I don't.

We have cell phones these days for other purposes than discussing the previous night's episode of "America's Top Model", you know. Call me and let me know you're paying a visit.

Someone buzzed the hell out of my buzzer tonight and I just wasn't in the mood so I ignored it. But with the White Sox and all, it could have just been some drunken jackass, and I'm REALLY not in the mood for that.

Is it an obligation to ALWAYS answer your door? Isn't it a bit presumptuous for people to just 'pop in' these days?

I'd at least see who it was through the peephole out of sheer curiosity. That is, if I lived by myself; with roommates you basically always have to get the door.

Not in the day either.

Or waving in the street. Or saying hello.

I dont' answer my door or phone.

I do, however, answer my cellphone and email.


Jehova Witnesses around these parts get a hardon for middle class neighborhoods with deed restrictions.

It almost never happens...but the one or two times it did happen, I answered. Both times they had the wrong apartment.

A few nights ago, I heard the doorbell ringing late at night while I was reading in bed...only I don't have a doorbell...lol So I got up to figure out if I really did have a doorbell. Turns out it was the Yahoo IM...I was being buzzed..lol

There is no law that says you have to open your door. I just use my peephole. If you don't know the person then don't open your door. And keep your doors locked.

Some years ago I heard radio talk-show host Tom Leykis relate the following story about answering the doorbell...

Being single at the time, he had a very active Hollywood night life.
To the point that he had to figure out a way to stop 2 particular persistent Jehovah's Witness ladies from ringing his doorbell bright and early on 3 successive Saturday mornings at around 9am. The 1st time this happened he got out of bed, put on his bathrobe, went to the door and politely explained that he was an Atheist and was in no way interested in their offer to sit and chat or read The Watchtower. They offered mild resistance but shortly went on their merry way.

However, they showed up again the following Saturday morning at approximately the same time. Again he got out of bed, put on his bathrobe, answered the door and this time more forcefully explained that he was not interested and please do not disturb him again.

On the 3rd Saturday, like clock work, the ladies again rang the doorbell bright and early. And again Tom got up, put on his bathrobe and answered the door. Only this time after letting them give their introductory spiel, he replied that he would be interested in hearing more about their religion. As they began to tell their tale Tom nonchalantly let his bathrobe slip open (and remain in that position by placing his hands on his hips) revealing to the ladies his complete nakedness. Needless to say, the red-faced ladies scurried off never to darken his door again.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Hell no. And my dog ferociously barking his ass off and jumping up/throwing his weight against the door usually scares them right off.

Natsume said:

what if its your dealer?

Christopher said:

hello, Jiro is my dealer

Natsume said:

i don't answer whenever the knocks are preceded by the 'Jaws' theme.

Byron said:

I hardly ever answer the phone...let alone answer the door...

Hell no!!! Too many crackheads coming to the door with sorry stories for money.

I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting somebody, and I don't answer the phone if I don't know who's calling. My time is my own and nobody else's.

The problem in my neighborhood isn't anyone selling religion, it's actually the damn HRC people. They've stopped by several times. It's gotten so annoying, that I've had to be kinda rude. The first time, I said I wasn't interested in becoming a member, but I gave a donation. Same thing the second time a few months later. A few months after that, I said no thank you. The last time they came by, I answered the buzzer and they said, "This is the Human Rights Campaign. Are you interested in supporting marriage and equal rights for gays?" I said, "No, and please, don't come back." I hated to be that way with my own people, but they were annoying the fuck out of me.

Illustrator said:

what if they say it's a candygram?

RipHer2Shreds said:

You're a traitor the sister-hood!

i guess part of my question was a security/safety issue, and part of it is an etiquette question. i think there was a time when it was considered normal to "just drop in" for a visit unannounced. i don't think those days exist anymore...do they?

Anxiety said:

I don't think they do. We're too paranoid.

Hell, I don't even answer the door if I'm home during the day. If I wanna see you, you have my cell number and will ring me to let me know you wanna stop by.

...Oh...and Kim has a stunning face, but her body is nasty. She won't be the first lesbian America's Next Top Model.

No one comes to my door anymore. It just doesn't happen. The entrance to my apartment cannot be seen from the street, so you'd have to know it was there to even find it. And my friends no better than to drop by unannounced. If someone DID come to my door unannounced at night it would likely scare the bejeezus out of me.

