# Dang Home Squatters..trying to get rid of the ones that just moved 4 houses down **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 14, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066 "2014-04-14T03:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/21 "2014-04-14T20:54:49Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > And this is in the United States? > > A private citizen can call the police, and the police will accompany them to another private citizens door and back them up while they “confront” them about their right to be on private property that the first private citizen has no ownership interest in? > > Interesting … That sounds unusual to me. Perhaps he just went over with the cops. I couldn’t get them to serve an eviction notice for me when the rent was three months past due. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/22 "2014-04-15T03:22:09Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > They are hoping the real estate market will come back and in the meantime the local communities miss out on the tax revenue. How are the local communities missing out on tax revenue? If the bank owns the house, it has to pay the taxes on it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/23 "2014-04-15T20:49:38Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Dress up like a ghost and start haunting them. Its a fullproof plan unless the family has a talking dog Ruh, roh, Raggy. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/24 "2014-04-15T21:00:06Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Why is it any of your friend’s business? I understand that he doesn’t want riff-raff living just up the road, but it’s not his property to deal with. And it’s certainly not a good idea to ‘disable’ the air-con unit…might find himself up on charges for trespass and damages. Property values for one. That’s a pretty good reason to make it “my” business. Fairness for another. “We all pay to live here, you don’t get to do so for free.” Quality of neighbor. Some people just deserve to be rousted out. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/25 "2014-04-15T21:07:23Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Quality of neighbor. Some people just deserve to be rousted out. That seems rather classist, for lack of a better word. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/26 "2014-04-15T21:09:50Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > So your “friend” noticed “ghetto” people moving in down the road and immediately started plotting to drive them from their new home. Is your friend in the Klan? > [@YogSosoth](#): > > Dress up like a ghost and start haunting them. Hmm… Oh dear… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/27 "2014-04-15T21:17:36Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > That seems rather classist, for lack of a better word. Yup. Guilty as charged. If I wanted to live with trailer trash, I’d move to a mobile home park. If I wanted to live with Bill Gates, I’d build a house near his. I don’t live where I live so I could have people who don’t deserve to be there, squat there. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/28 "2014-04-16T00:25:56Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > If I wanted to live with Bill Gates, I’d build a house near his. As if he’d let you. You’re ghetto as hell compared to him, you inferior piece of crap. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/29 "2014-04-16T01:38:35Z")
:rolleyes: Yes, I’m glad you got my point. Bill Gates bought the house(s) he has partially because he likes the company of other CEO’s and monied people. If somebody squatted in the house next to his\*, he would work to get them kicked out. If a bunch of assholes (like me!) moved in and started lowering property values with their loud music and “lower class” ways, yes, he may move to kick me out. Or buy the property from me. Or something. And he’d be perfectly right to do so. And I would be perfectly right to fight him. What I don’t have is the right to claim that I have an equal right to live next door to him when I’m stealing the house, as is happening to the OP’s friend. If he looks down his nose at me for doing so… well, that’s within his rights. \*His grounds are rather large, so it’s not like he’d be aware of this as soon as it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/30 "2014-04-16T02:41:34Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > And this is in the United States? > > A private citizen can call the police, and the police will accompany them to another private citizens door and back them up while they “confront” them about their right to be on private property that the first private citizen has no ownership interest in? > > Interesting … Well, if the people are “ghetto” - it is barely believable depending on the neighborhood [I Was Racially Profiled in My Own Driveway - The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/04/i-was-racially-profiled-in-my-own-driveway/360615/) ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/31 "2014-04-16T10:40:59Z")
If you tried to squat next door to Bill Gates he would bring you a pre-release version of his operating system as a house-warming gift. He’s that cruel. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/32 "2014-04-16T12:49:18Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Or buy the property from me. He’d “buy you out”. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/33 "2014-04-16T14:12:29Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > As if he’d let you. You’re ghetto as hell compared to him, you inferior piece of crap. This is completely and utterly out of line for MPSIMS. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/34 "2014-04-16T15:48:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Yes, I’m glad you got my point. > > Bill Gates bought the house(s) he has partially because he likes the company of other CEO’s and monied people. If somebody squatted in the house next to his\*, he would work to get them kicked out. If a bunch of assholes (like me!) moved in and started lowering property values with their loud music and “lower class” ways, yes, he may move to kick me out. Or buy the property from me. Or something. And he’d be perfectly right to do so. And I would be perfectly right to fight him. > > What I don’t have is the right to claim that I have an equal right to live next door to him when I’m stealing the house, as is happening to the OP’s friend. If he looks down his nose at me for doing so… well, that’s within his rights. > > \*His grounds are rather large, so it’s not like he’d be aware of this as soon as it happens. My point, which you didn’t get, is the looking down your nose part because they’re lower class than you are, which apparently wouldn’t be any different if they bought the house, so ownership isn’t the issue. Because, being lower class, they can only be uncouth boors with no respect for their neighbours. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/35 "2014-04-16T16:05:24Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Dress up like a ghost and start haunting them. Its a fullproof plan unless the family has a talking dog > [@Kimballkid](#): > > Ruh, roh, Raggy. I just died a bit inside. When I read this my mind went to _Martha Speaks_ and not _Scooby-Doo_. I need to get my daughter watching better TV. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/36 "2014-04-16T16:10:13Z")
Just to clarify, JohnT, I wasn’t personally calling you “ghetto as hell” or “an inferior piece of crap”. I was speaking as the ultra-rich would think of you if they had the same attitude as you have to lower class neighbours. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/37 "2014-04-18T14:32:57Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > This is completely and utterly out of line for MPSIMS. He was attributing the insult to “Bill Gates” … its a bit less offensive when you realise that … I guess its still an insult. If X says “Cecil says that you don’t deserve orange juice.”… does X believe its true, or merely quoting X ? Its perhaps “out of line” is to put insults into a specific persons mouth ? Its defamation to imply that they did or would say that. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/38 "2014-04-18T17:07:39Z")
I was implying that Bill Gates would say it _ **if** _ he had the same attitude as the poster did (I doubt that he has) which I admit wasn’t clear. Anyway, Twickster and I have settled it out of court. We even sang Kumbaya.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/39 "2014-04-18T17:19:53Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > We even sang Kumbaya.🙂 What have you done to the Twix? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066/40 "2014-04-18T18:26:17Z")
Never underestimate the power of charm, wit, and lots of cold hard cash. Seriously, maybe it was because I saw that the misunderstanding was really my fault instead of getting bent out of shape about it, so we worked out a reasonable and fair compromise: we agreed it was a misunderstanding and he let the warning stand. Umm, wait a minute… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dang-home-squatters-trying-to-get-rid-of-the-ones-that-just-moved-4-houses-down/686066.md?page=3)