Ok. First post on this board, although I come here and read sometimes…
I have a neighbor who happens to be a total ass. He’s harassed people and animals, reported stupid things to the police, and overall just tried to make people miserable. I’d like to pay him back a little bit.
What are the legalities of something like TP’ing that doesn’t really harm anything? What can be done to you if you’re caught? (unlikely, but i could be identified after the fact…i’m a big buy, even disguised i’d stick out) I’m under 18, btw.
Also…anyone have any advice on HOW to get back at him?
I’m mean, but I try not to be stupid, too. Hence the questions. I’ve searched the message board, cloumn, letter, ect archives and have found no info on this. Anyone wanna help me out?
Although most people take this the wrong way, this is just a kindly pre-emptive note. Normally, destructive and/or revenge-based topics either get closed quickly in Genreal Questions, or moved from this section of the board to The Pit if they are not too malicious and/or illegal. This is done to protect the Chicago Reader from liability.
You may try posting over in the Pit, if you are serious about a prank-oriented revenge, as opposed to a malicious or blatantly illegal sort. But I’m sure a Moderator will be by soon to clarify, and I certainly don’t speak for them…
Well, if you want that kind of information, you might want to check out those revenge books published by places like Loompanics Unlimited or Paladin Press. These places sell books on everything from lockpicking to manufacturing explosives to how to smuggle guns across the border. Of course, they don’t intend for anyone to actually USE this information. Heaven forbid! They just want to exercise their American right to free speech. Yeah, right. Anyway, these revenge books are written by a guy named George Hayduke. I’ve never read them myself, but I’ve heard they contain such things as how to get someone’s mail forwarded to Japan by slow boat. All of these books bear the warning that they are for “entertainment” purposes only, so if you get busted for doing something, you’ve got only yourself to blame.
I’m not big on revenge tactics because they can backfire…and then there’s karma. But how about something LEGAL, like a restraining order. Or how about a call to the police – they might be willing to visit the guy and give him a warning. If he’s bothering other neighbors, maybe you can get them to call too. The police might be able to advise about the possibility of a restraining order, if you don’t have access to legal counsel.
If your neighbor has already harassed people and brought in the police a few times then it sounds like he may have built a consensus in the neighborhood. If this is the case then it is highly likely that you’re not alone in your feelings.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Get an honest feel for what some neighbors think. It may turn out that you don’t have to do anything because someone else already is.
After reading Sandy’s reply and giving it some more thought, I think ANY prank is just going to make the situation worse. I think people like that are basically unhappy, or angry about something in their lives and they take it out on others. Vengeful actions are just going to increase his hostility. Do any of the neighbors know him? Has anyone tried talking to the guy? Maybe he thinks you or some other neighbor has done something to him and he’s a bit paranoid. If no one has talked to him (in a non-hostile way), I’d do that before calling the police or taking other actions.
an idea - get him on to every mailing list you can think of with the name something like Joe Badneighbor - he might get the idea and It would not be tracable back to you hopefully.
Theres a wonderufl book called Screw Unto Others by a George Chunder.
It seems to have some worthy ideas, but of course they disclaim any responsibility for them, some of which are illegal, by saying it entertainment only.
afaik, the guy’s just a cock. he doesn’t like animals, but moved into a neighborhood where everyone has them. he’s also a hypocrite, and i’m just tired of it. the police have been called in before, and they won’t do a thing, beleive me.
and anything that i can’t do in a black outfit during the night, prankwise, is out. if i’m identified as the person that did it, he’ll harm and possibly kill my dogs, among other things.
Write something on his lawn…in fertilizer. Of course, the first thing he’ll do when he sees it is wash it away with the hose…and then those words will be there for at least a year, just a little greener than the rest of the grass.
As a guy who loves revenge and have pushed the envelope once too often (but managed to stay out of court) I can tell you that honestly, pranks are how the giver and taker see it. I have pulled some big ones where the people took totally offense to it, yet the cop thought it was hilarious. Then I have had some cruel once pulled on me (my weiner dog was once dyed hot pink…very surreal since it was my grandmothers dog and she loved it)
My advice is to make up a list of revenge and then play the devils advocate. Give worst case scenerios (could I get hanged for this?), property damage if caught(the lawn one was never pinned on me), and overall effectiveness and danger (will this guy know it was me and come over and blow my head off).
Also, try some style. Anyone can do the old standbys but seeing things like the guys car stuffed to the roof with packing peanuts, getting a person on every porno mailing list there is (excellent revenge and fairly easy_ i highly recommend this to anyone in apartment complexes that have a central mailboxwhere people can see the ton of naughty stuff come tumbling out of it), or doing the great “call every pizza and delivery service you can on one night to deliver” can be milestones in your war against your enemy-or your pals for that matter.
Never do any acts of revenge that do not benefit society also. Ie, if that neighbor was violating some code or law, then it is OK to turn him in. But revenge just for revenge? Ok, what is the WORST that can happen? He can find out WHO, then do worse to you, or you could get arrested. OR, he can NOT find out WHO, and thus just turn into a BIGGER asshole- how does that help? Both bad, one really bad. But what is the BEST? Will he reform? No. So, the very best you can hope for, is a small feeling of satisfaction, which could be overcome by guilt at any moment. So, weigh the alternatives. I can see that at the very worst, you are completely screwed. But, even best case is- everyone around is screwed, as he gets worse.
Note, this is not preaching: it is been there done that, and it is not worth it.
I tend to agree with Sycorax about this guy being unhappy, and worry that, if he is a person who would hurt animals, how much more would it take to send him over the edge? He might start hurting people.
In a small town here in Central Minnesota, a crochety old man went over the edge and murdered the whole neighboring family (except for a daughter who was visiting elsewhere), and then shot their dog and turned the gun on himself. And it started out as some kind of property line and noise dispute, if I remember correctly.
I believe that malicious cruelty to animals is one of the red flags pointing to severe mental disturbance.
burble be careful; my best advice would be for everyone to stay away from him.
