Do you snoop in other people's houses?

[IThinkButImNotSureIAm]

I was discussing with a family member about how neither of us ever really snoop in other people’s houses.

The only thing I did was as a child I'd play dress up in my DM's clothes and makeup. My DS never played with our DM's clothes but she was always looking in every cabinet and cupboard in the house. She would always find our Christmas presents before they were even wrapped! But she doesn't do it anymore, and I don't think she ever looked in other people's cupboards.

But it made me wonder, do most people have a quick look in the cupboards and cabinets in other people’s houses?

If you do snoop around, why? And what is the most unexpected thing you have found?

I doubt many would admit it even anonymously.

But yes i reckon sheer nosiness drives many people to do this if they are in a situation where they won’t get caught!

Who would actually do that? Ridiculous invasion of privacy :/

No I don't because I wouldn't want people rummaging through my drawers and it's also none of my business what's in them. As a kid I would open my grandma's cabinet and look at the ornaments.

No.

It was actually MN that made me conscious people do this. So I keep all private stuff in our bedroom and only the lounge/kitchen door is open. I keep medication in there too.

It's a flat, so some nosey parkers have asked if they can look in our or DC room and I say no and don't invite them back. It's hard enough keeping a small place tidy.

Snooping...eugh. It's not a heist movie if you go to your friend for coffee.

Yes people do, I only have a toilet upstairs which I hate as people definitely snoop when they go upstairs....

*medication in the bedroom I mean

I don’t but my SIL does, I caught her at it. She was stickybeaking through my and DH’s wardrobe when they came for a weekend one time. She’s shameless. Unsurprisingly she no longer gets invited to stay here.

My FIL does. We only have an upstairs loo and I hear him going into all the bedrooms every time he goes up there. It's bloody rude!

I don’t really understand having the opportunity for a proper snoop. If you’re at someone’s house and go to the loo, even if you desperately wanted to, who would have the nerve (or the time) to actually start going through the bedroom drawers.

UK A NATION OF SNOOPERS

The Daily Mail can reveal that the UK are a nation of nosey parkers. A survey conducted by Mumsnet found that nearly half of respondents could not help but take a sneaky peek around the homes of friends and family when the opportunity arose. Favourite snooping places included bedside draws and bathroom cupboards. A Mumsnet member known as 'TinklyLaughFeedaFamilyforaweekonachicken' breathlessly boasted that she loved seeking out sex toys. "I don't know why I do it but I was thrilled to discover that my quiet and bookish neighbour friend owned a 14" butt plug and a dildo in the shape of David Hasslehoff". Special report continues on pages 2,3,4,5 and 6.

Wow @BeetleyCarapace, what did she say when she was caught? Has anyone else caught someone red-handed?

The only thing I like taking note of in other people's houses is what handwash/shampoo/shower gel they use if I go to the bathroom. But I don't look in cupboards for these, only if they're out on display.

My mum snoops openly in front of me, I’m not sure if that’s classed as snooping. She’ll open a drawer downstairs and pull things out like “oh what’s this? Ooh that’s interesting. Why have you got this?” until I physically take it off her, shut the drawer and then it’s “ooh touchy, what have you got in there you want to hide!”
It’s bloody annoying. And especially annoying because if her mother did it to her, she’d absolutely not tolerate it.

@IThinkButImNotSureIAm

Wow *@BeetleyCarapace*, what did she say when she was caught? Has anyone else caught someone red-handed?

I did. It was about 16 years ago, my in-laws came to visit for a few days. My husband and I caught his mother, in our bedroom, snooping through my drawers. It was an ordeal to say the least.

I would never, ever snoop in someone else's home. I know how it feels.

No I dont.

Never and I would be very shocked if someone did that at my house

No. I might have a good look round at what I can see in the rooms that I'm invited into and I do have a good look at twilight when walking past houses with lights on and curtains open, but I wouldn't dream of opening cupboards when a guest in others' houses.

I will admit that if you've got your calendar or other notes on the fridge, I can't resist.

I caught a friend of DH's red handed. This was very recently. He invited himself to stay. In order to make room for a last minute guest I had to stuff extra things into a spare room so there was room for him and his GF. The door to the spare room waskept shut.

On the last night of the stay (and when DH had gone to bed) DH's friend had a few glasses of wine and then proceeded to tell me everything he thought we were doing wrong with our house; etc. Including criticising our decor and from the things he was saying it was clear he had opened up a shut door to snoop in the spare room.

I was fucking furious. Next day I told DH and his comment was 'Oh, we will tell him if he pulls that stunt again he doesnt get to stay again'. I said that no, he doesn;t get to stay again. Ever.

This was merely the latest in many years of entitlement, arrogance and rudeness we have had at the hands of DH's friend. I have sucked it up for DH's sake but it was the last straw. He will never step foot in my house again.

I had a friend babysit for me once and I know for a FACT she snooped through our post...which included payslips and bills. The reason I know is because I ALWAYS have them in date order and they were completely mixed up when I got back.

No.

I love seeing inside people's houses as I'm naturally interested in decor and how people live. I have a home Instagram account for inspiration and look on Rightmove regularly.

But I would never ever snoop around in anyone's cupboards or drawers as that is a huge violation of someone's privacy.

As a small child I used to play in my grandma's house and used to open cupboards and drawers. To me it was just a game.

When I was older my mother used to snoop through my things, looking in my wardrobe to see if I had bought anything new and asking the price. She also opened letters addressed to me until I got an accommodation address. My grandmother showed me a room in her house where I could store clothes and other things I wanted to keep private and assured me no one would interfere with them. I never again looked in my grandma's things. By then I had learned some respect for the privacy of others.

Fortunately I have a downstairs loo.

No, I don't go looking in cupboards or in rooms that are closed off but I do look at photos and sometimes cards that are on display (I always ask first) and I wonder about any other trinkets and ornaments they have on show.

Same as packedinthuk. I like to see how people have decorated their homes and will be quite observant with the rooms I'm shown. Not too bothered about the contents of drawers or cupboards though.

@simitra I'm glad I wasn't the only nosey child . Perhaps some people grow out of it and some people don't. I'm horrified at some of the nosey people you all have encountered.