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texanjoker,

It took me years to convince my wife not to instantaneously open the door when knocked upon.

Her argument: Suppose someone is having an emergency? (a noble, but naive presumption) We owe them to respond she said...

My counter: We're not here to save the world and the person on the other side of the door may be up to no good. Use the peephole, assess...if you don't know them - let them keep knocking until they go away.

Eventually, she quit automatically opening the door. Most of the time these pests: Were selling something, wanted to introduce us to Jesus, (or so they said), surveyors of some commercial something or other. You know, pests, who easily could've be home invaders...

Now, if I could just get her to automatically lock the door after coming in. I've got her up to 85% of the time. Working on a 100%

Sigh...

On the plus side, we no longer live the suburbs. Now we're out in the country with two big metal gates in front - about 150' from the gates to the front door. In the years (7 or 8) we've lived here only one stranger has knocked on our door.

He went away rather promptly...

When strangers come to my locked door, I don't open it.

I speak with them at an angle through the door.

I also keep a handgun in my hand placed behind my back.

To be fair to the couple who were invaded, they aren't like those of us with a wary mindset. They're naive and foolishly trusting. I find it hard to believe such attitudes still exist.

The man has a door peephole with no need to open the door to strangers. Many think they're socially obligated to open their door to strangers and think it rude to not do so.

No one is obligated to give an audience to strangers.

To keep your door closed and locked isn't rude, it's prudent.