Neighbor mad I didn’t answer the door. Was I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Just reply sorry, I'm sick with the flu. Didn't want to infect anyone. They are super rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work part time and my hours vary, but I’m home sick with the flu today. My car is in the driveway from taking the kids to school, so it looks like someone is home.

I was half asleep on the couch when I heard someone stomp onto my porch, and then loud talking. I figured it was a solicitor leaving a flyer so I stayed put, even though the talking continued longer than you would expect. There was never a knock or ring of the doorbell.

Suddenly, my phone rang from in the kitchen. I got up to look and saw it was my neighbor across the street. She’s older and sort of a busybody, so I thought she was calling to tell me someone was on my porch. I walked to a front room to peek out the window to see if I could see whoever it was walking away, and I saw my neighbor walking back up her driveway. I quickly texted her back and told her I was sorry, and asked if she needed anything. She said simply “never mind”.

I just got a text from her husband that basically said that it’s rude not to answer the door for a neighbor, what if there had been an emergency, that we have kids and they may need a neighbor one day.

I’m feeling awful, but also a little annoyed. Do you always answer your door, even if you are sick? Was the way I handled this wrong? Thoughts?

This was your mistake. You should have texted an hour or so LATER "Hi Gladys, I see I missed your call earlier. I am home with the flu, did you need something? DH will be home soon"

+1

I would reply to the husband - I'm home with the flu, I sent Gladys a text when I saw it was her and she said she did not need anything. Have a nice afternoon.

Replys like this are pathetic. The only reply I would bother to send is one that told him he was being rude and completely inappropriate for sending you such a text and demand he apologize. That is setting a boundary. It tells him you are putting up with his nonsense BS and the chance that he tries it again will be very slim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work part time and my hours vary, but I’m home sick with the flu today. My car is in the driveway from taking the kids to school, so it looks like someone is home.

I was half asleep on the couch when I heard someone stomp onto my porch, and then loud talking. I figured it was a solicitor leaving a flyer so I stayed put, even though the talking continued longer than you would expect. There was never a knock or ring of the doorbell.

Suddenly, my phone rang from in the kitchen. I got up to look and saw it was my neighbor across the street. She’s older and sort of a busybody, so I thought she was calling to tell me someone was on my porch. I walked to a front room to peek out the window to see if I could see whoever it was walking away, and I saw my neighbor walking back up her driveway. I quickly texted her back and told her I was sorry, and asked if she needed anything. She said simply “never mind”.

I just got a text from her husband that basically said that it’s rude not to answer the door for a neighbor, what if there had been an emergency, that we have kids and they may need a neighbor one day.

I’m feeling awful, but also a little annoyed. Do you always answer your door, even if you are sick? Was the way I handled this wrong? Thoughts?

This was your mistake. You should have texted an hour or so LATER "Hi Gladys, I see I missed your call earlier. I am home with the flu, did you need something? DH will be home soon"

+1

I would reply to the husband - I'm home with the flu, I sent Gladys a text when I saw it was her and she said she did not need anything. Have a nice afternoon.

Replys like this are pathetic. The only reply I would bother to send is one that told him he was being rude and completely inappropriate for sending you such a text and demand he apologize. That is setting a boundary. It tells him you are putting up with his nonsense BS and the chance that he tries it again will be very slim.

+1. You owe them no answers. If you do text him back, tell him that they should text before they want to come over for anything specific.

[Anonymous]

F that drama

[Anonymous]

Girl, please. I don't answer the door for unexpected knocks.

First of all, I'm usually undressed. Second of all, I don't want to be disturbed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work part time and my hours vary, but I’m home sick with the flu today. My car is in the driveway from taking the kids to school, so it looks like someone is home.

I was half asleep on the couch when I heard someone stomp onto my porch, and then loud talking. I figured it was a solicitor leaving a flyer so I stayed put, even though the talking continued longer than you would expect. There was never a knock or ring of the doorbell.

Suddenly, my phone rang from in the kitchen. I got up to look and saw it was my neighbor across the street. She’s older and sort of a busybody, so I thought she was calling to tell me someone was on my porch. I walked to a front room to peek out the window to see if I could see whoever it was walking away, and I saw my neighbor walking back up her driveway. I quickly texted her back and told her I was sorry, and asked if she needed anything. She said simply “never mind”.

I just got a text from her husband that basically said that it’s rude not to answer the door for a neighbor, what if there had been an emergency, that we have kids and they may need a neighbor one day.

I’m feeling awful, but also a little annoyed. Do you always answer your door, even if you are sick? Was the way I handled this wrong? Thoughts?

