# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/21 "2011-02-04T16:30:59Z")
“Now the guy’s got Paulie as a partner. Any problems, he goes to Paulie. Trouble with the bill? He can go to Paulie. Trouble with the cops, deliveries, Tommy, he can call Paulie. But now the guy’s gotta come up with Paulie’s money every week, no matter what. Business bad? Fuck you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? Fuck you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? Fuck you, pay me!” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/22 "2011-02-04T16:41:19Z")
I feel for you corner-dwellers; I used to live on a corner, and it was a bitch. I moved a few months ago, and now there’s no sidewalk, just a little bit that goes from the door to the driveway. Plus, not as much yard to mow. I’m happier than a pig in shit… ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/23 "2011-02-04T16:48:14Z")
Thanks for reminding me **Ferret Herder**. _I had a heart attack and am now frozen in a snow bank and my sidewalk is only partially shoveled._ Fuck you. Shovel your sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/24 "2011-02-04T16:56:11Z")
I have a tiny little irrational fear that one day some bizarre set of circumstances will end up moving me to somewhere that has snow and I _won’t know the rules._ I didn’t know you have to shovel your sidewalk! (I am only a little clear on what a snow shovel looks like, though.) ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/25 "2011-02-04T17:16:38Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I have a tiny little irrational fear that one day some bizarre set of circumstances will end up moving me to somewhere that has snow and I _won’t know the rules._ I didn’t know you have to shovel your sidewalk! (I am only a little clear on what a snow shovel looks like, though.) A snow shovel is anything remotely shovel-like that you can use to pick up snow and move it. We improvise. So if you haven’t bought any type of shovel, get out a bucket. 😃 I know a lot of people who have had to get new debit and credit cards because they forgot their ice scraper and used their cards on the car windows. But honestly, there are certain types of shovels people buy for ergonomics or comfort or whatever, but people also use the same shovel they use to plant the garden every year. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/26 "2011-02-04T17:17:10Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I have a tiny little irrational fear that one day some bizarre set of circumstances will end up moving me to somewhere that has snow and I _won’t know the rules._ I didn’t know you have to shovel your sidewalk! (I am only a little clear on what a snow shovel looks like, though.) Well, this is the place to fight ignorance. Just ask here. I’m sure you’ll get a five page response in less than an hour. 🙂 And I don’t have a sidewalk, but we do clear off the driveway and the side of the road beside our house. But I don’t blame people for not doing it two years ago with the ice storm, broken tree branches and downed powerlines. I was so happy that didn’t happen again. I’ll ask if any of the harder hit areas have power outages in a more appropriate thread. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/27 "2011-02-04T17:18:57Z")
Question from a non-American - how is it that the sidewalk outside your home is considered “yours”? I would’ve assumed it’s public property. It’s not obvious to me how snow shovelling is different from other maintenance, but i doubt you’re responsible for that too. ---
**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 4, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/28 "2011-02-04T17:20:20Z")
You have to shovel your sidewalk. You have to shovel it in a timely fashion (within 24 hours of a snowfall here and I suspect most places). You _should_ (don’t have to) shovel the snow onto your own yard, not the street - your grass and trees need the water, the road does not. You should do it slowly with proper bending and lifting technique so you don’t hurt yourself. You should have a discussion with your landlord as to who is responsible for shovelling (I think this is why a lot of sidewalks aren’t shovelled - tenants don’t do it, and the landlords don’t bother) and bust your landlord’s ass if he doesn’t do it within 24 hours (if he can’t make it over, he needs to make arrangements - as a homeowner, he is still responsible). If you’re old and you can’t shovel, you can’t afford anyone to help you, and you have no one to help you, you need to think about maybe living somewhere that doesn’t have sidewalks you’re responsible for. You also have to salt/sand if you get ice from melt-off on the sidewalk, too (melts in the day, freezes at night). Sidewalk maintenance doesn’t stop with taking the snow off. I was walking to Safeway this winter and one house along the way had sheer ice for the entire length of their sidewalk - seriously, people, you have to do something about that. In case it wasn’t obvious, I heartily endorse this pitting. Shovel your sidewalks. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/29 "2011-02-04T17:24:14Z")
And for those of you (us) who park on street; shovel out the whole spot, not just enough for 4 wheels. It’s all gonna freeze up and get real messy, make a real parking spot so we can use it for a while. This snow ain’t going anywhere soon. ---
