Do you answer the door when you aren't expecting anyone?

[brainhulk]

If you don't have a video camera like I do, just make sure you are armed with a gun before you open the door

 

[KentState]

Usually the dogs start barking when it's a stranger and I'd rather keep them in check than rush to the door. Already told the Jehovah's Witness people to not come back again.

 

[SKORPI0]

Seems like one of the scenes in Dean Koontzs Frankenstein, book 4 of 5.
They knock on your door, kill you, and replace you with a duplicate.

http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Lost-Souls-Novel-Koontzs/dp/0553593676

 

[PieIsAwesome]

I check the peephole and then decide whether or not to answer.

 

[Markbnj]

Sure, why not? Not everyone makes an appointment, and I am not scared of my front door, or whatever might be on the other side of it.

 

[waggy]

sure.

I look out the eye hole though. i also have a window where i can see whoever is at the door.

not that i get many people out here. it's not very close to any cities.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I'd say about 60-70% the time I'll answer it. But it typically has nothing to do with whether or not I'm expecting anyone. More like whether I'm in bed or if I'm dressed. I don't worry about getting mugged, nor do I worry about solicitors. If you can't dismiss a salesperson or a political or religious doorbanger in 15 seconds or less, then there's something seriously wrong with you.

 

[T9D]

Holy crap no wonder society and neighborliness has gone to crap. You people are all anti social and paranoid. I bet if it was a hot chick you'd answer, hypocrites. You're all half way to unibomber crazy.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Holy crap no wonder society and neighborliness has gone to crap. You people are all anti social and paranoid. I bet if it was a hot chick you'd answer, hypocrites. You're all half way to unibomber crazy.

You're right. But apparently you haven't realized just how far we've descended into that paranoia and fear in this country. Americans have become cowards. The current gun craze is a good indication of that. Police forces that shoot first in the name of their own 'safety' are another. We have a trillion dollar military engine that only engages enemies in third world countries.

 

[DrDoug]

Holy crap no wonder society and neighborliness has gone to crap. You people are all anti social and paranoid. I bet if it was a hot chick you'd answer, hypocrites. You're all half way to unibomber crazy.

You've just described the typical Fox News viewer!

I live in a small coastal town well away from any large city and I always answer the door. We rarely ever get salespeople except for the Girl Scouts for cookies. The JW's cruise by every couple of weeks but we know them and they just drop off their pamphlet, talk about the weather or whatever and leave. No religion for me though, I'm just polite.

No guns needed to answer the door.

 

[Paladin3]

I don't think I'd be happy living in a town where I couldn't answer my own front door. I might peek out the window first depending on the time of day.

Moreover, every place I've ever lived I liked to get to know my neighbors and keep tabs on strangers who come into the neighborhood. I figure the best way to see if a stranger is up to no good is to say hello and ask if you can be of any help.

I do have a gun close at hand inside the house, and I've tucked it in my back pocket a time or two before saying hello, but I don't expect to ever really need it.

It's a shame that good people have surrender their neighborhoods and hide behind locked doors.

 

[olds]

I am curious why those here think that people that don't answer the door do it out of fear for safety or security? Is that the only possible reason?

 

[lxskllr]

Holy crap no wonder society and neighborliness has gone to crap. You people are all anti social and paranoid. I bet if it was a hot chick you'd answer, hypocrites. You're all half way to unibomber crazy.

A hot chick would make me less likely to answer the door. Tits are a widely used marketing technique, and I don't want to buy anything. That's why I don't answer the door. I don't want new windows, fios, cable, my roof done, my yard done, new electric, new gas, or anything else you're hawking. If I need something, I'll come to you if you're worth a shit.

I also don't answer the phone unless I recognize the number. Most of the same reasons, with the added fact I don't especially like using a phone. If you're calling me, it better be important.

 

[twinrider1]

I sure don't.

An hour ago I was downstairs in the kitchen enjoying my lunch when I heard the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone so I was like heck, probably a solicitor. So I continued on eating, when I kept hearing the doorbell rang. I got curious so I went and peek to see who it was.

It was an old man and a lady. I think the lady was carrying a clipboard. It wasn't any of my neighbors that I recognized, so I just continue to peek outside to see what they would do. I overheard the lady saying something along the lines of "I can't believe someone could be this ignorant". Said it pretty loudly too and walked away. The old man started knocking and then yelled out, "Hello!".

They then left.

I am here thinking what the heck that was all about. Would salespeople really wait for someone that long? Perhaps, they knew someone was inside or saw someone going inside. You would think they would move on after the first or second knock.

