# Fuck off, neighborhood busybody **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974 "2013-07-31T04:50:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/21 "2013-07-31T17:57:16Z")
Wait. So, you have a sidewalk which you are supposed to clear, but you’ve allowed it to be blocked by ivy for a substantial amount of time. Then you finally manage to pay someone to do this little job (which refutes your argument that you were “too busy”) and during this process the neighbor casually and jokingly tells your landscaper she’s glad she sidewalk is going to be clear. Note: She never called the city. She never complained to you. And for this, you say she’s a busybody bitch and you pit her? Someone in this story is an asshole. Someone in this story is WAY too concerned abut what their neighbor is up to. But that someone isn’t your neighbor-- it’s you. And, side note, you call her out for having a nice yard she maintains because it’s smaller than yours? What is your fucking problem?? She was smart enough to buy property she can maintain, and you aren’t. How is that _her_ problem? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/22 "2013-07-31T17:59:49Z")
What’s with the inconsistent sidewalk sizing? I live in BFE, and know nothing about them, but when I lived in LA, they were all pretty much the same everywhere you went. What gives? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/23 "2013-07-31T18:11:27Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Keeping the sidewalk clear might be our/my responsibility but I HATE neighbors who do these passive aggressive sort of swipes. Call the city over it? Did it occur to you to knock on the door first, or leave a note? “Hi, just wanted to let you know the sidewalk is really blocked and nobody can get by”? Nope, we’re going right to calling the city. > > People just care too much about shit that’s not in their yard, is all. I don’t pick up my leaves, I rent, so the landlord comes around with his leaf-sucking machine. He’s told me to leave the leaves where they are as it’s easier to suck them up - but I know there was a busybody who complained about the leaves. Fuck you, and fuck everyone who obviously doesn’t have enough to do in their lives and needs to be a busybody. > > Some of us have lives, and busy ones at that. And if I start on this, like russian heel says, I can find something wrong with everyone, and Number One would be the assholes who let their dogs shit and pee all over everyone else’s yard. This post is full of awesome. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/24 "2013-08-01T12:16:03Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Wait. > > So, you have a sidewalk which you are supposed to clear, but you’ve allowed it to be blocked by ivy for a substantial amount of time. Then you finally manage to pay someone to do this little job (which refutes your argument that you were “too busy”) and during this process the neighbor casually and jokingly tells your landscaper she’s glad she sidewalk is going to be clear. > > Note: She never called the city. She never complained to you. > > And for this, you say she’s a busybody bitch and you pit her? > > Someone in this story is an asshole. Someone in this story is WAY too concerned abut what their neighbor is up to. But that someone isn’t your neighbor-- it’s you. > > And, side note, you call her out for having a nice yard she maintains because it’s smaller than yours? What is your fucking problem?? She was smart enough to buy property she can maintain, and you aren’t. How is that _her_ problem? +1 ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/25 "2013-08-01T16:14:43Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The biggest eyesores in my neighbourhood from people who aren’t keeping their property up to neighbourhood standards are the renters. If the homeowner doesn’t live there, they really don’t seem to care much if the grass is mowed regularly or the dandelions are kept under control or the sidewalk is cleared of snow promptly (in the appropriate seasons, of course). That might be the problem your neighbours are having, **Anaamika** - your landlord might not be as quick on the draw as homeowners who live in the neighbourhood are. I know the landlord across the street from me will get to the dandelion explosion _eventually_ - but not until my yard has been thoroughly seeded with their dandelion fluff. I spend hours every summer pulling out dandelions because that landlord is negligent, and I don’t much care for it. I live in the upper of a two-flat. Your rant doesn’t apply to me much, since our landlord is actually damn good at keeping on top of mowing/raking/whatever\*. BUT even if it did, I’d shrug my shoulders and :ppppppppbbbbbbbbttttttt: to ya. 😛 Lawn/outdoor maintenance is included in our lease, which means we pay for it already. Being renters, it’s not like we happen to have our own lawn mower (et al) or a place to store it. If a neighbor has an issue with the frequency of outdoor maintenance, they need to take it up with the landlord. - Seriously, we love our landlords. It’s an older husband and wife team who own several houses and two-flats. The wife is also a realtor so she’s great with handling contracts and the husband is retired from GM and can do TONS of repair work, maintenance and so on. They’re really friendly, too, and even gave us a deal on the rent (I know what prices are in my city). ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/26 "2013-08-01T16:54:42Z")
It sounds like they were just saying it in jest, due to the “hahahahaha”. Recommend switch to decaf ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/27 "2013-08-01T17:16:26Z")
