To say that this is why people don't answer doors

[RachelGreep87]

There a number of scams such as this one where a "damsel in distress" will get into your house and do god knows what.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9244545/Moment-woman-caught-doorbell-cam-trying-way-house-shouting-need-help.html

All of you devil-may-care door openers are potentially welcoming this into your home.

There is no reason to answer the door to unannounced callers.

YABU - I am willing to gamble my life and answer the door at anytime
YANBU - Not answering the door if I'm not expecting anyone

unlocked door and randoms literally walk in unannounced?

I always answer the door and always will.

I never let anyone in who I don't want to let in, or let anyone con me into buying anything I don't want to buy. I just shut the door in that case (and say "no, sorry" if they have been polite to me).

@StillCoughingandLaughing Do you look out the window to see who it is? If not, why not?

How about this one?

Answering the door doesn't have to mean to open them or open them without chain...

I don't understand people who MUST open the door or answer the phone every time the bell or the phone rings. Are they happy to drop everything they are doing every single time?

If am not doing anything, I answer, but if I am busy or can't be arsed, I don't bother.

If you knock in the middle of the night, I'll have a look from upstairs purely to avoid going downstairs.

I have told my kids not to answer the door when they are alone though, they can open an upstairs window, it's much safer.

If I'm in I answer the door. I shout, "Side door please!" and then go out to meet them at the gate. If I don't answer, we'd be trudging to the post office several times every bloody week because we seem to get loads of deliveries and we never know what time they're going to come. We also live in an area that looks rough but actually feels safe.

I'm not clicking on that link but it's the Fail so it's going to make everything seem more terrifying than it really is.

[quote Nicknacky]@StillCoughingandLaughing Do you look out the window to see who it is? If not, why not?[/quote]
Because if they see I’m in they won’t go away.

Yup, opening the door means you have a "devil may care" attitude. It's practically the most reckless thing you can do, right up there with driving along country lanes at 90 with no headlights AND no seatbelt. Answering your door is just asking for trouble.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, everyone I know opens the door. Because my friends and acquaintances aren't fucking weird.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, everyone I know opens the door. Because my friends and acquaintances aren't fucking weird.

or more accurately are not busy 🤷

@StillCoughingandLaughing I chap doors frequently for work purposes. Thankfully the vast majority of people answer.

@ZeroFuchsGiven

Its only on MN I have ever heard of anyone not answering their door.

I don't even lock my door, most people just knock and walk in, including postman, couriers, neighbours.

That’s how I grew up. To such an extent that the one time someone attempted to burgle us, they smashed the dining room window when they could have just opened the kitchen door and walked in!

I live in a very urban area now, so wouldn’t dream of leaving the door unlocked, but do open the door if someone knocks.

Unless it's dark outside or a Nottingham Knocker selling dusters I always open the door or at least speak to the caller from the upstairs window.

The side door is unlocked btw; people who know us generally just walk in when they come to visit. We really don't mind.

I'm one of those miserable fuckers that doesn't answer the door

I will answer it to expected/invited guests, postie, deliveries etc. But I look out the window first to see who it is. If it's a random or an uninvited visitor I don't answer it.

“Gambling with your life” don’t be so bloody hysterical.

Put the chain on the door, open it and then ask what they want. Letting random people into the house is another thing but just opening the door really isn’t putting your life at risk.

And if that screaming woman had knocked in the middle of the night I would have opened an upstairs window to see what was wrong, and offered to call 999 for her if it was an emergency. I would not let anyone in.

There have been a number of videos going around whereby people have opened their doors for parcels and have been ambushed inside their own homes. This has become increasingly common particularly during the pandemic because people have been doing more online shopping
Even if I am expecting a parcel, I open an upstairs window and speak to whoever is knocking. If it is a parcel, I ask them to leave it on my doorstep
I do not allow my dcs to open the door either

[quote Nicknacky]@StillCoughingandLaughing I chap doors frequently for work purposes. Thankfully the vast majority of people answer.[/quote]
What work purposes are these? Are you a delivery driver? If so, I’m expecting you, which is completely different. I don’t not answer the door and then wonder why my shopping hasn’t come. If your ‘work purposes’ are door to door sales or surveys, then no, I won’t be answering.

It would I never occur to me not to open the door. Dh recently opened it to a very drunk woman who was sobbing and trying to sell her dog. He calmed her down, had a nice chat and left with her not selling her dog and telling him how nice he was. He probably spent half and hour with her. I have opened it to a male teen who claimed their friend was unconscious in the park - and he was so we helped out. This all seems normal to be but then when I worked dor the nhs I had an appointment and greeted the woman and walked in and we sat down in the front room as it dawned on me she had no idea who I was. Wrong house. I did just leave though not steal the silver, wee in her loo or let in my gang.

@StillCoughingandLaughing None of those. Police Officer.

I will answer the door if I want to, and that's it. My DH thinks I'm bonkers and that all knocks/phone calls MUST be answered.

I don't believe I'm gambling with my life if I choose to open the door, but equally I have sometimes chosen not to open it if there's a late knock and I'm home alone.

Trick or treaters - don't get me started! I have no Halloween decorations displayed, no bright lights etc. I'll open for the young ones in the early evening, but then teenagers start coming past nine and I definitely will not answer.

There is a well known woman who knocks on doors around where I live asking for money. She claims it is for her children’s milk, but her family have been on SM and said she is a drug user (she is obviously one from looking at her) and that they have her children, and have had for some years.

Mind you, when I was in my early 20s, a long time ago, I was attacked when I was on my way home from working in a pub. This was pre-mobile phone days. I knocked on the doors of several houses but got no response. For that reason, I think I would open the door.

Seriously ? Gamble your life by opening hour door? You do realise that it’s very rare for someone to come knocking at your door with intent to hurt you, never mind kill you.

Well presumably if there’s no answer you can shout ‘Hello, police!’ through the letterbox?