I don’t answer the door, and we have a big frosty glass window in our door so people can even see me walking around. I’ll usually just leave the room and not come back.
You’d be surprised how long they’ll keep standing there and knocking for.
I never used to answer the phone, but since I signed my parent’s number up for that statewide Do Not Call, I’ve been picking it up to harass the telemarkers. If it’s one of my brother’s friends or something, though, I just let it ring.
I don’t blame you scott evil!!!
I’m just too paranoid to answer the door. If I’m at home alone and someone knocks on the door, my heart jumps in my throat and I lay still until I’m sure they have gone away. If someone doesn’t have the courtesy to call me before they come over (especially in this age of cell phones) then who is to say they aren’t some psychopath? I don’t answer the phone either BTW. And yes, I have a husband, a dog, a gun, caller id and a security system. . . . and I just bought security cameras, but haven’t had them installed yet.
I make my husband answer the door. Mainly because when I’m home, I’m naked, and I’m too lazy to find something to cover my shame before I answer the door. 
Hell, I always look like that. My house, too. 
I’d never answer the door if those were my criteria!
jayjay
Funny you should say that…
The last time I ever had a door-to-door evangelist pester me, it was ten AM on a Sunday, and I was asleep. I answered the door wearing nothing but tighty-whiteys and my eye-glasses. I was willing and eager to discuss their religion, and was happy to receive their copy of the Watchtower, but then they remembered they had a previous engagement. Apparently in a different country because they never came back. Woo hoo!
I got you beat. I don’t even check my voice mail.
Italics mine.
Ummmm, not to be a smartass… well, okay, just to be a smartass… 
Why rant and roar that they won’t call first if you don’t answer
the phone? Duh
???
???
I don’t even HAVE a phone!!
I’ll out-recluse you, I will…
Wow, Alice. Looks like you’ve got competition.
Or a split personality…
I have to say that the neighbor sounds like me. I mean, occasionally there will be some little problem at the apartment (laundry room key is missing, the garbage cans aren’t being taken to the curb, I see moving activity but I’m not sure if there’s a new tenant, etc.) so I screw up my courage and knock, softly, at my neighbors’ door. And then I wait. And they don’t answer. And I start to feel really stupid, like maybe they don’t want to be disturbed, or why I am I bothering them about this anyway. So I wait for maybe a minute, and then I screw up my courage and knock again. And then I stand there for a little while feeling like a dork. And then I go back to my apartment.
So on behalf of your neighbor, I say answer the door. He probably just has a perfectly nice, friendly question. And it can’t hurt to have a friendly nieghbor.
Scott, the guy will just try you again later.
I answer the door, no matter how I’m dressed. And always with my cheerful disposition. (major sarcasm here :D) I leave them with correct impression that further disturbences may have dire consequences.
I once had the pleasure of being in my garage, taking off my gear after an exercise, when some poor muckety-mucks from the local ‘Heaven’s High Rollers Club’ ambled up my driveway. I was a mess. Hot, sweaty, tired, coverend in warpaint, and just plain ugly.
Even so, I’m usually a pretty nice guy. I’ll listen to your spiel, then tell you I’m not interested. When I have to tell you three times, I start to get a little agitated. Kinda like they were when I cleared my rifle, unfixed my bayonet, and told 'em I went by the nickname “Babykiller”.
Tripler
The empty beer cans on the floor helped complete my image.
I can think of two legitimate reasons for a neighbour knocking - you left your keys in your door lock/mailbox (I’ve done both), or there may be a problem with your car (he just dinged it, and wants to give you his insurance info, fer example). There are probably many more. I don’t answer the door when I’m not expecting people, but I usually do answer for neighbours. Just my $0.02.
I have a phone, so I’m not a recluse. Of course my number is unlisted, my phone is not plugged in, and if someone insists on having my phone number, I give them my secretary’s work number. (I have a busy social life, but uninterrupted privacy is important to me.)
Timban: Touche! I do pick up messages, though.
Alice: I had admin change my username a couple of days ago so I wouldn’t step on your toes. When I signed up I didn’t use underscores so I didn’t know. . . .:eek:
Timban: Touche! I do pick up messages, though.
Alice: I had admin change my username a couple of days ago so I wouldn’t step on your toes. When I signed up I didn’t use underscores so I didn’t know. . . .:eek:
It’s good to see that hospitality and manners are to be found in such abundance in doperville.
walks off muttering, shaking head, hoping never to need help in the districts of some of the above posters
Hey some of us guys like that kind of look!