When did answering the door become something to be fear? I see posts on Nextdoor with a doorbell camera picture of a person and poster asking, “Does anybody recognize this man? He rang my doorbell but I did not answer.” I have neighbors who never answer their door if someone rings.
I don’t enjoy talking to door-to-door sales reps, political canvassers or religious zealots. But I’m a grown man and this is my home. It’s not a big deal to open my door, ask “Can I help you?” in case it’s a legit visitor before holding up my hand and saying, “I’m not interested, but thank you,” as soon as a visitor launches into their pitch.
It works every time.
If I looked out of window and saw a pack of gangbangers, an intimidating meathead or sketchy meth addict, I might not open the door. But it has never happened in 55 years.
In Florida, I was hounded by Jehovah’s witnesses because there was a church around the corner. And a local homeless addict who shot up nearby would spy me in the garage and ask me for money a few times a month. They were both annoying, but harmless.
Here in my stepford village suburb, the visitors are usually salespeople or fundraisers – slightly annoying, but harmless too.
More often than not, it’s a neighbor dropping off cookies, or dinner, or updating me on something.
I’ll bet it’s the same for most of the people in my neighborhood. It’s too bad they don’t answer their doors out of fear.
I think it comes from watching too many true crime shows on TV and paying attention to the news. It’s on these shows and the news, because it is rare, extraordinary and attention grabbing.
The majority of us live drama free, plain old ordinary lives. We should enjoy them.