On another note I think I will get a no soliciting sign and possibly disconnect my doorbell. My elderly dog goes nuts whenever someone rings the doorbell and it really stresses her out, poor little thing!When our ES house was first finished being built we had tons of solicitors every day, while my youngest was still napping. It would wake him and make the dogs go nuts, so I definitely feel every mothers pain on that one too...So I am firmly in the catagory of disliking solicitors too, just like most people on here...

@AlettertoElise @I hear you-I'm so sorry about your experience...
but, this isn't about being out and about and being in public-its about people having the nerve to come to the door of your home-esp at a time when the majority of husbands of the majority of wives/moms will be gone-at work. Do you have young children at home with you during the day when these people come? I will admit that-this is probably to close to home of a subject for me to be objective about-it makes my blood boil. Because of things that you and my mom and sister have experienced-it makes me too angry to think straight
I'd rather be safe than sorry-esp in a city known for its human trafficking-and with all of the registered sex offenders just in our neighborhood alone(!!!)...my children- I'd rather offend everyone forever than have anything ever happen to them.
I think strangers should stay off my property!!!

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@mommythrice, yes I am home. Stay at home mom, who also works from home on a part time basis. Been home since my first was born 7 years ago this coming week. Love it!If my hubs is home, which has been frequent lately, he will answer the door. I will answer if necessary, but for whatever reason, I'm usually working on my front yard when solicitors come to my house. So I usually am forced to speak with them, and I will, as I don't want them to think I am frightened in any way...should they decide to come back.I definitely understand your viewpoint, and it is good advice to know/remember that anyone can be a victim...and to be constantly vigilant!

Me too-SAHM for coming up on 10 years (!!!)-its gone by so quickly!!! So, why are we up right now when we know these monkeys are gonna be up running around, jumping on beds and wanting their oatmeal in like 6 hours??
*hitting the hay*

@mommythrice - Love that visual. Too true!

@mommythrice :
And that is your right to think so . But there are very honest good people that come to your door selling things . Had a family in my neighborhood & the man sold insurance door to door . They went to my church EVERY Sunday. I grew up with their 2 daughters . So you would be slamming the door in his face . My front door is glass & I always answer if I hear the doorbell. Sometimes I'm working in the back yard or in our office & may not hear it, but I answer with the door shut & locked .If I am interested I open it , if not I tell them I'm not interested & when they keep talking I just walk away . I have never forgotten what I read in the book The Gift Of Fear , he said if someone is not willing to take NO as an answer they are trying to control you .So once I nicely said I'm not interested & they don't turn to leave then I'm done with them . I leave them standing there . But no way am I going to live in fear .

Well I started to skim this thread, but near the end there are so many posts that have been deleted it only makes me wonder what was said. Too hard to follow. I don't like strangers knocking on my door, ringing my doorbell. It's a nuisance and an uninvited interruption of whatever I was doing. I have a "No Soliciting" sign in the side window. Not sure it has any effect on these people.

@Clydepuckett
No doorbell=pounding on the door, most people are rude and don't think that maybe there is a baby sleeping or a disabled person in the house.

When my first was born all the neighborhood kids got off the bus at my house so I make a sign baby's sleeping....so if it was on door the kids went home if not they could come see baby and have a snack many were home alone for1-2 hours....so they loved coming and playing at my house

I am thankful that we don't get solicitors where we are. Our lot is pretty Scooby doo spooky from the street we intentionally let the woods grow thick at the front. So you have to be pretty ballsy to come in on a dirt driveway and then make the turn into the clearing, once you do it opens up into being lawn and gardens and flowers but we purposely keep it a little woodsy up near the front.

@Cabin_Mama I think my front porch might be too inviting! Sit down, rest a while, would you like a soft drink? I like your idea but I doubt the powers that be would let me hide my house. When my husband was sleeping a lot after his surgery I had a sign on the door to not knock or ring he was sleeping. It works wonders. Most of my door knockers are people that have done work for me wanting to do some more.
That all being said, the constable we know said NEVER open your door to strangers.

@ladybeachbum
I bet it is nice, maybe I will come take a nap there.

@Cabin_Mama come on! Give me a few minutes to run the vacuum!

[quote-tag-mismatch]I guess I'm in the minority here, but we (hub or I) answer the door to solicitors. I want anyone possibly casing the house to know that someone is home, and that we are happy to engage with them. I've never been scared of anyone who has come by, but it's not in my nature to be scared anyway. I'm firm with them, but polite...and I have never had any problems...[/quote@AlettertoElise :
You have described me but I also am as prepared as a person could be . And very watchful of things around me . I think my DH feels I'm overly suspicious . Of course he's the type that never locks a door . Last summer while headed to my mailbox I see a car stopped with 2 men . One is the driver the other is writing on a note book .I watch awhile & go in & say to him Hmmmm I wonder if the 2 men I just saw are making a list of who at 1:00 pm has a car sitting in their driveway ??? That way they could figure out who is home & who isn't by watching a group of houses for several weeks . Of course he says are perhaps they are making a list of who needs a new roof or who needs power washing or painting or new windows .So there is why we have been married 50 yrs this Aug . Yep I always feel needed to protect him because he wouldn't dream someone would harm him .