**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 4, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/30 "2011-02-04T17:24:58Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > Fuck you, shovel my sidewalk. > > [This](http://www.flickr.com/photos/49174893@N07/5416175124/) is my dumbass neighbour. The areas in red are the only ones he’ll shovel. Won’t go to the end of his property line around the corner, and won’t shovel out a path for the sidewalk after the plows come through. I’m going to write, “Shovel the WHOLE sidewalk, you lazy bastard!” in pee in his backyard. There are some of those in my neighbourhood, too. One egregious example (hasn’t shovelled their damned sidewalk once in the two winters I’ve been here) has no sidewalk in front of their house, but sidewalk along the side. Guess what - you’re not off the hook. If you don’t like being responsible for the sidewalk along the side, guess you shouldn’t live there. For the record, I’m a corner lot owner, and I shovel not only both sidewalks, but I also clean up the back alley entranceway if it needs it (mostly because my Corolla gets stuck if I don’t, but still). ---
**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 4, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/31 "2011-02-04T17:27:12Z")
_I died alone in my home, and no one has noticed I’ve passed yet._ Fuck you. Shovel your sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/32 "2011-02-04T17:29:00Z")
Damned straight. If you suspect that there’s the most remote possibility of you dying, **ever** , arrange for someone to shovel your sidewalk. ---
**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 4, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/33 "2011-02-04T17:29:28Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > _I died alone in my home, and no one has noticed I’ve passed yet._ > > Fuck you. Shovel your sidewalk. The thieves will notice when the break into your house cause it’s obvious no one is home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/34 "2011-02-04T17:32:44Z")
I wish I could. Someone with a 4-wheeler & blade does it and every other public sidewalk on my block before I can get to it. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/35 "2011-02-04T17:33:06Z")
In civilized cities, the city shovels its own damn sidewalk. However, if your city is too cheap for that, shovel your fucking sidewalk! ---
**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 4, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/36 "2011-02-04T17:34:36Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I thought snow was fun stuff. Skiing, sledding, snowmen, snowball fights, etc. I guess I’m wrong. Yes. Terribly wrong. Snow is _pain_. > [@MeanOldLady](#): > > No sympathy out of this one. I have no sympathy for people who take on responsibilities that they can’t fulfill due to age or infirmity. Owning a home in the U.S. means you’re responsible for clearing snow and ice off the sidewalks in front of it. If you can’t clear your walkways, you need to hire or persuade someone to do it for you. If you can’t do that, you need to live somewhere where you’re not responsible for clearing the walks. > [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > one was due to a man being blown into Lake Michigan from a wind gust I probably shoudln’t be laughing at that. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Fuck you, pay me! An excellent song by Viva La Foxx. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/37 "2011-02-04T17:35:11Z")
Pissed-off pedestrian chiming in here with more hearty support for this message. Thank Og for my wonderful dream landlords who are VERY conscientious about keeping the walks cleared, and I kinda suspect they snowblow the whole sidewalk of every single block where they own a house. I definitely notice a difference between blocks where my landlords have property and the neighboring blocks. And even though the landlords are so good about it and it’s their responsibility, I will get out there and shovel the walk myself if I happen to be home before they’ve had a chance to shovel. Goddammit, this is no time to be splitting hairs about whose job it is, we need this fucking snow out of the way so people can fucking walk. This winter, I am trying to pump up my Gandhi-esque compassion and universal sense of duty far enough to be able to implement the proper response to my rat-bastard lazy asshole neighbors across the street who always leave their sidewalks uncleared ALL FUCKING WINTER right on the busiest stretch of the street where it’s least safe to be walking out in traffic and where I have to stand in the street to wait for the bus because the rat-bastard lazy asshole neighbors won’t shovel the walk. The proper response will be that I will go and shovel their sidewalk. And I will not say anything to them about it. But all the rest of you lazy rotten shovel shirkers, yeah. Shovel your sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/38 "2011-02-04T17:38:20Z")
I’m getting the hang of the dope. January is rape month. February is snow month. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/39 "2011-02-04T17:44:28Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > In civilized cities, the city shovels its own damn sidewalk. > > However, if your city is too cheap for that, shovel your fucking sidewalk! Holy shit - some CITIES shovel the sidewalks? We’ve lived in our house for 10 years and have never even seen a snowplow on our street. Then again, our street doesn’t have sidewalks. But still. ---
**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 4, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141/40 "2011-02-04T17:44:35Z")
Speaking of pissed-off pedestrians, there’s this church near me that _never shovels its fucking sidewalk_. They never make any effort to get rid of the ice there, either. It’s gotten so bad that everyone deliberately walks on the other side of the street in order to avoid that death trap. _God will take care of my snow and ice problem._ Fuck you. Shovel your sidewalk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-shovel-your-sidewalk/570141.md?page=3)