I don’t blame the tenants for not looking after the places they rent; I blame the landlords. They don’t live here, so they don’t care if they look after the properties properly or not. This might not be universal, but it’s pretty universal where I live - nice yard, nice yard, nice yard, shithole because it’s a rental, nice yard, nice yard. This might be a little bit of a hot-button issue with me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/28 "2013-08-01T17:46:20Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Right. IMHO, in a significant number of cases, people who don’t want others to “go behind their back” or “talk about them behind their back” seem to be ready to verbally bully anyone who talks “to their face.” I sometimes get the vibe that the real reason they’re angry someone wouldn’t confront them, but “went behind their back,” is that they missed the chance to deter that person entirely by intimidating them. Worth repeating. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/29 "2013-08-01T18:47:35Z")
Your neighborhood busybody is also the person who is going to call 911 when she sees a burglar breaking into your house or smoke pouring out of it when you are not at home. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/30 "2013-08-01T18:49:00Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Your neighborhood busybody is also the person who is going to call 911 when she sees a burglar breaking into your house or smoke pouring out of it when you are not at home. Or stop your rhubarb from being stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/31 "2013-08-01T19:34:22Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I This might not be universal, but it’s pretty universal where I live - nice yard, nice yard, nice yard, shithole because it’s a rental, nice yard, nice yard. Why does your personal happiness depend on making everyone on your block conform to your personal preferences? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/32 "2013-08-01T20:40:23Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Why does your personal happiness depend on making everyone on your block conform to your personal preferences? Are you serious, or are you parodying some sort of stoned college kid discussing politics at 3am kinda thing? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/33 "2013-08-01T20:48:42Z")
I’m dead serious. As Anaamika said, “people care too much about shit that is not in their yard.” ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/34 "2013-08-01T21:07:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’m dead serious. As Anaamika said, “people care too much about shit that is not in their yard.” Ok. Don’t forget, it’s puff puff pass, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/35 "2013-08-01T21:14:27Z")
I don’t share my asthma medication. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/36 "2013-08-01T21:31:57Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Why does your personal happiness depend on making everyone on your block conform to your personal preferences? I don’t know if I actually mentioned any personal preferences; I’ve only been talking about things that are required of homeowners by Calgary’s bylaws. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/37 "2013-08-01T21:42:49Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > We finally saved enough money to hire a landscaper to make the property meet your very high standards. > \ > we can easily afford to move to much nicer neighborhood than this one. Somehow these don’t go together. Are you scrimping by or not? ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/38 "2013-08-02T00:42:23Z")
Some people really need to go fuck themselves. This is why I’ll never own a town or city house. Give me my god damned space, and keep your useless shitty opinions out of my life. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/39 "2013-08-02T00:55:38Z")
> [@Uber\_the\_Goober](#): > > Some people really need to go fuck themselves. > > This is why I’ll never own a town or city house. Give me my god damned space, and keep your useless shitty opinions out of my life. She did! She just made a crack to the landscaper. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974/40 "2013-08-02T03:12:30Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > This week our landscaper came by to remove the Boston ivy off the sidewalk. While there, he told us some 30something bitty came over and joked “Boy I hope they paid you a lot of money to do that hard work, hahahaha it’s about time they removed that ivy, it’s become really hard for people to walk their dogs on that sidewalk, why many of my neighbors were thinking about calling the city to complain blah blah blah” Your landscaper is a shit-stirrer. She probably did make a comment or two about the sidewalk, but it’s probable he embellished what and how she said it. > [@](#): > > 1. The neighbor across the street from the ivy covered sidewalk has NO sidewalk whatsoever. As a matter of fact, about half the neighborhood streets have no sidewalks at all on either side. Perhaps you should spend your busybody energy complaining to the city about that. This is just a WAG, but I’m guessing the lack of sidewalk on the other side of the street means everyone appreciates your sidewalk that much more. Sidewalks are a funny thing. They are really easy to take for granted until you get to a section that’s all fucked up. Recently my mother came to visit and I had to push someone around in a wheelchair for the first time in my life. It was fun when the path was all clear and there were no objects, cracks, or areas of unevenness. Otherwise, she’d get hitched up, which made her feel guilty for being unable to walk and made me feel ashamed for not being a good wheelchair-pusher. The experience made me really appreciate good sidewalks, lemme tell you. I don’t like yardwork either. I’m just now getting the hang of weekend lawn mowing, Sometimes I let the grass out front get a little shaggy because it’s so hot and buggy and I just want to relax on the weekends. I’d probably feel a little bent out of shape if someone complained about it. But complaining about neighbors is no more illegal than letting the grass grow a little tall. Both are harmless but a bit impolite. We live and we learn. At least now you’re more mindful about keeping the sidewalk free and clear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-off-neighborhood-busybody/664974.md?page=3)