time?
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Aug 6, 2012 11:42:02 GMT -5
Its just my over-paranoid self thinking this, but the women & children go out knocking on doors on Saturday. Over the next couple of weeks, the elderly & single people's homes get broken into. I don't think its as much about spreading the Word as it is doing recon for future break ins.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 6, 2012 11:46:12 GMT -5
Yes. The two big groups that used this as a recruiting method in the 80's was Jehovah's witnesses and Mormons. Both groups say very large jumps in conversions. Even if the percentage was small, the numbers were significant. It also gave their members infinite practice in talking about the religion, so they were skilled in other conversations that may have come up. A church near our old house was failing, and they went on a massive mission to draw from the surrounding neighborhood by going door to door. They tripled their attendance in about 8 weeks, and now they have a thriving community. It may not work on you, but it has worked in the past.
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Aug 6, 2012 11:56:44 GMT -5
Generally, if you come to my back door, you knock and then come in because I know you. If you come to the front door, I don't know you and it's a crap shoot as to whether or not I'll get up and answer the door. Even though you can clearly see me sitting over here on the couch.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Aug 6, 2012 11:57:15 GMT -5
I'll usually answer the door, but I hardly ever get anyone knocking. Even salsemen are pretty rare here. Only time I recall needing to answer the door, it was a AC repair guy who had the wrong apartment.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Aug 6, 2012 11:59:24 GMT -5
In the past answering the door has meant dealing with solicitors or JWs. Since I am not interested in talking to either, I don't answer the door.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Aug 6, 2012 12:04:00 GMT -5
Our dog usually gives us about a 30-second warning before someone comes to the door. We can't see the upper driveway from the front or back doors, so I'll peer out the upstairs window to see if I recognize the car (most of the time it's either the meter-reader or a FedEx truck, and neither of them usually knock). If it's not someone I recognize and I'm not expecting anyone, I don't answer. We live down the end of a looong driveway and you can't really see the house from the road, so we don't get a lot of random visitors. Unfortunately, the dog alarm only works with strangers. There have been a few times we've come downstairs to find one of DH's friends working on his car in the garage... dog is sitting in the corner, happy as can be.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:05:10 GMT -5
In the past answering the door has meant dealing with solicitors or JWs. Since I am not interested in talking to either, I don't answer the door.
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on Aug 6, 2012 12:05:20 GMT -5
Nope, and I hate when anyone "shows up" at my house. The only people that ever come uninvited is usually one of my neighbors and that I don't usually mind. When I am home, I'm usually lounging around in my comfy clothes and don't want to be bothered. I'm a pretty private person and find it pretty annoying to have to be social when I don't feel like it. Luckily, I live in a rural area and get very few random strangers or sales people showing up. I live at the end of a dead end road, so, really, not many people are in the area. I don't think any of my friends would just show up at my house. Sometimes my dad does, but that's not a big deal to me. I also live alone so am reluctant to open the door to someone I don't know. My house is a raised ranch, so I can look out/yell out the main floor window without having to go near the door if I don't want to answer it...
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Aug 6, 2012 12:07:33 GMT -5
I always answer the door, but mostly because I'm a jerk who takes joy in telling salespeople/solicitors no.
The last time someone knocked on my door who I didn't know was the child of a new neighbor who'd hit up our garage sale about a month prior and bought an old xbox. He knocked at 6am asking if we had another extender for a controller or something. He said his mom told him to come ask me.
I told him I'd look and let him know. Then I pounded on their door at 3:00am on Sunday and told her that I couldn't find anything else.
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Aug 6, 2012 12:09:04 GMT -5
Sometimes I answer, sometimes I don't. I do have 4 dogs though, and they love to bark. So salesmen usually go away quickly anyways.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:10:27 GMT -5
Nope, and I hate when anyone "shows up" at my house. The only people that ever come uninvited is usually one of my neighbors and that I don't usually mind. When I am home, I'm usually lounging around in my comfy clothes and don't want to be bothered. I'm a pretty private person and find it pretty annoying to have to be social when I don't feel like it. Luckily, I live in a rural area and get very few random strangers or sales people showing up. I live at the end of a dead end road, so, really, not many people are in the area. I don't think any of my friends would just show up at my house. Sometimes my dad does, but that's not a big deal to me. I also live alone so am reluctant to open the door to someone I don't know. My house is a raised ranch, so I can look out/yell out the main floor window without having to go near the door if I don't want to answer it... Would you give me the exact address? ( just so I know which house to not go to ) 1313 Mockingbird Lane.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Aug 6, 2012 12:20:42 GMT -5
My front door has has some high windows on it, so it's easy for me to walk over and peek and see who it is. If it's someone I know, I open the door. If it's a solicitor, I say, "Sorry, not interested" through the door, and then walk away.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:22:30 GMT -5
The bathroom's next to the garage and I usually get ready about 7 ish.........and that ground cover out front is not poison ivy..............for when you don't come over.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:28:39 GMT -5
You let me know the day that you're not coming over and I will make sure to keep the curtain open enough to titillate.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:36:07 GMT -5
And just like that I remember why I don't have conversations with you....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:37:34 GMT -5
And the view is spectacular from up here!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:41:17 GMT -5
Are you sure it's me? It could be a reaction to the poison ivy, yanno.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:46:52 GMT -5
<< knocks over ladder while turning around >>
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Wizard of Id
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Post by Wizard of Id on Aug 6, 2012 12:48:41 GMT -5
I never answer the door unless I am expecting someone.. and we never invite people over... so I never answer my door... So NOW what do I do with this case of wine??
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 12:55:39 GMT -5
Well, now that MU's out of the way.....how YOU doin'?
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