I work 12-hour night shifts, and have a sign right next to the doorbell that says "Night worker sleeping, please do not knock or ring bell." For added emphasis on how much of a grumpy introvert I am, I also have an obviously fake claymore mine attached to the doorbell (like this one: https://i.imgur.com/IPzKHU8.jpeg). As a result, I tend not to get a lot of people who bother me in the daytime. Even on good circumstances when I’m awake I am just not a fan of people showing up unannounced.
Today was not one of those days. About an hour ago, I woke up to the doorbell followed by a very definitive knock, the kind that I would do if I’m waking somebody up to tell them their kid just died in a car crash. I stumble out of bed in my pajamas looking all kinds of confused and desheveled… and instead find myself with the typical younger dude selling windows or solar panels or something on my porch.
"What can I do for ya?" I start out by asking, thinking that just maybe he’s here because a tree fell on my house or my car is on fire, but he starts on the sales pitch. I am usually a very patient person and absolutely hate the kind of rude Karenish behavior that so much of our society is defined by, but without thinking about it, before he finishes his first sentence I find myself pointing at the sign right next to the doorbell.
"Hey man, I need to get some sleep," I say. He stops talking and gives me an "oh, yeah, alright, MERRY CHRISTMAS" and then leaves. It wasn’t said with much true holiday spirit.
And I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t get back to sleep because now I keep thinking I came off like an asshole for just pointing at the sign like that like some grumpy old man (which I clearly am on the inside). I work for my local county with a very obviously labeled county vehicle in the driveway, and part of me is worried that he’s going to try to make a stink over it or something, or come back and try to kick my cat or something, but I also realize that makes no sense and is probably just a byproduct of sleep-deprived anxiety. I just don’t like being a jerk to people and I feel like I would typically be much more diplomatic about turning away a salesperson.
He was an asshole because he valued his chance at making money more than you getting a good night’s sleep. He came onto your property and showed zero regard for your wellbeing, so you are in the clear.
Honestly, I would make the claymore functional and have it spray something mildly unpleasant for people who ring when you’re asleep. You could add a little red LED to indicate it’s armed.
NTA if he can make sales he can read. If he can read he can follow the directions. It’s not that hard. A salesman knocking on my door sounding like it’s an emergency sure isn’t getting a good reception from me.
And I would have probably said something like “same to you buddy”. No one has time for that nonsense.
TA? Oh hell no. I’m impressed you didn’t just say “Can you read? F&%$ off”.
There’s definitely an a$$hole here, and it aint you.
NTA you had a sign too bad h couldn’t read.
So a sales guy ignores your sign and knocks anyway? And all you did was “Hey man, I need to get some sleep,”?
You were justified in being a much bigger AH about it.