How would you react to a stranger at your front door asking to fill his empty gallon jug with water?

I'd let him take it from the spigot in the front of the house, then I'd disappear back into the house, but keep an eye on him. When he leaves, I'd look and make sure he shut the water off.

OTHER: Take him to the backyard, show him where the spigot is, allow him to fill his jug (all the while making small talk with him), then... on the way back to the front yard, hit him in the back of the head with a shovel, harvest his liver and enjoy it with some fava beans and a nice chianti.. ttthhhp ttthhhp ttthhp ttthhppp tthhhppp.

Take the jug, close the door and fill it and then return it to him

I'd go with him to fill the water jug and talk with him on the way asking him if he was okay or needed help.

I'd ask him where he came from and why he needed the water. My home isn't visible from the road. Most people aren't even aware that there's a home down the long driveway. It looks like a little road leading to the fields or something. There are also plenty of houses that he'd have been able to see. So, I'd wonder why the hell he came all the way to my house to get water. I might tell him he could go in the backyard and get the water himself, just for fun. I don't have an outside water source, so I'd watch him from the window.

If I lived where you could see my home from the street, I doubt I'd think much of it. I'd probably ask if his vehicle had over heated or something. Then, I'd fill the jug myself and return it to him. I wouldn't allow him into my house and I wouldn't allow him into my backyard.

Great answer.

I might think it was a little odd if he didn't offer an explanation about why he wanted the water. Exactly what I would do would probably depend very much on the vibe that I got from him - I certainly wouldn't let him in the house if I was there alone, and probably not even if my (female) housemate was also in. I think my most likely reaction would be to take the jug from him, shuut the door (which would cause it to lock), fill it in the kitchen and then give it to him. If there were more people in the house, I might leave the door open as I filled the jug, but I still wouldn't invite him in.

Unless I got a particularly negative feeling about the man, I wouldn't refuse him the water.

Taking the jug into the house while he stands on the front porch and fill it for him in the kitchen.

No I would not answer my door in the first place and tell him to leave

I'd fill it in the house while he waits behind a locked door. Something like this happened when I was a kid. We lived down a long dirt road so it really didn't make sense that this guy pasted a number of houses to get to ours which was at the end of the road. He got out of the truck and asked my mother for a glass of water. Before she could reply our St. Bernard came around the house after the guy. He jumped in his truck and disappeared. Our St. Bernard was a big sweet teddy bear and never went after anyone but that man. You think the dog knew something we didn't?

I'd send him to the backyard and stay indoors.

Once, a man came to the door with a gas can asking for a ride to the gas station because he ran out of gas in front of my house. It was the middle of the day, in my quiet little neighborhood... and it just felt weird. I said sorry I couldn't help and went back inside. He went over to a neighbor's house and that guy helped him out. I felt bad later that I didn't just send the man out to my shed to borrow some gas out of my gas can.... or at least offer him the use of my phone... but you never can tell and I was a little leery... it didn't even occur to me.

I'd have my husband deal with it

I'd let him fill it from the hose. Why not.

I would take the jug and fill it for him in the kitchen, and leave him (locked) outside.

Well, we have a bunch of outdoor faucet's and he wouldn't have to go in the back. I'd assist him in using our well tap by the driveway and watch him walk away. I would never turn my back on a stranger at my door. They could force open the door and catch you from behind. I also would be polite and accompany him to the faucet to make sure he didn't steal anything or to see if he was casing the joint. It's a good think the door that people come to is clear and we have 5 dogs that would have made their presence quite obvious.

The discomfort of turning my back on a stranger at my door has to do with a creepy situation I was in when a guy my mother was dating years ago came to my apartment where I lived alone. He did it while my mother was at work. Went to her apartment where my youngest brother was home alone, gave him a suspicious reason for going through the home address book, then showed up at my door. His timing was suspicious in that we deduced he must have been sitting in my apartment building's parking lot waiting for me because he knocked on my door seconds after I walked in but had been at my mom's place over an hour before, also,he had not been able to get my apartment number from that so he would have had to watch me to see where I went in. And before he stepped in he took his shoes off, left them outside my door and the 'never let a man get between you and the exit' went into auto drive. Something wasn't right. I really felt it but was able to get rid of him. I talked to my mom right away and the whole situation made her feel weird too and she dumped him. Anyway, I now have a paranoia about men at my door.

Our German Shepherd did this to a greasy man at the park. She growled really low at him. She never did it before and hasn't done it since. I think they can sense people. They use German Shepherd's at check points in the military because they can sense when some one is the enemy trying to pass as a friendly or some one is just 'off'.

