Nicky nicky nine-doors

[KathyO]

Okay. All cultures have a game that kids play, where you knock on someone's door and then run away. They probably also play it in cultures where they don't even have the doors. At a party recently, we got comparing notes on what that game was CALLED. I collected the following:

Nicky nicky nine-doors
Nicky nicky knock-on-doors
Niney niney knock-on-doors
Knock and run
White rabbit

Needless to say, we were ALL good kids who NEVER played it, and I'm sure you all were too, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to throw this one out to the wider population. Any more names for it?

Curious,

KathyO

[nathansmom]

I'll send you an email. I don't like what its called around here and I won't post it here.

[Momof3Labs]

DH calls it Ding Dong Ditch!

[NancyJ_redo]

Ding-dong-ditch. This was in the San Fernando Valley - a suburb of LA. And I've never heard it referred to as Nicky nicky nine-doors or any variation of that.

Edited to add: oops, Lori and I posted at the same time. I was starting to wonder if my block was the only one that called it ding-dong-ditch...apparently not.

[lukkykatt]

Ring, knock and run!

[s_gosney]

the name for it here is also inappropriate...must be the same as norah's. Norah...I'm guessing you live somewhere in the south?

[nathansmom]

Actually I live in Utah. I'm almost positive we have the same name for it.

[pritchettzoo]

Um, yeah. I've never called it that myself, and I couldn't remember what it was until I read Norah's post. I'm in GA. And we wonder why the rest of the country thinks we all have pointy white hats in our closets??

Anna
Mama to Gracie (9/16/03)

[s_gosney]

Yeah, I'd never heard of any of those other names. I'm in OK, BTW. The larger cities are pretty good now, but many of the rural areas are still very racist. :(

[Melanie]

Ding-Dong Ditch

[barbarhow]

Ding dong ditch-that was in connecticut.
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03

[jojo2324]

Honestly, I haven't played this! I asked DH last night, and the name he's familiar with is quite offensive. I'm guessing that's what Norah and others have said. And we're in NY.

[jmofarrill]

I don't know of any names for this game, but I do know that a teenage boy in our county was recently shot and killed playing this game. If I remember correctly, the homeowner thought the teenage boy was a burgler? Do burglers ring the doorbell and then run away?

ETA: link to the article http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1008297/posts

[drsweetie]

Imy house this would probably be known as "Getting a spanking for bothering the neighbors".

Ellen
Mom to Laura 6/9/03

[gour0]

This is terrible! I can't believe he shot him! And, that they didn't arrest him! I always thought the burglar had to be IN YOUR HOUSE to claim self defense. How are you defending yourself if someone is running away?

[khakismom]

Ding-dong-ditching. :) (In Kansas City--Kansas and Missouri)

[Dcclerk]

Ding Dong Ditch here, too. (So-Cal girl.) I've never heard nicky nicky nine-doors, either. And, I'm so curious what all these other people have heard it called because that is the only way I have ever heard it described.

[Roleysmom]

We weren't as creative as nicky nicky nine doors in the Chicago area. We also called it ding dong dash or ding dong ditch.
Paula -- mom to Roley Julia 01-04-02

[mamahill]

We called it doorbell ditch. I mean, that's what they who participated in it called it... ;) Does it go along with the whole "made you look" entertainment? Now that I'm older I can't think of why this activity was that funny.

[new_mommy25]

I've never played this as a child and didn't hear about it until I was older. But I'm curious, what is the naughty name for it? Can someone clue me in or at least give a generous hint? I grew up in Hawaii btw.