Strange

I'm pretty sure that was the fine folks of the Publisher's Clearing House

 

[Mixolydian]

If I don't know who it is or I'm not expecting anyone, I don't answer.

Reason? It's always someone selling something. Leave me the fuck alone. I'm not wasting my time on you or buying your shit.

Usually I'll look out the window to see if there's a truck making a delivery (UPS/FedEx/USPS, etc.)

 

[007ELmO]

No

 

[smakme7757]

I do.

If it's a seller i just say I'm not interested. If they persist I just point my finger towards the road. They usually get the message. Sellers are just doing a job so no point being an ass. But the finger usualy does the trick to the more insistent.

If it's an axe murderer then I'll just run out the back jump the fence and call the cops. If i'm too slow, well, shit happens i guess.

 

[007ELmO]

So how often do you open your door and it's someone you actually want to talk to, because it sounds like you don't talk to sellers. I talk to my neighbors all the time, but I sorta know when they're coming over because they text me and we have plans.

A lot of neighborhoods including my own have signs that say no solicitations, and so they are actually breaking the law.

 

[gorcorps]

So how often do you open your door and it's someone you actually want to talk to, because it sounds like you don't talk to sellers. I talk to my neighbors all the time, but I sorta know when they're coming over because they text me and we have plans.

A lot of neighborhoods including my own have signs that say no solicitations, and so they are actually breaking the law.

I haven't put up a sign yet. When I had to do fundraisers for school we made sure not to go to any "no solicitor" doors. I don't mind helping the neighbor kids out with whatever they're forced to sell, but there's been enough other salesmen that I've been thinking of putting up a sign.

 

[007ELmO]

I opened my door once the first year I owned my house and 3 college girls were there. They said "We heard a cute single guy lives here and wondered if you wanted to come drink with us".

It's a family neighborhood and a house warming party across the street, I thought I was dreaming, but no.

Our neighborhood actually has a sign saying no solicitations, I think many do (which basically covers the whole neighborhood). I usually end up talking to anyone I actually open the door for, but lately I prefer not to open.

 

[Anubis]

A hot chick would make me less likely to answer the door. Tits are a widely used marketing technique, and I don't want to buy anything. That's why I don't answer the door. I don't want new windows, fios, cable, my roof done, my yard done, new electric, new gas, or anything else you're hawking. If I need something, I'll come to you if you're worth a shit.

I also don't answer the phone unless I recognize the number. Most of the same reasons, with the added fact I don't especially like using a phone. If you're calling me, it better be important.

all of this

 

[HOSED]

I am curious why those here think that people that don't answer the door do it out of fear for safety or security? Is that the only possible reason?

You got 2 of my reasons, #3 I have better things to do than make small talk to strange people, like posting on the 4 forums I belong to! :ninja:

~~~ if there is a hot chick all the more reason NOT to answer, she could be serving as a distraction to get door open, then her posse can push their way in following her. I do not know how many are tongue in cheek responses here but I am totally serious. If I want to see hot Chicks (with brains) I just turn on the RT network or check out their site!
A few years ago a man pulled up in a beat up pick up truck (unmarked) and I saw him from upstairs actually try to open the screen door... That was when I changed my trusting ways!

 

[IronWing]

Yes, we open the door to tell them to go a way and stop casing our house.

Way back when I was a student we used to live in a not-so-fresh part of town. One night we heard a knock at the door and opened it to find a rather large young man standing there looking a bit befuddled. He kind of peered into the living room and then turned and left. I'm of two minds on the event. One option is that he came to do a drug deal and realized that he had the wrong house. The second option, which seemed a bit more likely, was that he was planning on robbing our place and when he saw what a dump it was, he just said "screw it" and left.

 

[mrjminer]

I look and see who it is and make the call then depending in the mood I'm in. Most of the time it's a sales person, local political candidate (has actually happened once or twice, they got A's for effort), or just someone going around putting flyers on door handles that wasn't expecting anyone to actually answer their door.

I usually answer it just so they know I'm not interested and don't waste their time bothering me again. Kids usually get a purchase if I have some spare cash.

 

[Raduque]

Once, several years back, a sketchy looking young guy knocked on the door of my last house, about 5-6 months after I moved in. He looked very nervous and jumpy. There was a car with another couple of similar guys parked at the curb blaring rap music. I didn't answer the door, but looked out the window just in time to watch him run back to the car, which sped off.

That was the only time I didn't answer the door. I almost always do.