We're always advised not to let anyone we don't know in the building--they could be casing out the place to burglarize it. Let him get his water at a public fountain in a park or an open public restroom from the sink.

Tell him no... and when he walked away and got back in his vehicle, I'd write down descriptions and a license plate number and call the non-emergency dispatch number. You can get water anywhere... no reason for him to want to use my house. And what about that red residue? How red is it? Some diesel fuel is red... but not as red as blood.

I wouldn't even open my front door. Living in the type of neighborhood that I do, I get suspicious when strangers knock on my door, especially since we have a good sized transient population & aren't terribly far from the Eugene Mission. If someone knocks & it isn't someone I expect such as a food delivery (pizza, etc.) or a maintenance person from our property management company, or it isn't one of my neighbors that I know by name or a friend, I don't open the door. I would open the kitchen window which is near the front door to ask who it was & what they wanted. There are a couple of water fountains in the Washington/Jefferson Street park across from where I live where he could get water & I'd inform him of that.

I'd show him the front spigot, which is really close to the front door and make sure he got it working ok. I might try to ask him what's up.
Honestly, it would be pretty strange to have someone at our door like this because we're very far from the road, other houses would be closer. So, I guess I'd be or become suspicious, though I'd probably just go along with it anyway.

Actually tell him to go to side of house where hose is. Then go inside and watch him through the window with my gun that I had behind my back when answering the door, in my hand waiting for him to go away.

Other dry answer--allow him to go to the back yard and help himself while watching his every move until he leaves (including being on standby to call the cops if necessary).

Every time I hear "German Shepherd" I think "Christmas tree attacker". My Dad said he and my mom had a GS. He said the dog was just chilling while my mom put up the Christmas tree but when she finished decorating it and turned the lights on the dog took a running leap on the tree and attacked it. Dad said they had a monkey too that was the GS’s play mate. When the monkey died in an unfortunate ascendant the dog mourned it's self to death. I been wanting a GS for protection when I go hiking but I live right off a high way and my yard isn‘t fenced in. Maybe one day.

They are beautiful animals. With basic training I you can keep them from leaving your yard or you try electric fencing.

Taking the jug into the house while he stands on the front porch and fill it for him in the kitchen.

I would also be sure to lock my door when I do this.

I don't have a tap in the back garden. I'd take the jug from him and fill it in the sink in the kitchen while he waited on the doorstep.

Let him stand (or possibly sit) outside while I go and fill it up for him. Casually hint that I would like to know the reason for this.

I would either let him help himself to the hose, or take it in the house and fill it up.

We have another hose in front. He would use that. No one comes into the back yard.

"How about no scott"

I'd let him fill the jug, as long as he didint steal any of our crap out of the back yard.

> I'd ask him where he came from and why he
> needed the water. My home isn't visible from
> the road. Most people aren't even aware that
> there's a home down the long driveway. It
> looks like a little road leading to the fields
> or something. There are also plenty of houses
> that he'd have been able to see. So, I'd
> wonder why the hell he came all the way to
> my house to get water. I might tell him he
> could go in the backyard and get the water
> himself, just for fun. I don't have an outside
> water source, so I'd watch him from the window.
>
>
> If I lived where you could see my home from
> the street, I doubt I'd think much of it.
> I'd probably ask if his vehicle had over
> heated or something. Then, I'd fill the jug
> myself and return it to him. I wouldn't allow
> him into my house and I wouldn't allow him
> into my backyard.

I could picture the dude moving all around the backyard lookin for the faucet. ''Damnit I know that lil' somedog is here somewhere.'' ''Aw fudge.'' *6 hours later* ''I'm gone find that daddamn faucet come hell or high water!''

>



I'd just getta kick outta hearing the dude swearing under his breath in 115 degree heat. ''muthafawcker'' '' daddamn it sonsadog'' or it's 2 in the morning, & he's still out there. & you can still hear him, '' Is that it? Aw hell it's a just muthafudgein root'' ''I cant see aw hell I thank I just stepped in cat crap''

Too funny.

> Too funny.

Yea, I'm trying to find something to smile about today. Like your new avatar.

Thanks.

I just read you forum post. I'm so sorry. Let me know if there's anything I can do. Seriously.

Thanks Manda. Just knowing people care is enough. Ya know I keep thinking, where does it end? Why does it always haft to be the good that go, but the evil live forever?

I've wondered the same things. It doesn't make sense and it never will. Bad things happen to good people. There's nothing we can to stop it. All we can do is gather around and be there for those good people when bad things come their way.

Thanks for the support. (hugs 'Manda)

I'd say let him do what he needs to do but watch through a window or something.