Dorm Room Open etiquette

<p>What exactly does someone having their dorm room door open mean? Does it mean that anyone can just walk in and start a convo? Is this an effective way of meeting new people at college?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Back when I lived in a traditional dorm, if I had my door open, it meant that anyone was welcome to knock, walk in, and start a conversation.</p>

<p>And did people usually come in?</p>

<p>Yeah, basically it’s that! People see an open door, they knock and say hi. And they’ll introduce themselves. Just don’t keep the door open if your roommate or you aren’t in there</p>

<p>In my old dorm, the doors weighed about a thousand pounds, so it took a LOT of effort to open them. [Nothing short of moving the entire desk or dresser would hold those things open, and that would block the door.] I don’t know if it was because of that, but no one would ever take notice if a door was open. Not a single person would ever start a conversation with someone who had an open door. Even though the RAs kept telling us we should keep our doors open to meet people, everyone gave up on it within a week.</p>

<p>To me, an open door means “feel free to come in if you have something to say.” I think the best way to meet people this way is to walk in and say something like, “I really enjoy your music” or “Where did you get that chair from? I love it!” But I’ve never seen anyone do that.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes. Even toward the end of our second semester, my hallmates would still knock, come in, and talk. Due to the way suites and apartments differ from traditional dorm layouts, you’ll never experience that type of community feel again if you live in a suite or apartment on campus after your first year.</p>

<p>We left our door open all the time last year, and after the first day nobody ever took any notice. Our door was at the end of the hall by a stairwell not often used, so it was really inconvenient for that kind of thing. Next year I am on the ground floor next to the elevator, so hopefully more people will say hi. XD</p>

<p>very few people came in to make idle chat :|</p>

<p>I always kept my door open. The only time my door wasn’t open was when I was out of my room or busy doing something in my room. Basically, my door being open signaled to my hallmates that I was available to talk, hang out, etc…</p>

<p>I don’t like my door being closed unless I’m asleep. No reason, it just bothers me. But it was an invitation to come in and join me with whatever I’m doing–TV, reading magazines, doing homework (as long as they brought some of their own), chatting. It was a wonderful to meet people and cement friendships.</p>

<p>Would you feel weird if a new person popped in to say hi when it wasn’t still the beginning of the school year? There was kind of a war going on between the different cliques of girls on my floor last year so I wasn’t sure how things would have been had we not all hated each other. I am curious how these things work for normal people. lol</p>

<p>I’m living in a four person suite this year but I’m still hoping the open door routine will work.</p>

<p>i’ve never done it, i’m more of a “this is my space, you aren’t allowed in” type of person :<</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>My room was right across from the elevator and after spring finals were done, a group of guys from my floor congregated in my room to watch the playoffs. Right off the elevator, these two guys see one of their friends in my room and they decide to watch the last 10-15 minutes of the game in my room. It was cool though because I ended up seeing the random guys later on that night and we ended up forming a group to play card games for the whole night because practically everyone had left and none of us really wanted to go downtown.</p>

<p>I’m cool with new people in my room as long as they aren’t on my bed. In general, friends and girls are the only ones that I’m cool with on my bed.</p>

<p>^YES, thank you! I hate when people sit on my bed without asking. I will offer it to you for sure if I like you, but it’s really rude to assume that I will. Our dorm rooms are (comparatively) large, so there is a lot of floor space/2+ chairs to sit in; no reason for you to go straight to my bed.</p>

<p>My roommate had this friend last year whom I really didn’t like, and he would consistently sit on my bed. a) You’re not my friend. Sit on her bed. b) ASK, dammit.</p>

<p>^ Hence the secret reason why bottom bunk is awful when you’re in college: everyone assumes that’s the perfect place to sit. If my roomie brings someone over, they can climb to the top of the bed, darn it!</p>

<p>I’m usually fine with people on my bed [but no one ever would sit there since it was lofted with no ladder, haha], but I hate it when people assume shoes on the bed are ever a good idea. No. Just no.</p>

<p>Just loft both beds.</p>

<p>Both of ours were half-lofted. Mine was just in direct view of the door and hers was in a little nook off to the side.</p>