Anxiety said:

that's why i luv you guys...you say shit that i thought only i did

75f: Lily Tomlin

Jaws III

Young Woman.....Laraine Newman
Land Shark.....Chevy Chase
Matt Hooper.....John Belushi
Sheriff Brady.....Dan Aykroyd
Patricia.....Jane Curtin
Second Woman.....Gilda Radner
Mrs. Brady.....Lily Tomlin


[ open on Young Woman sitting on the couch, talking to her mother over the phone ]

Young Woman: Mom, I'm telling you, I'll be okaaaayy. I'll be careful. Alright. goodbye. [ hangs up, as doorbell rings; cue "Jaws" music as she saunters over to the door ] Yes?

Voice of Land Shark: Mrs. Bowerton..

Young Woman: Who?

Voice of Land Shark: Mrs. Heyahl..

Young Woman: What?!

Voice of Land Shark: Telephone man!

Young Woman: My telephone's okay! Who is this?!

Voice of Land Shark: [ pause ] Are you double-parked, I think you're blocking me?

Young Woman: I don't own a car! come on, who is this?

Voice of Land Shark: [ hesitant ] Candygram.

Young Woman: [ excited ] A candygram! Oh, boy! [ opens door, and is devoured headfirst by Land Shark ]

[ SUPER: "Jaws III" ]

[ dissolve to Sheriff's office, as Matt Hooper examines the Young Woman's remains ]

Matt Hooper: [ breathing heavily ] Oh, my God! You can't tell me.. that this woman was killed by slipping on a bar of soap!!

Sheriff Brady: What is it, Matt?

Matt Hooper: [ dramatic pause ] Land Shark! Still the cleverest species of them all!

Sheriff Brady: That's the third time he's hit that building! We'd better get over there!

[ dissolve to Patricia, sitting on couch and listening to the radio ]

Voice on Radio: Still on the loose. He disguises his voice and attacks single women, usually. It is still advised that the best method to ward off the land shark, in case of attack, is to hit it on the nose with a blunt instrument. Oceanographers at the -

[ Patricia turns the radio off ]

[ doorbell rings; cue "Jaws" music ]

Patricia: Yes?

Voice of Sheriff Brady: Patricia! It's Sheriff Brady and Matt Cooper! We've got to talk to you, it's urgent!

Patricia: Okay, just a sec. [ grabs a mallet from bookshelf and unlocks her door ] Come right in.

[ the door open, Patricia swings her mallet; Sheriff Brady topples into the front room clutching his head in pain ]

Matt Hooper: [ enters ] It's alright. Listen, Patricia.. Patricia.. this shark thing, it's coming for the head! Now, he's smart! He's very smart! But! He's killed three separate women in the same building! That's where we've got him! Okay? Now, stay in your apartment, and don't leave, no matter what! Don't answer that door for any reason, okay? Unless you know it's me or Sheriff Brady! Is that clear?

Patricia: I think so, yes.

Matt Hooper: You got it?!

Patricia: Uh-huh.

Matt Hooper: Okay. Now, there's a special knock, that only me or Sheriff Brady will know! Okay? Now, don't answer that door unless you hear that knock! It goes like this: [ knocks thrice, pauses, then twice more ] You got it?

Patricia: Yeah.

Matt Hooper: [ demonstrates it again ] That's it! Okay? Okay, let's go, Brady. We've gotta alert the others! Come on! Thanks, Patricia! Bye!

[ Matt and Brady exit, Patricia locks her door ]

[ the secret knock is heard at the door ]

Patricia: What is it now?!

Voice of Land Shark: [ voice disguised ] Uh.. I-I left my goggles there, Patricia..

Patricia: Oh, okay! [ opens door, is devourced by th shark ]

[ dissolve to Sheriff Brady's office, as he and Matt examine Patricia's body ]

Sheriff Brady: Which one is Patricia?

Matt Hooper: [ fuming ] Now, this is no time for levity, Brady! Now, look, we've gotta think of something! We've gottta think of something.. very fast.. Okay. I've got it! I've got an idea! I'll be right back! [ steps off-screen ]

Sheriff Brady: This has gotta stop! We've gotta do something! [ thinking, as "Jaws" music cues ] I know! I know, that's it! I can get some people. We'll post deputies at the entrances and exits of all buildings!

[ Land Shark's head bobs out from behind wall, nudging Brady's shoulder ] I'm glad you're back - I know just how to handle this! What we're gonna do is, we're gonna get some people together.

Land Shark: Get a posse?

Sheriff Brady: Get a posse, that's right!

Land Shark: Surround the area?

Sheriff Brady: Surround the area, right! That's right! Good, good! We'll surround the area!

Land Shark: Walkie-talkies.

