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.

This is ridiculous. Of course I answer the door.

Yes, it’s a terrible burden on my life not opening the door to cold callers. Having boundaries is awful.

I always answer the door. It will be a delivery or a neighbour, occasionally an unexpected but welcome friend. If it's unwanted, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses or a canvasser for some elections I just say no thanks and shut the door.

Same with the phone really.

I don't find it stressful, it doesn't ruin my day and I'm more than capable of dealing with unwanted people. I appreciate other people might find it harder though.

Haha, this. As if I'm 'afraid of life' because I don't open the door to random strangers.

I've a ring door bell. So I can always see who's at the door. I highly reccomend them

I can deal with most scenarios too but I don't want to waste my time doing so.

Middle class wannabes? What? How is that a regular issue for you?

It's just you... I would open door unless v late at night

The lack of bloody empathy on this thread is awful. There are multiple reasons why people wouldn’t want to answer the door ranging from the inconvenience to the safety aspects. Maybe consider this before calling people “weirdos”

Anyway for me I rarely do because honestly I switch the doorbell off when I am working, as on calls most of the day so can’t/don’t want to be disturbed. Then most times I do usually forget to switch it on again once I am done

If I am getting deliveries then they will usually be tracked so I can look out for them but the only deliveries to the house tend to be food and Deliveroo’s tracker tells you when it’s a minute away so someone will go and open the door and it’s usually when they are waking up the drive

Amazon goes to the Amazon locker in the shop down the street so either I or DP will grab it as someone will be passing the shop at some point and you get a few days to collect.

Other things like Next, Boots, etc will be picked up from the local shopping centre as we tend to be in at least once at the weekend for the cinema or to go for food.

Pick up of online orders is so much more convenient than hanging about waiting at home or then interrupting your day if you are working

Friends and family will always text before heading over. They would never turn up uninvited and I wouldn’t do that to someone either, it’s rude in my opinion

Luckily my street are friendly but people keep to themselves so I won’t have a random neighbour popping by for a chat or bringing a cake

I don’t answer the door unless I know someone is coming round, Im expecting a delivery or I can see through the peephole that it’s a neighbour. I live in a rough area. I’m not scared or anxious - I just know from experience that anyone else knocking on my door besides the above is a time waster.

For those who don't answer the phone, remember that it could be hospital or GP trying to book you an appointment. When I worked in a hospital people would not answer the phone offering the appointment and then get annoyed at the short notice of the snail mail letter.

I love the idea of having a "middle class wannabe" problem. People knocking on my door saying "Remind me-is it living room or lounge? Am I supposed to eat lunch or dinner at 1.00?" 🤣

I have a ring doorbell for this reason as people unexpectedly coming to my house would give me a panic attack,as I have several mental health conditions. I have to answer unknown numbers and withheld though as its usually my Care team. If it makes you so anxious that you hide,then I think maybe you should see your gp as this is not the norm.

Why is MN like this?? 😭😂

OP this is NOT normal.

I've never met anyone in real life who can't function like half of MN seem to struggle with, maybe because they are all at home hiding in their kitchens?

You are not unreasonable, you are plain weird. Why on earth wouldn't you answer your door!

We have deliveries nearly every day but always look through the window first of all. Could you not have just looked through the window first?

I think a middle class wannabee would knock on the door to tell you that they'd bought a pomegranate and you only had bananas, so nerr.

It's almost as if they've found the list of MN tropes

Does MN attract a higher than average proportion of disturbed people or is this a general representation of the general population?

Surely there can’t be so many odd people walking among us that can’t manage to answer the door or their phone.

I don't answer the phone to unknown numbers, and if they don't leave a message I usually block the number.

It's very strange behaviour...the doorbell rings you answer it..

The middle class wannabes near here set up patronising things for the poor..
Then they go door to door in the scum areas I live in to try and drum up interest.

Imagine a gaggle of Hyacinth Buckets visiting the front gardens of a council estate and asking a gang of Oslows if they want to go to suppers at the church hall..
"it'll be ever so pleasant with organ music and the vicar handing out scones, oh please do come along.. were having a tombola, you might win some Harding and Bayliss that we got from John Lewis, won't that be fun for you?"

Maybe that's just.my town..

Showing off their new Stunt pineapple...

that's a strange thing to do.

Me too. I only answer the door if I am expecting a friend/family. Never to randoms. Same thing with phone. If someone phones my mobile whose number I don't recognise I immediately block & report them!