When somebody knocks on your door and their opening gambit is ‘Don’t worry, I’m not dangerous’ you have to wonder….
In that one nano second, a zillion things whizz through my mind and I wonder what is the best way to react.
I’m sure it’s the same for you, but from time to time we get people knocking on the door trying to sell something. A few weeks ago it was a deaf, Polish girl selling her drawings. I took pity and bought one. Today it was an ex-young offender with a holdall and what looked like some of Poundland’s finest. I found myself in a quandry….I really didn’t want/need anything but, as before, I find it hard to say ‘be off with you’ and then I found myself challenging my own principles.
On the one hand I thought ‘Good on you for picking yourself up and trying to go the honest route’. On the other hand, I was glad my two dogs were barking loudly from the kitchen and found myself buying them a dog toy, hoping that my purchase would deter any future burgling of my house or dogs (he was interested in what colour my labrador was, which I find either endearing or suspicious).
But isn’t this AWFUL?! I am ashamed of myself for judging this poor young man, but his opening line alludes to the fact that so do most other people. Perhaps I was just more polite in my reaction, but at the end of the day I bought something in the hope he’d think I was too nice to burgle. I know. I am shocked at myself, and not happy with myself AT ALL, but in all honesty, that is how I felt.
He seemed really nice; he chatted to my 2 year l whilst I raided her piggy-bank for some cash and he picked up that she is, indeed, a ‘canny lass’ and was very polite.
At the end of the day, I can’t help reacting with wariness. How very middle-class of me, I know. BUT, I firmly believe that everyone deserves a second (or third) chance and that if someone has made the effort to get off their backside, trawl around a load of houses where there’ll be treated with disdain/suspicion/kindness/rudeness then they should at least be helped along their way. My dogs have a new toy, he has a few pounds in his pocket and I have a blog post.
I don’t think you are being overly suspicious, just sensible. I have to admit to leaning out the top window at times to check whose at the door as we live in a very rural area so we don’t get random callers really.
I know…we are pretty rural. It’s hard, sometimes, to practise what you preach!
I have to say I would have probably done he same thing! I once bought a months supply of fish from a guy on the doorstep because he he seemed so nice and genuine. I hate fish!