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AIBU?

To think that people who keep their curtains closed all day must be ill, or hiding something?

540 replies

Bluedeblue · 16/06/2021 17:26

The first thing that I do, when I get up in the morning, is to open the curtains. Possibly a window as well, to let a breeze in. There are a few houses nearby, who never open any curtains. Bedroom and lounge curtains are always firmly closed, even on lovely summer days. The gardens are unkempt and scruffy, all the paintwork is peeling. But someone definitely living there, as in one case, a brand new car on the drive and I've seen pizza delivery to the other. Does anyone else find this really odd, and think that there must be something amiss with these people? It must be so dark inside. I find it almost a bit creepy.

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Am I being unreasonable?

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NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 16/06/2021 17:28

We have privacy blinds that might make it look like the curtains are closed, when they absolutely aren't. Could you be seeing this? On very hot days we close curtains on the south facing wall to try and reduce heat.

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NailsNeedDoing · 16/06/2021 17:31

There could be lots of reasons why they want privacy or less light, it’s quite mean of you to jump to the conclusion that it’s something creepy.

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MilduraS · 16/06/2021 17:31

I open the curtains once DH is up and dressed (he has a tendency to walk around naked in the mornings). All fine when I'm working from home but when I'm in the office I normally come home and all of the curtains are still closed. I don't know how he does it, I'd hate to be sat in a dark house all day.

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AnUnoriginalUsername · 16/06/2021 17:32

I think you might be my neighbour! 😂 our front curtains stay closed because I don't like people walking down the street looking in, it feels invasive. And our garden is scruffy because we're too busy with work and it's not a priority.

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NcagainNC · 16/06/2021 17:33

I keep all my curtains shut on ‘lovely summer days’ especially because it keeps my house cool

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Bythemillpond · 16/06/2021 17:33

Maybe they don’t want nosy neighbours looking in

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Badyboo · 16/06/2021 17:33

We never open our curtains. House is directly on the street, so it would be very awkward if we did!

We have curtains which let a lovely amount of sunlight through.

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EntitledExtensionBuildingTwits · 16/06/2021 17:34

So people like you don't peer in?

We are very overlooked and we have entitled extension-building twits in the house behind, who seem to think it is OK for their wretched brats to use binoculars to look at us. The extension has been swarming with noisy builders for months (on days when they are at work or school only, so it doesn't disturb them).

So, yes, we often have our curtains closed.

Not to mention in this heat, it keeps the house cool to close windows on the sunny side.

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the80sweregreat · 16/06/2021 17:34

I'm not hiding anything. I hate the hot weather and will open them up once the weather cools down a lot more!

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grapewine · 16/06/2021 17:35

Want for privacy is not dodgy

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trappedsincesundaymorn · 16/06/2021 17:35

My mother always kept the curtains closed in her lounge because she was worried that the sunlight would fade the furniture. The only time they were ever opened was if she was having non-family visitors or Christmas Day.

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MagicMojito · 16/06/2021 17:36

I ALWAYS have my curtains/blinds shut. I just like to shut the world out when I'm at home. Same as above poster I dont want people looking in as feels strangely invasive. Dh likes them open so he walks round the house opening them and I follow him closing them again Grin

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Blueberrycreampie · 16/06/2021 17:36

@NcagainNC

I keep all my curtains shut on ‘lovely summer days’ especially because it keeps my house cool

Yes, me too, helps to keep the bedroom cool with the window open.👍
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Gizlotsmum · 16/06/2021 17:36

Keep them closed in hot weather to keep house cool

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MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 16/06/2021 17:36

I was brought up outside the UK and you don't open the shutters to let the light in, you keep them closed to keep the sun out so it seems normal to me.

I keep my bedroom curtains shut all day every day otherwise it's belting hot in there at bedtime.

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megletthesecond · 16/06/2021 17:37

I was just pondering this as I walked home. There's a couple of houses in our grotty estate who never ever open their curtains. It's weird.

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ErickBroch · 16/06/2021 17:37

Ours are shut mostly to keep the house cool in heat, or the front of our house blinds/curtains closed as passerbys are close and could see right in. DP and I usually wearing minimal clothing and looking like trolls!

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 16/06/2021 17:37

YABU & judgemental.

we keep some curtains & blinds closed to keep the heat out, others to give us privacy.

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DelurkingAJ · 16/06/2021 17:39

We used to be in the situation where in winter we left for work in the dark and came home in the dark. Meant we got out of the habit of opening curtains unless we’re in the room in daylight. Nothing to hide here!

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RiotView · 16/06/2021 17:39

My house opens directly on to the street so I'd feel very exposed if I opened the curtains!

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looptheloopinahulahoop · 16/06/2021 17:40

Sometimes I just forget to open them!

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Excilente · 16/06/2021 17:40

we keep ours closed for several reasons.. keeping nosy looky-lou's out of staring in. to stop the dog going off at anything that breaths/moves outside the window, to keep the sun/heat out.

The only thing we're 'hiding' is my habit of roaming around in just my bra when its hot.

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FakeColinCaterpillar · 16/06/2021 17:40

We have some neighbours who in the 10 years they have lived there never open the blinds or windows. They’re a young professional couple and honestly I think it’s weird. I feel mostly sorry for their dog.
One of their dads comes round when they are away and the first thing he does is open windows/blinds.

My MIL HATED opening the curtains. On every window she had nets, pull down blinds and curtains. She hated the idea anyone might see her inside. She didn’t really open windows really. The air quality inside was horrible.

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Excilente · 16/06/2021 17:41

our garden facing windows/curtains are generally open ,as no-one out there to look in.

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Vanishun · 16/06/2021 17:41

We keep some closed with curtains over them on one side of the house for privacy.

Having said that, someone below us never ever opens any of their windows (or if they do, we never see or hear it) and it baffles us - we're in a new build which is a heat trap and I don't know how they manage it.

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