Am I the only person who never opens their front door to anyone?

[jugglingjugs]

I just heard my front door go, so I hid in the kitchen out of sight, no idea who it was but I'm now very curious.
I wasn't expecting anyone, if it was family I would have answered because they wouldn't come unannounced.
I also never answer my phone if I don't recognise the number. Is this just me or does anyone else do this?
I have never really thought about why until now.

Is this for real? Or a wind up thread in the spirit of MN stereotypes?

But no, most people live normally.

No I answer the door and answer the phone.

My DH orders so much stuff online that I'm opening the door to unknown people most days. DH is disabled so I do tend to be the door monitor.

Very very odd behaviour.

No, it would add an extra layer of difficulty to my life. I’d just have a lot of parcels redirected to the depot and miss a lot of client phone calls and calls from banks, solicitors etc.

I’d have gone into the hall and shouted HELLO? to find out who it was, would never open the door until I knew who was at the other side of it

My phone hardly ever rings, don’t know if I’d answer an unknown number or not

I always look through the window to see who it is first, nothing wrong with being safe.

I always answer it as it's most likely a delivery, if it was a random time and I wasn't expecting anyone I might check the ring doorbell quickly before answering.

Of course that isn't normal behaviour! Hiding when you hear the doorbell?!

Well I do check who it is before I answer & if it’s my annoying neighbour/canvassers/charity or a delivery for a neighbour then I ignore it but I don’t hide also I won’t answer calls that have ‘withheld number’ as it’s usually scam rubbish

I can see on the ring doorbell who is there so often don't as it is normally someone selling something or looking for donations. I do not hide though. The hiding is odd. I just don't move from my perch.

I never open the front door either unless I know it’s a relative/friend who would have text before or for a parcel that I’m expecting that’s tracked so I know it’s the delivery person.

I also don’t answer calls that are not contacts in my phone books as 9/10 it’s a scam caller calling about debt schemes or loans etc.

I do hide from the window cleaner, and I know I’m not alone in that !

Why, out of interest? Surely they’re knocking to say they’ve completed their job and collect their pay. Why would you hide?

No, I pay by bank transfer, it’s what he prefers. Ive always done it, from being a child. It’s something to do with not wanting to be seen in my own house.

Mumsnet is a fascinating insight into people’s neuroses.

I've a front porch, so I just open the inner door to see who it is, and if it's not someone I know or a delivery, I just tell them I'm not interested through the door.

Same with phone calls, I look at caller display and if it's a withheld or unknown number, I'll let it go to answerphone.

I usually answer, it's usually a postman or our neighbour (who I like). We have a frosted glass bit on our door and if it looks like charity people, I'll hide though!

Oh I'm with Dusty; I hide when they're working. There's only so much nodding and smiling through glass I'm prepared to do before it starts turning into interpretive mime.

I don't hide when they want paying (although ours is done by direct debit now anyway).

We had someone knock on our door to inform us that the TV aerial had fallen down our roof, if we hadn't have answered the door it might have toppled onto the cars below by the time it was noticed. Not all doorstep callers are unwelcome.
And by all means don't answer, but then why be curious? It was an active decision by you to not find out.

I always answer door and phone. But my dd who lives alone doesn't answer her door if she's not expecting anyone. She always arranges pick ups rather than delivery.
For her it's more a safety issue. I'm just nosey and have fomo.

Does mummy know you've got her phone?

No, I always answer. If it's charity people or Jehova's witnesses or whatever I just say 'Sorry I am in the middle of something/I'm doing baby's dinner/whatever' and close the door again. Hiding feels a bit weird - do you just stand stock still in your kitchen until you think they've gone? When do you judge it safe to emerge?

I always answer the door. I have deliveries and lovely neighbours/friends who often drop off things like cake.
If they're cold callers, I just let them know that I'm busy or not interested.

I never answer calls that look strange with weird international looking numbers but a reasonable or even a withheld number gets answered.

I don't think hiding is usual.

Is this just me or does anyone else do this?
Hmm. So you, who doesn't open the door or answer the phone, would like me to open your thread and post an answer ...