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.

Mostly I answer. However I am hiding from the veg delivery guy after he thought the "Bye Love" I yelled to DH as I left the house was aimed at him.

I thought he'd already driven off but back came a reply

what's with all the bonkers number blocking, for the crime of having phoned you. is this real life?

@MurderAtTheBeautyPageant I block shed loads but ones where they are spam/scams
Installed an app that tells me!

Utterly bizarre thread.
Of course I answer the door

@jugglingjugs Did you realise before 1995 ALL calls you got were unannounced? Phone rang - you answered it - that's how you got to find out who was calling you. How on earth would you have managed??

If you were that curious as to who was knocking on your door why on earth didn't you answer it??

I never realised how many people don't answer the door until Mumsnet showed me, but that's up to them. It would only bother me if I were knocking, which I'd be doing only if I had a legitimate reason. I would hate to be so scared I actually hid though. What are you scared of?

I do ignore unknown numbers because 99% of the time they're scams and answering shows the number is active, so it really is best to ignore those. If it's legit, they'll leave a message or email.

No, I always get the door and answer the phone. But I am genuinely interested in understanding why someone wouldn't?
I only read on some other posts here of people not answering the door and I found it odd. Even if it was evening or I was home alone, I would at least pick out of a window or ask who is it without actually opening the door, surely?
But I am even more intrigued by all the people don't answering calls if they don't see who is calling them. Genuinely, why? What horrible thing could happen if you do?
If an unknown number calls me and I don't pick up I normally even call them back! It could be -and generally is- a courier who is looking for my house, the hospital confirming an appointment, the hairdresser cancelling a booking....

I don't tend to answer the door either if I'm not expecting anyone/anything. I did answer last week and was stuck there for 15 minutes answering a survey about the bbc because i didn't have the heart to say no🙄
That'll teach me!

It means real people, in real life. As opposed to the Mumsnet usernames who are claiming to never answer the door or phone as they find it desperately ‘intrusive’. 😂

We even have posters mentioning Jill Dando as a reason to never answer the door.

This place has long-since fallen off the axis of reason, so I’m not sure why I find it so bonkers.

Mmm, me too. I thought this thread was a wind-up when I read the OP.

I’m with you OP I don’t answer the door either unless I know someone is coming

😆 but the point is you don’t know who’s at the door. If you have Ring doorbell so high-res you can read a name badge, fair enough, but otherwise, how can call it boundaries when you haven’t a scooby who’s actually there and why?? Same with phone calls.

And as the OP has openly admitted she’s dying of curiosity, despite running and hiding, you look a bit of a plonker aligning your own behaviour with hers.

Now I understand why the postman is always leaving neighbours’ parcels with me!

So did I, and I really hope it is. Because it makes the great swathes of doorbell avoiders look like plums.

No you're not the only one. But this is MN you'll likely be called all sorts of weirdo for not flinging your front door open wide anytime the bell goes. I don't understand why you hide when the bell rings tho...?

I can see out of my window if its the postman, neighbour, family, friends etc. Family and friends don't drop by unannounced anyway. Too many Jehovah witnesses, people trying to sell you an internet or utilities package, etc. I won't get off my chair to open front door to them and I don't feel under any particular obligation to do so.

I think this is a reddit or tattle wind up and you are falling for it.

flinging your front door open wide anytime the bell goes.

I think most people just open it.

For those who thinks it's weird not to answer, I am not scared, just don't want to be inconvenienced as I've got enough on my plate thanks.

Maybe get a video doorbell. A Google or Ring for example

But I am even more intrigued by all the people don't answering calls if they don't see who is calling them. Genuinely, why? What horrible thing could happen if you do?

The mistake you are making is assuming people think something horrible is going to happen.

When it's simply a case of not wanting / needing an intrusive call right there, right now.

If it's important they'll leave a message.

I have no problem in telling callers and religious groups that I'm not interested, thanks. I will often answer the door to parcel deliveries; if I don't, I have an arrangement with most as to where they can leave the goods.

If I'm WFH and in my study, I usually don't. My work requires a lot of concentration and I dislike having that interrupted. I stay behind my desk, working. I don't trouble to hide.

99% of my phone calls come through to my mobile. The land-line is barely used and on a no cold calls list. If a call comes through on that I'll answer, as it's likely to be urgent. I'll only answer my mobile if I can see who's calling.

Answer the door and phone or don't as you see fit. Who cares? It's your house.

I'm just not computing the angst.

I don't answer the door unless I know who it is, I am far more worried its my aggressive ex than I am about missing a parcel to be honest!

Got it. It's probably that our brains are wired a little different and it's perfectly ok. I was just genuinely curious to understand the thought process. For instance, while I understand not wanting to be distracted in that moment, I personally find way more frustrating having to chase up that person/listen to that voice message/call back three times as the caller is now busy/get the parcel from a neighbour as I didn't open the door to the courier/etc.

I personally find way more frustrating having to chase up that person/listen to that voice message/call back three times as the caller is now busy/get the parcel from a neighbour as I didn't open the door to the courier/etc.

99.9 percent of the time I find I made the right decision by not picking up. Sometimes I quickly Google the number whilst it ringing, and much of the time it's some sort of negative number so I block it. If it's work or friends they normally email / text. Unless it's my mum. But I can see it's her anyway.

What am I reading, how many middle class wannabes who want to chat knock on your door randomly that it’s an issue for you?

😂😂😂😂 indeed. However I shall practice flinging it wide open , maybe with a little drum role. The next time someone rings.