# I'm screwed (bad living situation) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939 "2014-06-16T21:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/21 "2014-06-17T16:35:44Z")
Also, As for why he’d want to know about the drug dealing, I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that, when one of the son’s drug deals goes bad and four guys with guns show up at the house at 2AM, the OP would prefer that he & his girlfriend not be anywhere nearby at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/22 "2014-06-17T16:45:31Z")
Ignore all these negative Nancies. I say you develop a far higher purity product than anyone has ever seen and use it to take over the drug trade in your area. Note that you’ll likely have to chain the son to a post with a bicycle lock, luckily you’re already in the basement. Let us know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/23 "2014-06-17T17:08:08Z")
You know what drug dealers are worried about? Dealing drugs. You know what they aren’t worried about? Whatever nefarious fantasy is playing out in your head. Certainly drug dealers don’t make the best neighbors, but realistically the biggest danger is that a client might rob you. But that’s unlikely as nobody wants the police coming to their dealer’s house, and in any case I’m guessing that you don’t have a ton of stuff worth stealing. Make sure you have good locks, and try to focus on your own life rather than your neighbors guest list. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/24 "2014-06-17T21:37:19Z")
You said that someone was arrested on the property 2 weeks ago. What was the charge? That would certainly go a long way to determining if, in fact, there is drug dealing going on. (Although my instinct is to find out “what kind of drugs?”. But, I’m going to hell, so that’s how I roll). ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/25 "2014-06-17T22:05:05Z")
In my life, I’ve both rented and owned houses in sketchy areas where drug dealing in just business as usual. (Including where I live now, although mostly it’s pot and since MMJ is legal here now, even that is not a big deal.) As **even sven** says, the biggest worry you have is getting robbed, since druggies as a general rule will steal anything from anyone. But that is easily controlled with locks and common sense so as long as you’re sensible and not involved in or on the fringes of criminal activity, there’s nothing to worry about really. Get to know your neighbors, be neutral yet friendly to everyone including the dealers and customers, be sensibly vigilant without getting paranoid or unecessarily fearful. And if you can’t live with that, make plans to move somewhere different - but be aware that drug dealers and users [permeate every strata of society](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rush-limbaugh-arrested-on-drug-charges/). ---
**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:** [June 17, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/26 "2014-06-17T22:29:07Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > OK, I think we can make an educated guess as to who in this thread has something to hide. LOL, yeah, my real name is Tony Montana. You got me dude. /Sarcasm. > [@](#): > > Seriously, unless your name is Sheldon Cooper it’s pretty common to meet someone and just get a vibe that there’s something about this person that’s not right. Please, it took the OP two months just to get a name on this guy. Which indicates to me they don’t know shit about him other than what they’ve observed through their Mrs. Kravitz style observations. And despite this guy being nothing but nice to them by the OP’s own admission, the OP still felt the need to do a background check on him because… well… “They just don’t know.” Jeesh! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/27 "2014-06-17T22:31:55Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Certainly drug dealers don’t make the best neighbors, Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve preferred neighbors who were dealing. IME they do not want people calling the cops on them; so there are no loud parties, no loud stereos, etc. they just sorta mind their own business. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/28 "2014-06-17T22:48:39Z")
Sorry, I’m with **Shakes** on this. OP really needs to get a life. This is absurd. And **kayaker** , I’ve lived near drug dealers and in bad neighborhoods, and you’re spot on. They’re better neighbors than some of the idiots I live near now in a GOOD neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/29 "2014-06-17T23:00:47Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve preferred neighbors who were dealing. IME they do not want people calling the cops on them; so there are no loud parties, no loud stereos, etc. they just sorta mind their own business. I don’t know about that - two years ago the lone rental on my dead-end street seemed to be doing a brisk business in blow jobs and/or drugs. Loud music and parties, check. Visitors stopping to pee/go through the trash/see what else they could steal, check. Cars with thumping stereos coming and going at all hours, why yes. Vehicles tearing down our 25 mph road at 50 mph, check. We called the local DEA officer and those ladies moved out toot sweet. I live in a fairly blighted area, but those of us who care, really do care - and we will come down hard on miscreants. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/30 "2014-06-17T23:14:06Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > We called the local DEA officer and those ladies moved out toot sweet. > > I live in a fairly blighted area, but those of us who care, really do care - and we will come down hard on miscreants. I would suggest that those were not dealers/prostitutes but rather stupid people. ---