This was your mistake. You should have texted an hour or so LATER "Hi Gladys, I see I missed your call earlier. I am home with the flu, did you need something? DH will be home soon"

+1

I would reply to the husband - I'm home with the flu, I sent Gladys a text when I saw it was her and she said she did not need anything. Have a nice afternoon.

Replys like this are pathetic. The only reply I would bother to send is one that told him he was being rude and completely inappropriate for sending you such a text and demand he apologize. That is setting a boundary. It tells him you are putting up with his nonsense BS and the chance that he tries it again will be very slim.

^^^ Agree! I'm the last PP. I would have also said something similar to this. I'm not apologizing for not wanting to be bothered in my own house.

[Anonymous]

"sorry, next time tell Karen to knock, I am not a mind reader nor do I have x-ray vision. Toodles."

[Anonymous]

If they have your number and need something call.

[Anonymous]

They can go F themselves! How rude they are! You are under NO Obligation to open the door. Sick, shower, busy with a porno and a dildo, WTH you want to do in your own home. If it's an emergency she can dial 911.

You text him back that you have the flu and not seeing anyone right now. In the future if he or Gladys would like to text you to see if you are home, you'll be happy to let them know if it's an OK time to talk. Then stick to your guns.

[Anonymous]

How old are these neighbors? I’m guessing they’re from a time when this was what you could expect when you went to a neighbor’s house:

https://youtu.be/9hv0M4mnrE8

[Anonymous]

Oh, man. I work part-time from home and I will skip answering the door unless it's someone I'm expecting. It's a safety thing.

I had a former neighbor who used to drop by during the work day with her toddler (when I was alone) and knock and knock and knock. After awhile, I stopped answering the door since she wouldn't take a hint that I was working. You don't have to answer the door!

If I text annoying neighbors back, I do it about four hours later. By then, they've found somebody else to handle their "problem." I don't feel badly about it. *They* are bothering *me*. Would they be receptive to me wandering up to their door and asking for a tomato at weird hours? Think about it.

[Anonymous]

Ugh you should probably reply with something about the flu blah blah blah just to keep the peace but omg that's so inappropriate.

If we could harness the power of bored older people we wouldn't need a green new deal! We could turn the turbines with just busybody power.

[Anonymous]

OP. don't waste another second thinking about your rude, ridiculous neighbors.

Our elderly neighbor has always come to the back door because the back of the house has a bunch of windows into our main living space and he can see if we're home. I told my husband that the next time the neighbor does that, I'm going to tell him he needs to ring the front door bell because I often watch TV naked and wouldn't want to embarrass him. WTF is wrong with people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, man. I work part-time from home and I will skip answering the door unless it's someone I'm expecting. It's a safety thing.

I had a former neighbor who used to drop by during the work day with her toddler (when I was alone) and knock and knock and knock. After awhile, I stopped answering the door since she wouldn't take a hint that I was working. You don't have to answer the door!

If I text annoying neighbors back, I do it about four hours later. By then, they've found somebody else to handle their "problem." I don't feel badly about it. *They* are bothering *me*. Would they be receptive to me wandering up to their door and asking for a tomato at weird hours? Think about it.

Is this a thing now - not answering your door unless the person has an appointment? Safety? Where do you live - Compton? Why do you live in a neighborhood if you don't want neighbors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work part time and my hours vary, but I’m home sick with the flu today. My car is in the driveway from taking the kids to school, so it looks like someone is home.

I was half asleep on the couch when I heard someone stomp onto my porch, and then loud talking. I figured it was a solicitor leaving a flyer so I stayed put, even though the talking continued longer than you would expect. There was never a knock or ring of the doorbell.

Suddenly, my phone rang from in the kitchen. I got up to look and saw it was my neighbor across the street. She’s older and sort of a busybody, so I thought she was calling to tell me someone was on my porch. I walked to a front room to peek out the window to see if I could see whoever it was walking away, and I saw my neighbor walking back up her driveway. I quickly texted her back and told her I was sorry, and asked if she needed anything. She said simply “never mind”.

I just got a text from her husband that basically said that it’s rude not to answer the door for a neighbor, what if there had been an emergency, that we have kids and they may need a neighbor one day.

I’m feeling awful, but also a little annoyed. Do you always answer your door, even if you are sick? Was the way I handled this wrong? Thoughts?

This was your mistake. You should have texted an hour or so LATER "Hi Gladys, I see I missed your call earlier. I am home with the flu, did you need something? DH will be home soon"

+1

I would reply to the husband - I'm home with the flu, I sent Gladys a text when I saw it was her and she said she did not need anything. Have a nice afternoon.

+1