I'm sitting on the settee and flicking aimlessly through TV channels relaxing after work and I hear some tapetty-tapping at next door. I ignored it until I realised it had changed to tapping and then banging on my door. (As an aside, why the fuck do people bang on doors/door glass when there's a perfectly adequate doorbell?)
Expecting it to be next door's husband asking to climb over the back fence again, I opened it, only to find the expected hulking bloke in his 40s wasn't there; it was a smallish, middleaged woman with big glasses on, who then squeaked at me 'Could you give me two or three pounds, please?'.
Instead of my usual RL diplomacy and tact (the internet doesn't count), I gave her my best Angry Teacher 'NO' and slammed the door.
We have a LOT of street beggars and drinkers on the main road, but wandering round to the quiet, dark residential area to knock on doors for money has annoyed me beyond all belief. The OH shot upstairs to check whether there was somebody with her hanging back, but couldn't see anybody as she walked off to try the other houses.
I'm furious. The daily 'Scuse me' brigade is an occupational hazard living near shops, several supported living blocks and a halfway house and I'm used to telling them 'Not got anything' and carrying on my way - but knocking on doors really annoys the hell out of me.
I'm not entirely an arsehole offline. There is a scale of response;
- Religious groups. I'm sure they think they're helping, so they get told 'No, thank you' politely.
- Chuggers. You think it's OK to turn up at the door and try to 'charm' people into giving you their bank details? No. And The Look in case they even think about trying to guilt me into keeping the door open and try to speak over me.
- BNP/UKIP/Assorted demented independent candidates. Never seem to have dared to knock. Just as well, because if I ever catch one at my door, they will have a second arsehole of their own before they escape.
- Beggars, scam artists and general nefarious scum. There's a special place for you right next to Donald Tusk's list.
I don't feel like this about small children who run up to point and shout at the cat in the window whose parents really should control them more, rather than let them run yards ahead and into people's gardens I welcome Trick or Treaters happily every year and I'm fine with the one man who can knock on my door and gets handed a tenner every time (the windowcleaner) - but I know I'll still be annoyed about this evening's knock for ages yet.
Anybody else here secretly wish for eight foot high security gates so that only people you want to get near you can?