**Author:** ![ForErrors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@ForErrors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForErrors)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/31 "2014-06-18T00:56:51Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > buy a used mobile home. Live in it for 5 years. Sell it and use the money as down payment on a house. I wouldn’t trust a mobile home as far as I could push it! :rolleyes: For one, they typically don’t stand up well to extreme weather conditions. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![humbled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@humbled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humbled)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/32 "2014-06-18T02:32:47Z")
> [@ForErrors](#): > > I wouldn’t trust a mobile home as far as I could push it! :rolleyes: For one, they typically don’t stand up well to extreme weather conditions. ☹ Goodluck selling one too. I’m just going to stick it out for 3 months. It could be worse. Not great, but could definitely be worse. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/33 "2014-06-18T02:52:29Z")
> [@humbled](#): > > Goodluck selling one too. > I’m just going to stick it out for 3 months. It could be worse. Not great, but could definitely be worse. My house is paid for as are those of my friends who did the same thing. It’s cheaper to live in a mobile home than an apartment of equal size. Equity in an apartment after 5 years. Zero. My mobile home appreciated in value because I bought it used and fixed it up. I sold it through a broker and had no problems unloading it. It’s like dealing with a house. Buy one in a nice neighborhood and it holds it’s value. The difference is that a good mobile park doesn’t put up with crap. They don’t kick you out, they kick your HOUSE out. That costs money. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/34 "2014-06-18T02:55:15Z")
> [@humbled](#): > > That’s exactly what we’re (my girlfriend and me) are thinking. We seem to run into them everywhere we go. Not to be cruel, but when I read your OP my thought was “Dude sees drug dealers around every corner.” Then with your mention of paranoia, I wonder. If you get to the next place and find it lousy with drug dealers too, you may have an answer. ---
**Author:** ![humbled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@humbled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humbled)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/35 "2014-06-18T03:19:34Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > Not to be cruel, but when I read your OP my thought was “Dude sees drug dealers around every corner.” Then with your mention of paranoia, I wonder. > > If you get to the next place and find it lousy with drug dealers too, you may have an answer. Ha, I guess everyone has paranoia then. That’s cool man. Thanks for the compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/36 "2014-06-18T12:45:59Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Have you heard of the Medellín Cartel? Of course you have. Well, 3 of the top 5 members of the organization are middle school teachers. Perfect cover. Are you sure? I remember a middle school teacher telling me that Medellín Cartel was the conquistador who conquered all of south and central america as well as a good portion of north america. She always had this intense expression on her face and never stopped pacing… I always figured she was just passionately motivated about her work. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/37 "2014-06-18T14:17:51Z")
> [@humbled](#): > > Ha, I guess everyone has paranoia then. That’s cool man. Thanks for the compliment. I don’t think everyone so closely analyzes their neighbor’s activities. I know who lives around me, but I don’t pay attention to their comings and goings, who visits them, what the visitors are carrying. And I wouldn’t assume anything nefarious just because a grown man lives with his mother. My neighbor buys and fixes up cars and sells them. So there are different cars in the parking lot all the time, in various states of repair. I only give a damn when he parks them in my spot. ---
**Author:** ![Rattle\_and\_Hum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Rattle\_and\_Hum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattle_and_Hum)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/38 "2014-06-18T16:29:24Z")
I value safety above money. This is what I would do if it were in my area. 1. Find a safe, available place for July 1 move in. 2. Move in on July 1. 3. On July 1 inform old landlord you moved because it was not a safe environment due to kid’s record and foot traffic. 4. Inform old landlord she is free to sue you as you’ll be happy to explain to the judge why you moved. I would lose deposit if I did this; I would go after it in court if landlord filled place right away (cannot be liable for rent on a place leased to others). Worse case scenario is you end up with judgment for two months of rent & deposit (three months); don’t pay it. I doubt she even bothers with the courts and simply fills the place again. Most landlords don’t want to go through the hassle/expense of courts if they can rent their place again. ---
**Author:** ![humbled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@humbled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humbled)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/39 "2014-06-18T17:45:44Z")
Well, the problem is getting worse. I don’t know if I mentioned that two weeks ago, 3 undercover cops pulled up to the house and arrested his friend who was with him. They were also searching HIS (landlords sons) vehicles. He’s obviously dealing and he’s being obvious about it. Sketchy, felon friends are coming and going when mommy isn’t home. My girlfriend hates me for doing this, but I sent a text to the landlady telling her that his sons friend got arrested on her property and to not let it happen again. I’m prepared to call the cops if retaliation occurs. If any retaliation happens, I am prepared to take them to court. I’m not putting up with this again. There were raids at all the apartment complexes we rented at and they had good reviews online and zero crime in the area. You can’t trust anything you read. We figured renting in an expensive area would allow us to escape from it. Nope. Same shit. This sucks.I don’t feel safe. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939/40 "2014-06-18T17:52:11Z")
> [@humbled](#): > > I sent a text to the landlady telling her that his sons friend got arrested on her property and to not let it happen again. 😕 Wuh? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-screwed-bad-living-situation/690939.md?page=3)