# Fuck you. Shovel your sidewalk. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 4, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141 "2011-02-04T13:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/281 "2011-02-11T18:46:58Z")
> [@LilyoftheField](#): > > [SFG is] already annoyed and I wasn’t even trying to teach her to sing! 😃 I keep telling, you, **Lily** : you’re not cute. You’re not funny. You’re not even clever. Shut the fuck up and go away. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Comparing SFG to a pig. Classy! And so original, too! > [@Frylock](#): > > What SfG said is “the sidewalk is for walking.” What you’re saying is “The sidewalk is for everyone to walk on.” That’s a different statement, and it means something different. _Seriously_, dude? Equivocate harder, retard. > [@YogSosoth](#): > > Wouldn’t you feel even a little bad if an old lady couldn’t shovel and the only recourse was to kick her out of her house? Of \*course \*I’d feel bad. I’d also feel bad if a little old lady’s powers of eyesight and reasoning had declined to the point that she couldn’t safely operate a motor vehicle and her license had to be revoked. That doesn’t mean she should be allowed to be a danger to everyone else on the roads just because I fucking feel bad about the situation. > [@LilyoftheField](#): > > And as I have indicated repeatedly, I already live somewhere, where the city clears the sidewalk - you’re the one who insisted that that is not enough. Listen up, tardbreath: The problem is that you’ve stated, and maintain, that if your city’s snow-clearing services stopped tomorrow, and responsibility for clearing your walk defaulted back to you, you wouldn’t do fuck all about it. \*That’s \*why we’re accosting you: you’re reveling in being an entitled, selfish bitch. > [@diggerwam](#): > > That said, walkers are handling those impediments just fine, either avoiding those houses all together or simply walking in the street. “Look, I drive drunk all the time! I haven’t hit anybody yet. When I go across the dividing line, people just honk at me until I move back to my side of the road! And pedestrians have leaped out of my path plenty of times. I just don’t see what the big deal is.” > [@tumbleddown](#): > > How about because sidewalk passability is a communal problem needing a communal solution? Yeah! What we really need is a way for everyone to contribute. Ooh, ooh, I have an idea! How about everybody just shovels the walkways on their own property. Brilliant: an on-demand labor force with the work fairly divided based on how much property people choose to control! I’m \*so glad \*we could have this little brainstorming session. > [@diggerwam](#): > > I bet you question people who park in the handicapped spots at the grocery store if you think they look able-bodied. If somebody is parking in a handicapped spot and doesn’t have the plates or a hanger? You bet your ass I’m going to judge them for it. If they’re displaying the proper permissions, though, it’s none of my fucking business what’s wrong with them. Plenty of people are disabled enough to need close parking without physically appearing to have any problems. > [@YogSosoth](#): > > Because of this topic, I no longer think snow is all fun and games. It seems to be a pain in the ass :mad: Welcome to the frozen tundra. Sorry to crush your hopes and dreams. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/282 "2011-02-11T18:56:09Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > This is a new argument. What SfG said is “the sidewalk is for walking.” As a wise man once said: > [@](#): > > The sidewalk’s for regular walking, not for fancy walking. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/283 "2011-02-11T19:58:33Z")
What about silly walking? ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/284 "2011-02-11T19:59:52Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > \ > My sidewalk is about knee deep\ Knee deep and you’re waiting a week to shovel it?!? I upgrade my “jerk” to “big jerk.” > [@YogSosoth](#): > > Because of this topic, I no longer think snow is all fun and games. It seems to be a pain in the ass :mad: I think that’s basically the message of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/285 "2011-02-11T20:27:35Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > That said, walkers are handling those impediments just fine, either avoiding those houses all together or simply walking in the street. > > People are managing just fine, what’s one more? I really doubt everyone is managing just fine. Mobility in the winter is a real problem for seniors and disabled people - would you be happy to see a little old grandmother walking in the street just because you can’t be bothered to keep up your property? Also, this attitude is clearly absurd - basically, if there is one house in foreclosure in your entire neighbourhood, you get a free pass to just let your property go to shit, right? Sorry, doesn’t work that way. > [@diggerwam](#): > > So if you run accross an occupied home where things aren’t quite up to snuff, whether it be shovellling, yard care or basic upkeep, I think that home owner should get the benefit of the doubt. I think you should assume that person is doing their best unless you have rock solid proof otherwise. You’re not in your neighbors shoes, so be nice. The homeowner should not get the benefit of the doubt and get away with poor upkeep any more than someone swerving all over the road should get the benefit of the doubt and get away with dangerous driving. Both actions are endangering others, and we live in a society where the common good is supposed to be put first. Just because someone has some sob story doesn’t mean they get to do whatever they please with no consequences. Also, I happen to think that probably 99% of non-shovellers are not, in fact, ‘doing their best’, I think they are being inconsiderate jerkwagons. > [@diggerwam](#): > > My sidewalk is about knee deep and it will take well over a few minutes to take care of it. If you think it’s so easy, why don’t y’all come out? Hmmm, no thanks. You know why? Because I’ve already cleared my deep snow off my own sidewalk this morning. Most of us in the thread are well familiar with snow, so save the ‘you think it’s so easy, why don’t you do it, bub!’ - we have done it, we are doing it. You are not the only one who has this terrible burden. ---
**Author:** ![Ispolkom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@Ispolkom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ispolkom)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/286 "2011-02-11T20:49:01Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > I’m taking literally 2 minutes in the morning to string a couple sententces together, how long does it take to put together a logical sentence or two? Less typing, more shoveling, I say. And it’s a mystery to me why a person with your moniker isn’t big on shoveling. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/287 "2011-02-11T20:50:26Z")
_But I’m busy arguing with people on the internet._ Fuck you. Shovel your sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/288 "2011-02-11T20:53:45Z")
Look, the Internet isn’t going to argue with _itself_, you know. wait. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/289 "2011-02-11T21:14:51Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > How about because sidewalk passability is a communal problem needing a communal solution? How about because maintaining city right of ways should not be handled piecemeal and at varying levels of competence? How about because maintaining safe sidewalks is a matter of public safety and should therefore be entrusted to a publicly accountable entity? How about making every city block its own sidewalk-maintenance cooperative? The residents and property owners (including businesses) can get together and decide how to apportion costs and responsibilities. The whole block is responsible for the whole block, so vacant properties and incapacitated residents are covered. This could dovetail with the Chicago no-dibs thing. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/290 "2011-02-11T21:18:44Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > How about making every city block its own sidewalk-maintenance cooperative? The residents and property owners (including businesses) can get together and decide how to apportion costs and responsibilities. The whole block is responsible for the whole block, so vacant properties and incapacitated residents are covered. This could dovetail with the Chicago no-dibs thing. Could said block residents then charge a fee to non-residents for the use of their sidewalk? I’m think I’ve spotted an additional source of income for myself and my cohorts… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/291 "2011-02-11T21:34:50Z")
I don’t have a sidewalk, thank goodness. But here’s my question. I notice that the road I work on has these beautiful sidewalks that the city clears - and they are not free of ice! Why is that? I know they sand/salt and they are not gravel and they are pretty quick to clear them, but they always have about an inch of ice on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/292 "2011-02-11T21:40:29Z")
Or, better yet, could the block association conscript residents of neighboring blocks to do the snow removal? ---
**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:** [February 12, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/293 "2011-02-12T00:34:30Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Could said block residents then charge a fee to non-residents for the use of their sidewalk? I’m think I’ve spotted an additional source of income for myself and my cohorts… Toll sidewalks? ---
**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:** [February 12, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/294 "2011-02-12T00:35:41Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t have a sidewalk, thank goodness. > > But here’s my question. I notice that the road I work on has these beautiful sidewalks that the city clears - and they are not free of ice! Why is that? I know they sand/salt and they are not gravel and they are pretty quick to clear them, but they always have about an inch of ice on the ground. I dunno; have you seen them running any tiny Zambonis over them? ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/295 "2011-02-12T12:55:40Z")
I only really came in here to argue because I was offended by being called a “shit heel” by the OP. My point was that you may not know what is going on w/ your neighbors and that I give them the benefit of the doubt. I’d like to think that if I noticed my neighbors house was not being kept up to standard, my first thought would be concern for their well being, not knee jerk name calling. I may even help my neighbor out, ya know, for the good of the neighborhood at large. Yes, I tend to be a socialist and yes I agree w/ previous poster that maybe the whole block should pitch in financially for a service. I’d be wiling to do that. At my old house I’d have kids knock on the door offering to shovel my walk. In this neighborhood nothing, apparently these kids don’t know the value of $15. I shovelled one lane last night. It is not the entire width of the sidewalk but it is passable. As I assumed, nobody had even attempted to walk on my sidewalk up to this point. I’m sorry if I inconvinienced any walkers, but like I said, there were at least 2 other houses on my same block that had to be avoided, so it looks like any walkers adapted, like i figured they would. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/296 "2011-02-12T13:30:40Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > I shovelled one lane last night. It is not the entire width of the sidewalk but it is passable. As I assumed, nobody had even attempted to walk on my sidewalk up to this point. Not surprising, if the snow was knee high. > [@diggerwam](#): > > I’m sorry if I inconvinienced any walkers, but like I said, there were at least 2 other houses on my same block that had to be avoided, so it looks like any walkers adapted, like i figured they would. Of course they adapted. What did you expect? They’d turn around and go home? It doesn’t mean the situation is optimal or even safe, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ispolkom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@Ispolkom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ispolkom)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/297 "2011-02-12T13:45:16Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > I only really came in here to argue because I was offended by being called a “shit heel” by the OP. My point was that you may not know what is going on w/ your neighbors and that I give them the benefit of the doubt. > > I’d like to think that if I noticed my neighbors house was not being kept up to standard, my first thought would be concern for their well being, not knee jerk name calling. I may even help my neighbor out, ya know, for the good of the neighborhood at large. Well, I guess that makes you some kind of Gandhi of the snowy plains, doesn’t it? Here’s the thing. If I saw a house where no shoveling had been done, I would be concerned. Perhaps there was something wrong. But that’s not your case. No sirree. To quote your post: “I shovelled my driveway and my front walk to the street by hand during the days after the storm. I have not shovelled my sidewalk. I plan to this weekend. Why didn’t I do it? I made it so my cars can get out so we can go to work, I made it so the mailman can get to my mailbox.” So you don’t have a problem shoveling snow when it’s a matter of getting your cars out, or getting your mail. If it’s a matter of **your** convenience you’re a regular shoveling maniac. You just have a problem shoveling snow so that your neighbors can safely walk. That’s just the sort of person who need a nudge by the city to do the right thing. And often having an overpaid city employee shovel the walk, and bill the homeowner, can be just the right nudge. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/298 "2011-02-12T15:37:37Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > A question: Who owns the sidewalk? > > Cites preferred. > > Does this differ from place to place? Where I live it’s called a “right-of-way,” and a it’s certain portion of private property that borders a public throughfare. You may not realize the extent of a law like this. When I was growing up, my neighbors across the street had property that ended at a creek. Because of the width and depth of this creek, it was a public thoroughfare and had right-of-ways attached to it. I don’t think they ever shoveled the creek bank, but then there wasn’t a sidewalk there either. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/299 "2011-02-12T20:52:27Z")
**Ispolkom** , you’re pretty much channelling everything I want to say. Keep up the good work! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/300 "2011-02-12T23:22:29Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t have a sidewalk, thank goodness. > > But here’s my question. I notice that the road I work on has these beautiful sidewalks that the city clears - and they are not free of ice! Why is that? I know they sand/salt and they are not gravel and they are pretty quick to clear them, but they always have about an inch of ice on the ground. No one can respond to Anaamika’s inquiry? The walks are cleared…and salted/sanded…and yet, somehow, ice forms! That sounds dangerousl! How is this even possible, if walkways have been cleared and/or salted and sanded??? 😕 Is it possible that ice could actually form in spite of this? I wouldn’t have guessed this, judging by the responses in this thread - I was advised that ice formed due to the tramping down of snow by multiple pedestrians on unshoveled snow. Could there possibly be other factors involved here? Please, if you choose to respond, confine your responses to Anaamika’s original inquiry - as I assume others are curious too. I know that my own input will only incite those who have already decided that I’m worthless as a human being, in spite of my attempt to use such a silly excuse as ‘circumstances’ to explain my position… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141.md?page=16)