Sheriff Brady: Walkie-talkies! Good! Walkie-talkies!

Land Shark: Maybe carry some harpoons?

Sheriff Brady: Carry some harpoons? That's a stupid idea- [ screams as Land Shark bites on him and pulls him off-screen ]

[ dissolve to Second Woman sitting on couch, listening to radio ]

Voice on Radio: ..and suggested it will pass, that there are ways to escape njury, even from the deadliest of the ocean sharks - the Great White. One method commonly spoken of by experts in this area- [ screams, as shark is heard eating him ]

Voice of Land Shark: [ taking over broadcast ] ..is to graciously invite the, uh.. the fish into your living room, and offer him a soda pop.. and maybe some Oreos and cookies.. just make him feel at home. And, uh.. that's the news. Uh.. stay tuned for something else. Wait! Stay tuned.. stay tuned for music.

Second Woman: [ turns radio off, as doorbell rings; cue "Jaws" music ] Who is it?

Voice of Land Shark: Land Shark!

Second Woman: Ohh.. Land Shark, huh? [ opens door ] Come on in and have a root beer! We've got Oreos and- [ screams, as shark devours her]

[ dissolve to Sheriff Brady's office, as Matt uses the phone ]

Matt Hooper: Hello, Mrs. Brady? Yeah, this is Matt. This is Matt. Right. Look, uh.. I don't know how to tell you this, but, uh.. well, your husband's been eaten by a shark. Yeah. Yeah, I'll tell you all about it later, I'll be right over. [ hangs up phone ]

[ dissolve to Mrs. Brady at her apartment, wearing black veil and looking at a picture of Sheriff Brady ]

[ a knock at the door ]

Mrs. Brady: Yes?

Voice of Matt Hooper: Yeah, it's me, Sue!

Mrs. Brady: [ starts to unlock door, then stops ] How do I know it's really you?

Voice of Matt Hooper: Because I don't sound like a shark, do I! Come on, it's me, Matt!

Mrs. Brady: [ opens door ] Oh, Matt, I'm glad to see you. I feel so badly. that he had to go this way.. even though you are so attractive to me - you hunk!

Matt Hooper: [ out of breath ] Listen, sue.. there's no time for that now! Listen, I don't know how we can stop this thing! He's just too clever! He's too smart!

[ cue "Jaws" music ]

Voice of Chevy Chase: [ at door ] John..? Lily..? Cut it.. Cut it..

Lily Tomlin: [ breaking character ] What?

John Belushi: [ breaking character ] What?

Voice of Chevy Chase: Cut it, please.. I'm sorry.. we're running very long, I'm sorry.. we're gonna have to cut this sketch short, I'm afraid it's, uh.. the scene's getting too slow..

Lily Tomlin: Oh, come on!

John Belushi: Can't we just finish the scene?!

Voice of Chevy Chase: No, I'm really sorry, John.. it's just..

Lily Tomlin: Well, look.. I mean, the scene's almost over.. give us a break..

Voice of Chevy Chase: Lily.. Lily.. we're running too long.. why don't you just say a line or something, exit through that apartment door there, on your right..

John Belushi: This is great.. great! Just when I'm about ready to catch the shark, you're gonna cut the scene! Great!

Lily Tomlin: Forget about catching the shark! I mean, I can understand them doing this to you, but I'm the host! [ screams, as shark peeks in and gobbles her ]

John Belushi: [ alone on couch ] I turned down a job in "Cuckoo's Nest" for this..

[ SUPER: "The End ?" ]

[ fade ]

Anxiety said:

Hell no. I think it's fun if somebody comes by. Spontaneous visits are getting rare these days. Everybody's all "ooh, let me check my agenda if I can squeeze you in sometime next month".

retina said:

that's all fine and well, but when i'm sitting on the couch wearing nothing but a pair of flintstones boxer shorts and my "#1 Prince Fam" t-shirt and i'm listening to my carpenters box set and applying my evening avocado-mud masque, the last thing i need is for someone to drop in for chats'n'giggles.

and the last thing they want is to see me in such a state.

Anxiety said:

I know a lot of people feel that way. I don't mind though, I just pull on a pair of pants if needed.

Don't ask me why, cuz I'm as as they come, but I get instantly nervous when my buzzer rings. Like it's the cops comin' to get my ass.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I do too!! I think it's a throw-back to my youth. There were a lot of crazy things going on in my life at one time. I lived with a bunch of tweakers when I was 19 and I think their paranoia was contagious and long-lasting. lol.

Trick or Treaters should have a ball when they come to your door