Answering a knock at the door

Lotus-eater

Of course I answer the door, I don't live in a horrible area where I am scared to open it.
Nor am I a woman, which seems to be the other reason.

If I was, or if I did, I might think otherwise and look through the window to see who it was first.

MiddyMum

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I am sorry, but I think this is just plain rude. Someone knocks on your door and you don't answer, just because you aren't expecting anyone! I can't ignore a ringing phone or someone at the door, I like to be civil!

No, sometimes I don't answer my door or my phone because I just don't feel like speaking to anyone. Opening the door when you are in a !!!!!! mood to a Jehovah Witness or even answering the phone to a Christmas card in-the-post type friend requires you to partake in inane pleasantries. Opening the door would require me to dig deep for energy I do not have for this type of interaction, so by me not answering, I am being civil, by default of course.

thegirlintheattic

I always answer the door, I'm usually the only one on the street under 75 around and do occasionally have a neighbor pop round to ask for help with things (moving stuff, lightbulbs blown, husband falling). If it's a cold caller I usually tell them where to go.

Similarly I always answer the phone (close family are all ex-directory so don't come up on speed dial) and just hang up on those trying to sell me things.

It bugs me when people don't answer the phone as well. Twice I've had to ring work friends to let them know I won't be in to work and arrange cover. Both times people haven't picked up because it's an withheld number.

Tropez

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I am sorry, but I think this is just plain rude. Someone knocks on your door and you don't answer, just because you aren't expecting anyone! I can't ignore a ringing phone or someone at the door, I like to be civil!

To be fair though, the only people who are going to knock on my door unexpectedly are those trying to peddle something - whether that be windows, religion, some random tat or whatever charity they claim to be collecting from and as I have a sign telling all of these people I'm not at all interested then any of them that still knock are being rude to me by failing to respect my wishes.

That said, I do have a camera above the door so it is no problem for me to check whether the person is someone I know or wearing a police uniform but if it isn't, and if I see a clipboard or a copy of the bible then they shouldn't have knocked on my door.

I'm the same with telephone calls. If the number is withheld it isn't getting answered. If the number is not withheld but is not one I recognise then it most likely won't be answered as I'll just check the number on something like whocallsme.com before deciding whether to call it back.

skivenov

I always answer it personally, it might be one of the neighbours needs something, or someone getting paid naff all for being a cold caller all day who needs a smile. I won't buy anything off them, but I'll try to cheer them up, we've all had crap jobs at one stage in our life, don't blame them for their employers sins just because your current working from home job's really important. You were probably on facebook anyway

catkins

No, I don't answer it unless I am expecting a parcel. If I am upstairs then I will look out the bedroom window to see who it is but I would still only answer if it were the postman or someone I recognised.

I used to always answer the door but got sick of people trying to sell me things or Jehovahs Witnesses. I find it very hard to get rid of these people and have ended up buying stuff I don't want because I can't say no.

Occasionally an ignored knock will turn out to be the meter reader but they leave a card so you can take the reading yourself or an unexpected parcel but I just get them to bring it another day.

What I hate is if someone thinks you are there and keeps ringing - that to me is very rude. It's my house if I don't want to answer the door I don't have to. One night at 10.30pm I was indoors alone watching tv. Someone rung the bell and when I didn't answer rung a few times more then began banging on the window. I answered it thinking it was something urgent and it was a customer of my husband wanting to speak to him. It was not urgent and I had a real go at the guy telling him how rude it was to turn up so late and that I could have been in bed. He said he knew someone was up because a light was on! I said I always left a light on overnight.

If OH is home he will always answer the door regardless of the time.

We have caller display on our phone and neither of us answer the phone if it comes up as a witheld number although it is suprising sometimes who the witheld number turns out to be. The local hospital comes up as that!

savingmummy

I always though it was just me.I used to live in a top floor flat with an intercom and could never see who it was so just ignored any `beeps` unless i knew someone was popping by!


BUT since moving to my house i now open the door as i can see who is there through the front door window, The children beat me to the door and can no longer be told to ssh:rotfl:

12sapphire

I always opened the door but in recent years if I choose not to then I don't (unless I'm expecting someone/delivery of course) If I'm having a PJ day no-one gets through my front door

puddy

balletshoes wrote: »

ah now I'm very rude with my home phone, if I can't be bothered I just don't answer. If its someone I know who really wants to speak to me, they'll phone my mobile. And if I do answer the landline and its a cold caller, as soon as I establish that I just hang up. Can't be doing with it, if I want whatever service it is they are pushing, I'll call them, not the other way around.

me too,i check the number first before answering, any of those 0844 or 'witheld' numbers dont get answered

and if its someone who talks a lot and im not in the mood, that doesnt get answered either

zaxdog

I am wondering if some of you live in quite high crime areas?

I always answer the door but if I don't get to it in time the caller will just open the door and shout a hello! Same with the postie, he just opens the door and sticks the post on the kitchen table (no letterbox).

Car also sits outside with keys in it in case we lose them and we are in a hurry to go out :rotfl: