Dear Harlan,

What should you do if you share a room with someone and are trying to get into the room, but your roommate is having sex? What do you do if you really need to grab something inside that room, but there is no end to the roommate sex session in sight? What would be the appropriate way to interrupt and get what I need?

Sexiled

Dear Sexiled,

Start with a warning via text message. Then continue by calling. Then continue with loud knocking (give it two minutes). If there's no response, loudly enter the room. Sneaking in will just make you look like a voyeur. Being loud will give them time to cover up. Be sure to make more noise than them. Avoid saying anything that can be misconstrued as kinky sex talk by a partner. Just loudly repeat: "Not Looking. Getting something." Get what you need and go. Once you get what you need and go, talk about it the next morning. Between the text message, the cell phone call and two minutes of knocking, you will have enough evidence to show that you tried to respect your roommate's space. Discuss what kind of system can be created so this will never happen again.