ethical dilemma

[jinian]

Tonight I got home and the locks on the apartment building had been re-keyed. I knew it was coming, but I'd left my new key inside. There I was in the mail room, with bike and usual bag and bag of books I'd just bought. Whee. There's an easy way to break into the building, so I figured I'd leave my bike and the books and give it a try. First, though, I checked the back door. It was only set closed, so it hadn't locked. Normally, I get mad, but today the person who left it that way is my friend, and I even went so far as to leave it that way myself. It's the only time, though. Next time I see duct tape on that door, it's coming off just as usual.

Just now, of course, I have been given cause to rue my laxity. One of those people who comes in and knocks on our doors to sell things just visited. They always scare me. I had to go check the door, though I wasn't expecting any callers, because it might be someone I know. Might be Wim coming home from his trip, though that would be awfully soon. So I had to go peek through the hole. Typical magazine-or-whatever-selling young black guy, waving manically at me. Eek. No. I am being lazy tonight, sitting around reading in my pajamas, and you can't come in. I won't talk to you at the door, either, especially now that the cats like going out onto the walkway. It always makes my heart race, and then I feel foolish and possibly racist. I think I'd feel better if they didn't knock again after I've looked out. They get in sometimes anyway, but I can't help feeling that I've brought this nervousness on myself by failing to be a hardass about the back door. (*snrk* -- Okay, that came out badly. Leaving it.)

Karma? I dunno. Annoying, that I can tell you for certain.

Comments

[elynne.livejournal.com]

I don't like door-to-door salespeople at all, regardless of their personal characteristics (race, gender, personality) or what they're selling. Or people who want me to sign petitions or donate to their cause. It's like telemarketing, only more invasive and worrying. At least we aren't in the kind of neighborhood to get evangelists on our doorsteps... though even if we were, I doubt I'd know about it; there's something about the "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here" placard from Dante's Inferno in our front door that I think would let them know that we aren't exactly open for conversion, one way or another. ;)

Realistically, the salesguy showing up at your door was probably either the result of many other people propping the downstairs door open, or possibly even one of the other folks who live in the building letting him know that it'd be a good opportunity to canvas the apartments. I'm a cynical bitch, and sometimes I worry that I'm not cynical enough. :P