Great. Just freakin' great
Jul. 4th, 2005 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So, now Kouryou-chan's afraid to leave the house because she thinks the neighbors are going to yell at her.
Our property sits on a hill, and the new neighbors are slightly down the grade from us. Whenever it rains, the water runs down the road and, if it rains hard enough, overslops the ridge on the edge of their property, dumping pine needles down their driveway. This is simply a fact of nature.
This afternoon, Kouryou-chan and one of the other kids were playing in a stream of water that was running down the road from the neighbors slightly up the grade from us, and the Woman Of The House (tm) comes running out and yells at them. Not asks them to stop, yells at them. That's her first instinct. Then, she turns to me and says, "Don't be making a mess of my yard."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't get fucking rude with me!" she shouts.
"I haven't said a word yet."
"Just don't get rude with me, okay?" And then she stalks off. I was completely baffled. Omaha went and had words with her, since she handles confrontation better than I do, and her response when she came back was, "We're moving. I'm not living next to people who expect the worst of their neighbors." Apparently, it's our fault that nature dumps pine needles on her driveway, and not the fact that they chose a nice house with a pine-lined easeway.
I can't help but wonder how long they'll be able to live in that house with all that rental gear. Hopefully, not long. I don't want my child to be a prisoner in her own home because our neighbors are psycho.
Our property sits on a hill, and the new neighbors are slightly down the grade from us. Whenever it rains, the water runs down the road and, if it rains hard enough, overslops the ridge on the edge of their property, dumping pine needles down their driveway. This is simply a fact of nature.
This afternoon, Kouryou-chan and one of the other kids were playing in a stream of water that was running down the road from the neighbors slightly up the grade from us, and the Woman Of The House (tm) comes running out and yells at them. Not asks them to stop, yells at them. That's her first instinct. Then, she turns to me and says, "Don't be making a mess of my yard."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't get fucking rude with me!" she shouts.
"I haven't said a word yet."
"Just don't get rude with me, okay?" And then she stalks off. I was completely baffled. Omaha went and had words with her, since she handles confrontation better than I do, and her response when she came back was, "We're moving. I'm not living next to people who expect the worst of their neighbors." Apparently, it's our fault that nature dumps pine needles on her driveway, and not the fact that they chose a nice house with a pine-lined easeway.
I can't help but wonder how long they'll be able to live in that house with all that rental gear. Hopefully, not long. I don't want my child to be a prisoner in her own home because our neighbors are psycho.
I've known people like that...
Date: 2005-07-04 11:43 pm (UTC)I had neighbors of similar ilk recently. They moved in with two huge dogs (approximately 60 and 90 pounds) and immediately tied them up outside their back door. While the dogs were gentle, they barked -- loudly and at great length -- at the slightest moving thing. As a result, none of my eleven other neighbors allowed their children to use the back yard area anymore. No more slip-and-slide, no more lawn chairs, no more communal back-yard barbecues, it all vanished.
The last straw were threats of violence from their teenage son. I quickly involved the police -- and the management of the complex -- but nothing came of it since nothing tangible had yet happened. Since it was an apartment we were inhabiting, my wife and I packed up and moved.
It's surprising how completely unrelated people behave in such a similar manner; they move in somewhere, claim as much territory as they can get away with and complain at the most minimal perceived slight. Perhaps they think they'll have the upper hand if they complain first because then, if you complain about something they're doing, you're only complaining out of spite and to get revenge.
(By the way, those 'fridges still outside?)
Perhaps you could (if you haven't already) make friends with their landlord? Have him (her?) over for dinner, let them see what's become of their property. Hopefully these socially-challenged individuals won't be long for your neighborhood.
Best of luck with this, hope they haven't caused any lasting scars for your beautiful daughters!
Bryan.
Re: I've known people like that...
Date: 2005-07-05 01:07 am (UTC)Did I mention that the two children by the boyfriend, both under the age of three, are steeping in this stuff?
Damn, I tempted to dig out every gay pride bumper sticker I own and put them on my car.
Re: I've known people like that...
Date: 2005-07-05 01:19 am (UTC)If only it were quite as simple for you to escape that situation as it was for us.
It sounds like they're using that site about the 'redneck neighbor' (http://web.archive.org/web/20040727020207/http://www.knology.net/~carlos/redneck.htm) as a how-to guide. (Eek!)
Why is it that intelligent people plan for children and take great care in their upbringing, while those not quite so gifted are trying to drown us by sheer numbers? That sort of decision should be discouraged... and yet we must "think of the children" and provide for their "welfare".
Excuse me, I'm going to go sit in a corner and twitch for a while now.
Bryan.
Okay, this is a test...
Date: 2005-07-05 01:24 am (UTC)Let's see what a normal "A HREF" does when I let it go with automatic formatting...
redneck neighbor (http://web.archive.org/web/20040727020207/http://www.knology.net/~carlos/redneck.htm)
(Okay, this time it's not screwing up the auto-preview. Go figure.)
Re: Okay, this is a test...
Date: 2005-07-05 01:26 am (UTC)Bryan.
Re: Okay, this is a test...
Date: 2005-07-05 02:02 am (UTC)redneck neighbor
do "view source" on that to see what I mean. Hope that helps.
Re: Okay, this is a test...
Date: 2005-07-05 07:06 am (UTC)No, it's because of the filtering the LJ does to anon posts.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-05 02:15 am (UTC)Yeah, this is where the good fight gets dirty. The rules are: whatever you can get away with. Hit'em with everything you can think of: Landlord, health, DSHS, all's fair in love and war and this ain't love, dear hearts.
Good luck, and good hunting.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-05 02:34 am (UTC)Good luck.
- Eddie
no subject
Date: 2005-07-05 02:50 am (UTC)Within boundaries, you can enforce the law - those refrigerators are an egregious example. Actions shouldn't just be between you and them - involve others, if they'll permit it.
I would love to know what happened with
no subject
Date: 2005-07-05 05:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-05 09:13 am (UTC)I would first imagine your house in your mind and form a solid, honest opinion on whether the house is your 'home'.
If this is your home.. you need to protect your home and family from the influences of individuals such as your neighbors carefully, methodically, and cleverly, while using yourself as an example to your family on how to deal with this situation should it arise for them when you are not there.
If this is not your home, then I would suggest finding one.