Is knocking on doors an American thing?
I am always caught really off guard when I am in the bathroom, and somebody tries to enter without knocking. Luckily, I am smart enough to keep the doors locked. But Americans, am I alone in thinking that a closed bathroom door means that somebody is probably in there? If I ever approach a bathroom door and it is closed, I knock -- without hesitation. It's a small gesture that can save 2 people (or more) from a very uncomfortable situation.
Europeans, do you knock? Or does it just so happen that every European I have ever lived with overlooks it?
Is this why nobody else likes knock-knock jokes?
I'm just wondering here.
A rather strange thing happened to me the other week -- where somebody tried to enter my room ... without knocking. I was really taken aback. (And so were they when I said "hola?!" ... and they took off down the hall!) The whole situation could have been avoided with a simple tap on the door.
I'm just wondering if anybody else questions the door-knocking norms worldwide. Lately it has been bothering me...I'd like to know your opinions!
Well, for what it's worth, my Saudi students always knock on the door when they enter the classroom. I explained to them that if they are late, it's rude to knock and disrupt the whole class. They were glad to know.
ReplyDeleteUmmm, I really don't know, but when I was living with my bf and another roommate, she got PISSED at me for not closing and locking the door so she would know I was in it.
ReplyDeleteI love this blog post! I haven't noticed this in Vienna, but I'll start paying attention now and get back to you! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's an individual thing I think. My Cypriot flatmate believed in knocking, and I believed in locking :-)
ReplyDeleteMy roomies knock. Your flatmate is just a creeper.
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