Subject: Someone's At The Door...
Posted by: HannahConner88
Date: Jul 30 12
What would you do if a stranger knocked on your door, claimed there was an emergency, and requested your help; perhaps to use the telephone?
Posted by: HannahConner88
Date: Jul 30 12
What would you do if a stranger knocked on your door, claimed there was an emergency, and requested your help; perhaps to use the telephone?
65 replies. On page 1 of 4 pages. 1 2 3 4
Greatguggly
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I'd let him use my cell phone. Reply #1. Jul 30 12, 9:10 AM |
tezza1551 
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I posted this on the Forums a couple of days ago on a thread titled "Helpful Stranger".. We live close to a main road, and so far this year, we have been the "helpful strangers" 11 times. Began on New Years Day with a couple towing a boat and blew two tyres just near us... so far, it has been tyres 3 times, needing jumper leads 3 times, needed a jack twice, and twice, someone hitting a roo. It's always nice to be able to help. I don't know where you live, and i might be less welcoming in a city or town, but in the Australian bush, you would never turn anyone away. Reply #2. Jul 30 12, 9:10 AM |
rayven80
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If someone made it through the gate and the dogs without me knowing about it, it would be a minor miracle. But if they'd do that, I'd hand them my cell and try to help how I could. Reply #3. Jul 30 12, 9:37 AM |
postcards2go
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I live in a city where people have been known to be knifed or shot in front of their homes, at 9 in the evening. If someone came to the door, I would ask them, through the door, if I could call someone *for* them. 'Give' them my cell phone? I'd probably never see it again :-p Reply #4. Jul 30 12, 9:56 AM |
veronikkamarrz
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Not much chance of that after 5:00, since I live and work behind a security gate...However, if this happened at night, I would offer to make the call, myself. :) Reply #5. Jul 30 12, 10:18 AM |
HannahConner88
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I think making the call for them is the safest and most helpful idea. But what if say, a young woman knocked at the door claiming she was being chased; you could let her in, she could be lying and then you're in danger or she could be telling the truth and danger (the chaser) could trail her to your home, and then you're still in danger... any thoughts on that one? Reply #6. Jul 31 12, 11:17 AM |
| Greatguggly
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I'd let anyone in distress in the house. Trust me, if there's a bad guy chasing someone to my house or coming after me, he's the one's who's in danger. Reply #7. Jul 31 12, 12:12 PM |
IAMMAGIK7
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My neighborhood is one where you can leave the doors/windows unlocked with no worries. The neighbors are always watching out for each other. Had a couple of guys come to my door during a blizzard with my husband working and I was alone. They had ran off the road and needed a tow truck, so I called help for them, but did not open my door, all ended well. Reply #8. Jul 31 12, 1:09 PM |
| demurechicky
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Well, if it was winter and dark, I wouldn't answer the door, unless I was expecting someone to call. If a stranger knocked and asked for help, during the hours of daylight, I would not, under any circumstances let them in, but I would ring the emergency services on their behalf. Reply #9. Jul 31 12, 1:44 PM |
supersal1
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I'd make the call on behalf of someone, and then bring them tea and biccies outside if they were waiting for someone. If it was the scenario of a young woman being threatened, I'd let her in and call the police straight away. You could hardly make someone wait outside while you made the necessary phone call in those circumstances. Reply #10. Jul 31 12, 3:30 PM |
| rayven80
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Mom has said for years that if she got a call that I was found dead on a roadside it'd be because I stopped to help someone. Reply #11. Jul 31 12, 3:39 PM |
lesley153
