# Etiquette for looking into people's houses? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887 "2012-10-26T00:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/21 "2012-10-26T11:10:35Z")
> [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > This seems a bit over the top, unless the OP has also posted threads about licking windows and masturbating while staring at other peoples’ homes. I really don’t care enough about this to expend the energy myself, but the short answer is yes…if you do a search for threads started by the OP, you’ll find s/he has a history of posting threads about inappropriate or illegal activities s/he likes or would like to do, many of them involving creeping out strangers. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/22 "2012-10-26T11:28:47Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I really don’t care enough about this to expend the energy myself, but the short answer is yes…if you do a search for threads started by the OP, you’ll find s/he has a history of posting threads about inappropriate or illegal activities s/he likes or would like to do, many of them involving creeping out strangers. Also, note the OP has pointedly avoided answering the question I put forward in post #9. ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/23 "2012-10-26T11:43:04Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > You keep it in your pants, right? Kayaker obviously must be referring to the flashlight that Diamonds02 liked to shine into homes. Diamonds, we must know where you keep the flashlight! I do glance into homes where the windows are wide open, lights blazing .. but I’d never stop to stare. ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/24 "2012-10-26T12:08:36Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > Many people leave their curtains open, for the world to view their personal lives. I think your focus is wrong here. Many people don’t bother to close their curtains, but it’s not a purposeful gesture, nor an invitation. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/25 "2012-10-26T12:08:46Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > I really enjoy the evening time. It’s dark outside, but bright inside. Many people leave their curtains open, for the world to view their personal lives. I enjoy looking through people’s houses from my car. I like to take note of the furniture, walls, and light fixtures. You can tell a lot about people by looking into their houses. > > Problem is that I get caught on occasion, and get dirty looks. I don’t blame them. Is there some kind of gesture I can make to let them know that I am curious and harmless, and I am NOT doing anything shady such as casing their house? Do you look into people’s houses? This is kinda normal behavior, right? Okay, I’ll bite. No, this is not normal behaviour. Glancing in the house for as long as it takes to walk by is normal, with the understanding that you don’t slow your pace, or keep staring if you’re observed by the occupants. People are not leaving their curtains open in order for you to view their homes. Maybe they just haven’t got around to closing them since dusk fell, maybe there’s furniture in the way making it awkward to pull them closed, maybe they just like watching the stars in the night sky, but they’re leaving them open for them to look out, not for you to look in. A friendly smile, wave, looking away and keeping walking is the best gesture to demonstrate your passing curiosity. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/26 "2012-10-26T12:14:17Z")
Don’t use binoculars after Labor Day. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/27 "2012-10-26T12:26:10Z")
I do it, not so much to see what kind of stuff they have, but because I enjoy looking in and imagining what their lives are like. In my opinion, if you want to keep the interior of your home out of a passerby’s gaze, close your curtains. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/28 "2012-10-26T13:17:56Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > This is kinda normal behavior, right? Not if you do it in such a way that you could get caught, it’s not. I see nothing wrong with glancing around at what you can see from the street or sidewalk, including what you can see through people’s windows, if you’re out driving or walking at a normal speed. Slowing down or stopping to stare, or coming onto people’s property to look through their windows, though, is rude and creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/29 "2012-10-26T13:21:22Z")
I can’t help looking into windows when I’m walking past, but I never break stride. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/30 "2012-10-26T13:40:07Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > I do it, not so much to see what kind of stuff they have, but because I enjoy looking in and imagining what their lives are like. > > In my opinion, if you want to keep the interior of your home out of a passerby’s gaze, close your curtains. I want to be able to look out _my_ windows. That doesn’t mean I’m inviting you into my life. I shouldn’t have to barricade myself in my own home to keep prying eyes out. That being said, I don’t think it’s untoward to glance at a home when you’re passing by. But if you’ve lingered long enough to “take note of the furniture, walls, and light fixtures”, you’re overstepping social boundaries. StG ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/31 "2012-10-26T13:50:34Z")
That’s why I wear my sunglasses at night. So I can watch your furniture, walls, and light fixtures. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/32 "2012-10-26T13:51:17Z")
> [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > It IS normal to glance into other peoples’ windows while you are walking or driving by. I didn’t get the sense the OP was sitting in a parked car staring; that would of course be unacceptable. If there’s enough time to get a glare and contemplate a return gesture, you’ve been staring too long. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/33 "2012-10-26T13:57:07Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Actually, I like to do this too… but just a brief glance, and only if there is a TV/monitor on. > > I’m mainly just peaking to see if they’re watching porn. Heh, I totally do this too. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/34 "2012-10-26T14:03:49Z")
Take a dog. If the occupants give you a dirty look, bend over and pick up the poop your dog has ostensibly just deposited in their grass. Stand up, nod briskly and walk on. No dog? Stop snooping. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/35 "2012-10-27T01:54:02Z")
I ride my bike past a brownstone Courtney Love used to rent and while she was there I’d discreetly take a glance in the window while riding past. There wasn’t much to see and pictures of the interior were posted online anyway (I found out it was her house because of an article about how she was being evicted due to disagreements with the owner over the decor). I think it’s only ok to look in someone’s window if you could plausibly be looking somewhere else, at the building in general, etc. Otherwise I can see anyone inside who catches you being very disturbed. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/36 "2012-10-27T01:59:00Z")
You are perfectly fine to look into any window you like imo, in basically any circumstances. They can draw the blinds/curtains if they don’t want you looking, which is what I do. Hell feel free to play with yourself if you’re discreet. I myself do not look into people’s windows, but that is because I have an autistic reaction to eye contact… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/37 "2012-10-27T02:04:09Z")
I’m starting to wonder how many Dopers are cat burglars out casing their next job. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887/38 "2012-10-27T02:16:56Z")
This is why I line the inside of my windows with aluminum foil. You should get a decomissioned cop car or taxicab, the kind that have a spotlight on one side of the windshield that you can aim from inside the car. Then you’d be able to look into houses where they haven’t left their lights on for some foolish reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-for-looking-into-peoples-houses/638887.md?page=1)