To not answer the door if I don’t know who it is?

[BluntJadeCritic]

I always feel anxious when someone knocks or rings the doorbell, and if I don’t recognise them, I just ignore it. People I know say it could be a friend/family member, or even an emergency, but that seems unlikely. With so many stories about door-to-door salespeople or worse, I feel justified. AIBU for prioritising my comfort and safety over potentially disappointing someone on the other side?

Nope. I've done it on the odd occasion. Although today I did answer to someone trying to flog Scottish Power, and wished I hadn't.

Yes, YABU.

But, on MN, you will get a much higher proportion of telling you it is fine than you would in the population generally, where this would be considered anxiety at a very unhealthy level.

If I didn’t answer the door I’d have a hundred amazon deliveries getting wet on my doorstep.

Unless you live in the Bronx or you’re in witness protection why wouldn’t you answer the door?

Salespeople- just say no thanks and shut the door!

How would you know who it is unless you answer the door?

Don’t you have a spy hole?

What do you think is going to happen to you if you answer the door?

“Prioritise my comfort and safety“? What a load of drama over a flipping door bell ringing.

only on mn is this sort of drama normalised.

If people I’m not expecting or don’t know knock on the door. Not that I don’t answer the door at all. I live on my own, and my deliveries etc I tend to know when they’re coming or when I’m expecting visitors

This is a very contentious issue on MN OP.

Just get a chain fitted, then you can answer it and the visitor cannot easily get into the house.

How do you know who is at the door without answering?

And what unsafe stuff do you think happens to people who answer the door?

MN is a very strange place. Very strange indeed.

I have clearly said if people I don’t know or if I’m not expecting anyone. Not that I do not answer the door at all.

You are ridiculous. Stop being pedantic. I am talking about answering the door to people I don’t know and when I’m not expecting anyone.

Chill.

Get one of those notices to say that you don’t buy things at the door.

Like a PP, there would be parcels on the doorstep if we didn’t answer the door.

Oh really? I didn’t know this. Wouldn’t have posted if I did, thanks for the heads up

If it's seething important they can leave a note.

No problem. Put your hard hat on.

What is it you think is going to happen if you answer the door? Surely the worst you need to deal with is telling someone you don’t want to hear about Jesus/buy dusters/sign up for solar panels? Equally possible it’s a neighbour offering surplus apples or asking you to check in your shed for a stray cat.

I'll be honest, I'm not answering the door either unless I'm expecting someone or a delivery. I'm not looking to be sold anything or enter a discussion about something that I have no interest in on my doorstep.

Yeah why just talk to people when you can leave notes around. The risk of spontaneous combustion is thereby reduced exponentially.

I don't answer it if I'm not expecting a delivery or a visitor. It's not because I am frightened but because I can't be bothered to deal with sales people who I am not going to buy anything from.

I totally understand, when I lived alone I would have felt the same. These days it’s usually an Amazon delivery that I didn’t know about from DH or one of the DC, or one of the teenagers’ friends.

If it makes you feel more secure get a chain on the door or a spy home. Or one of those fancy video doorbells? Or just don’t answer, it’s your house! After all, if it was someone you know, they’d call.

I don’t answer unless I know who it is and even then I don’t answer sometimes. Not because I am nervous or frightened but I honestly can’t be bothered engaging in small talk or bullshit. If I want to talk to you I will, if I don’t.. well I won’t.

It's your front door, do what you want with it. You don't need to justify it to anyone else.