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A girl knocked on my door a few years ago to ask for help for their friend who had passed out for reasons unknown. It was mid-evening and it was dark. I took out a warm quilt and a bottle of water, and got the quilt back when the ambulance had been. I don't know what happened because jos friends had gone and the ambulance won't tell you anything... An even younger one - about fifteen - rang on the pretext of looking for her father, right number, wrong road. It was bright daylight and I wasn't by myself. I brought her in to use the phone to call him, and she tried twice but said there was no answer. She left, insisted on walking, and I gave her directions. I immediately went to redial but she'd left me with an invalid number, probably deliberately. Then I phoned the police, described her and told them which way she'd gone. They knew her - she was a runaway, and she was fifteen - but again I don't know what happened to her because of confidentiality. I read in the news a few years ago about a householder who refused sanctuary to a young woman who was being threatened by a large dog, on the grounds that there was a large dog outside. Ages ago, another ring on the doorbell came at about 4am. I think it was New Year's Eve and I was off to bed but hadn't switched the downstairs light off. No, I didn't answer that one - sorry! Reply #12. Jul 31 12, 6:11 PM |
| tezza1551
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I guess my view is coloured by the fact that I live almost 40 kilometres from the nearest town..people don't get here unless they have a vehicle...But I have to say I am very glad I live where I live..hate the thought of not being able to help. Reply #13. Jul 31 12, 6:45 PM |
Mommakat
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Well in this day and age one has to be very very careful. I will not open my door to anyone after dark and even during the day the outside security doors remain locked. Unfortunately the world has changed and not for the better, there are too many scumbags out there all too willing to assault and even murder for a few dollars to feed their drug habits. Anyone who does not take extreme care these days is just asking for trouble. Reply #14. Jul 31 12, 7:59 PM |
rustymutt
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I would offer to call for assistance for them, and when helped arrived I would open the door and see what I could do, if anything to help. I understand why, but have great difficulty accepting the fact that we have to think twice about helping people. Reply #15. Jul 31 12, 11:07 PM |
| Mommakat
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The reason is although you have good intentions, these days more than half of the callers do not and frankly I feel anyone who takes unnecessary risks is just asking for trouble. Reply #16. Aug 01 12, 3:45 AM |
| supersal1
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So glad I live where I do and can still open the front door without worrying too much about who's on the other side. Personally, I'd sooner take a small risk than turn my back on someone who's in trouble. A couple of months ago I was in my car when I noticed a rotweiller and a young boy of about 11 or 12 having a disagreement about the boy's bike. The had an end each and there seemed to be a tug of war going on. One look at the boy told me he was absolutely terrified. I pulled up and got out of my car, all the while wondering what on earth I was going to do - despite having 2 dogs of my own I am very uneasy around dogs unless I know them. Fortunately, the dog's owner arrived, got him on the lead and went away. I checked that the boy was OK and then went on my way. The point is, I'd sooner have been attacked by the dog than just driven past and left the boy to be terrorised. Reply #17. Aug 01 12, 6:13 AM |
| lesley153
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Sally, me too. How did the dog's owner react? Our new neighbours in 1996 decided to put up a high fence between us and them, to keep their German Shepherds in - or the rest of the world out, perhaps. The first thing they did was pull down the existing fence, giving their dogs free run of our garden as well as theirs thank you very much. I too had a terrified 8yo son. We weren't too happy either. None of us went in the garden till the six-foot concrete-based fence went up. The woman next door couldn't stop laughing. The dog wouldn't hurt a fly, she said. It's a pussycat. It was a beautiful day when she moved out. (Even better when the dogs and finally her husband moved out too.) Word "woman" used loosely - she was 24, with the social graces of a warthog. Reply #18. Aug 01 12, 7:05 AM |
| supersal1
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The woman was very embarassed and apologetic. Apparently the dog had made a break for it when the front door was open. She disappeared pretty quickly, I think more through embarassment than anything else. She did check that the boy was OK. Reply #19. Aug 01 12, 8:07 AM |
| HannahConner88
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Great hearing from all of you. Thanks for your input and stories. I think everyone has made some valid points. I guess we have to assess each situation as it comes and go with what our heart or gut is telling us. Reply #20. Aug 01 12, 8:56 AM |
65 replies. On page 1 of 4 pages. 1 2 3 4
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