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?

You're never obligated to answer the door.

Frankly, I would just text back "I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm very sick and was not up to answering the door." Depending on your relationship, and b/c I'm a little more direct, I might also say "I don't feel it's rude as I'm not obligated to answer the door for anyone." Or something to that effect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once had a neighbor who disconnected her doorbell because she didn’t want to be bothered. You were not rude. I would like to stop answering the door but it’s a habit that I want to break.

Are you literally incapable of having the most benign of social interactions? Who knew there were so many weridos who don't want to answer the door?

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?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once had a neighbor who disconnected her doorbell because she didn’t want to be bothered. You were not rude. I would like to stop answering the door but it’s a habit that I want to break.

Are you literally incapable of having the most benign of social interactions? Who knew there were so many weridos who don't want to answer the door?

I work from home alone and I don’t answer the door. Twice in the past year I have had to file a police report because strange men came to my door and claimed they were from a ultility company and needed to check my gas line in the basement or other shady reasons to come in the house. Both were older white men with unmarked white vans and didn’t even try to show me ID. I told them that if the utility company needed something they would send a letter and schedule a visit. They just shrugged and left. So strange. After the 2nd one, I lock the doors and don’t answer the door unless I am expecting someone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Tom I'm so sorry Gladys is offended. I have been sick with a terrible stomach flu all day but I made a batch of cookies this afternoon to make up for it. Can I drop them by this evening?"

What?? No!

NP. That was sarcasm dear.



OP, we need an update.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Tom I'm so sorry Gladys is offended. I have been sick with a terrible stomach flu all day but I made a batch of cookies this afternoon to make up for it. Can I drop them by this evening?"

What?? No!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once had a neighbor who disconnected her doorbell because she didn’t want to be bothered. You were not rude. I would like to stop answering the door but it’s a habit that I want to break.

Are you literally incapable of having the most benign of social interactions? Who knew there were so many weridos who don't want to answer the door?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once had a neighbor who disconnected her doorbell because she didn’t want to be bothered. You were not rude. I would like to stop answering the door but it’s a habit that I want to break.

Are you literally incapable of having the most benign of social interactions? Who knew there were so many weridos who don't want to answer the door?

Anonymous wrote:I once had a neighbor who disconnected her doorbell because she didn’t want to be bothered. You were not rude. I would like to stop answering the door but it’s a habit that I want to break.