Am I wise or paranoid?

rapunzel47 · Nov 17, 2005

If I can see enough, either through the livingroom or bedroom windows, or through the peephole, to assure me that the person is likely OK, I'll open cautiously -- i.e. on the hasp. Other than that, I'd better be expecting you. Friends/family know there's no parking in front of the house, and come to the back, where they are quite visible.

Are you paranoid? Nope. There's such a lot of home invasion and such these days that you need to make a conscious decision as to what level of precaution is appropriate in your situation and then just do it, without apology.

esrgirl · Nov 17, 2005

I don't either. I usually tiptoe up to the door and peek out the little eye hole. If I don't know who they are I won't answer. Why would any strange person be coming up to my door that I don't know or that isn't wearing a delivery uniform? I'm paranoid too I suppose!

AbbysMom · Nov 17, 2005

There is NO WAY I would have opened the door!

amitya · Nov 17, 2005

if the doorbell rings or someone knocks on my door i will make sure my GSDs are inside and if they persist then i will peek out one of the kids windows because if i walk to the door the person will know someone is home. if i dont know em the dogs are in front of me at our locked storm door. just depends on who/what it is for me.

coolcat · Nov 17, 2005

Originally Posted by captiva

Hmmm... Rigel ... Do you get the show Medium in Mexico?

I can see..... I see you right now and I see that you are at work and I see that you should be working instead of teasing me !!!!!

Oh My!...

....really she can do it!...

....Better I run!...

...

......

.............

xocats · Nov 17, 2005

If you were not expecting a delivery & the van was not painted with a company logo that looked familiar (the phone co.) & no one called to tell you they were coming & last but not least, they did not leave a note...you were wise.
Better safe than sorry.

gia_c · Nov 17, 2005

yea if you were home alone/didnt recognize the people..WISE! sometime i'll peak out another window to see who the heck is out there..most the time its just the kid neighbors..or a church person. onetime i was on the phone near the front door (and we have a long vertical window next to our door) the blinds were open and i was paying attention and someone knocked/rang the door bell. i forget..but when i answered there was no one there ...but i think it was just some kids because i saw little wet footprints from a puddle near by. but now that im alone in my apt i get very weary when someone knocks, lol. but that never happens..no one every knocks except a pizza delivery guy!

gia_c · Nov 17, 2005

Originally Posted by OllyExtra05

Same here. Luckily for us, we have a gate with a buzzer, so they can't even get as far as the front door without us buzzing them in. If I'm not expecting anyone and don't recognize them, they don't get in the gate.

that is awesome..i want that...

krazy kat2 · Nov 17, 2005

Just because you aren't paranoid, don't meant they ain't out to get you!

NO way would I have opened the door. My friends know to call first, or knock and stand back where I can see them. I keep a big stick and a small Ruger close at hand when I am home alone.

sashacat421 · Nov 17, 2005

You are wise and smart to be hesitant and not open the door. Think of it like this: 100 years ago most folks had a rifle behind their front door. If anybody came a'knockin' without forthright identification then they were greeted with that rifle. In my book, not much has changed.

leto86 · Nov 18, 2005

Originally Posted by ScamperFarms

I have big dogs..so I am dumb I usually answer lol

Big dog here too.. that will attack on command

dixie_darlin · Nov 18, 2005

Originally Posted by Leto86

Big dog here too.. that will attack on command

I have a big dog that attacks on command too... but he's usually at work during the day

leto86 · Nov 18, 2005

Originally Posted by DixieDarlin256

I have a big dog that attacks on command too... but he's usually at work during the day

If Apollo wasn't here, I most likely wouldn't answer the door, but I feel safe when he's here

But he is always here, so I don't know why he wouldn't be

I self taught him.. but I plan on taking him to actual Protection courses in the spring.

katl8e · Nov 18, 2005

I always peek first. If it is obviously Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons, I don't answer. If I see a FedEx or UPS truck, I'll answer (I do a lot of catalog shopping). Any other stranger can just move along.

I have a wrought-iron security screen, that has to be unlocked with a key, two large dogs and a gun.

Since we pretty much live in the family room (back of the house), family and friends usually come around back. Strangers won't come into the back yard, because of the dogs.

NEVER open your door to a stranger, if you're home alone. If your "Spidey-sense" tingles, listen to it. It may save your life.

huggles · Nov 18, 2005

I havent read this thread - but isnt it sad that we have to think like this...

Originally Posted by katl8e

NEVER open your door to a stranger, if you're home alone. If your "Spidey-sense" tingles, listen to it. It may save your life.

and living in australia this freaks me out too

Originally Posted by katl8e

....... and a gun

dawnofsierra · Nov 18, 2005

Very wise! I, too, only answer the door if I'm expecting someone.

purr · Nov 18, 2005

Originally Posted by catsknowme

I am like you and usually don't answer the door. Good manners suggests that one should call first! And if they don't want to have common courtesy, they don't deserve my attention!

BTW, you might mention what happened to law enforcement. Once my sis was observing a van in her condo complex parking lot and felt "funny" about it. (it was daytime & most of the residents were at work). I told her to call her neighbor who did daycare, who brought the kids in from her backyard. Anyway, the cops were able to send an officer who apparently found enough of a cause to stop & question the guys, and the guys all had warrants out for them; one was in violation of parole for a previous crime where he assaulted an homeowner during a botched burglary! So, ya never know.....

Wow! Scary! And smart.

I don't answer the door if I don't know them, but then I worry that they're just checking to see if anyone is home.

Sometimes I feel silly, like they for sure know that I'm home and just not answering.

I live in a small town, so things like that are rare occurances, but they do happen.

I'm always worried about someone breaking in when I'm home anyway, and that Cupid will run off and not come to me so I can lock the doors to a room and call the police.

Especially when I am in the shower. I know it's definately too many horror flicks for me!

carolpetunia · Nov 18, 2005

Even when I go to the peephole and see that it's apparently an apartment maintenance person or a Girl Scout or something like that, I still put on a little show: "Jack," I shout, "hold the dogs, I'm going to answer the door!" I wait a second, as if listening for my imaginary husband's response, and then shout, "Got 'em both? Okay," and only THEN do I open the door. :-)

(My imaginary dogs, by the way, are a Golden Retriever and an Irish Wolfhound. Maybe someday...)

menagerie mama · Nov 18, 2005

Wise. I don't answer the door either.

Am I wise or paranoid?

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