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Gate Crashers  A rant by: paydirtgirl Last June I moved into my first house. It's a beautiful character home in a less than desirable location but the low mortgage and the necessity to STOP LIVING WITH A CRAZY LANDLADY helped me rationalize the neighborhood. And it hasn't been all bad. When we got stuck in our back alley during the winter late one night, some neighbors down the street came and pushed us out, helped us remove the snow and even let us borrow their shovels indefinitely. Last summer we got to know our next door neighbors when they put in a beautiful new fence and we've stayed in regular contact since. When we found a stray cat and called the humane society, a little girl up the block brought us a card for taking care of her lost pet. It was all looking quite hopeful. In the last month, we've seen the neighborhood take a turn for the worst. Several folks have moved out and left room for the crazies to move in. Someone uprooted our whole front fence and left it lying on the boulevard. Someone drove into our back fence and left a gaping hole, inviting the abundance of stray dogs in. I called the police today to make a report and almost laughed. There's nothing they can do! ??? I guess the ones stirring the sh*t know that too. So now I'm considering moving again, but doesn't that just make me part of the problem? I don't know what to do. << Back Add a Comment Comments ( Add a Comment ) JetPilot says: 2006-04-12 19:22:45 Try to make the best of it for awhile. I went through so much in the early 1990's living in the North End it was unbelieveable. The crime in that area would make your head spin. The house break ins, garage breakins and vandalism etc etc. Even with an alarm system it did not deter much. We finally had enough and moved to upper Main Street North were it is a lot better. Sorry to say, but from my experience of living in the bad area it will not get any better. See how much money you can save up and try to sell and move as fast as you can. You probably have a better chance now than ever. BalthazaarRamrod says: 2006-04-12 22:51:47 Buy a baseball bat. Buy Nails. Hammer nails into bat. Take wire cutters and a file. Remove nail heads. File to sharp points (not too sharp, want some blunt trauma.) Buy large dog. Buy Chevette. Shoot Chevette with gun and place on blocks in your front yard. Take up Chain Smoking. Problem solved. BigB says: 2006-04-14 04:19:38 after that post i think ramrod is the second coolest person on this site. Good job chris, really put your all into it! I just wish people would realize we are serious and not make light of our comments. BalthazaarRamrod says: 2006-04-14 10:35:36 Here to help Ben. I always say - If you can't beat em, join em! paydirtgirl says: 2006-04-14 11:04:37 I've been wanting to respond for some time. Life kept me from the computer. Forgive my tardiness. I just wanted to thank each of you three for your comments; you each made me feel better in a different way. BigB you reminded me that everyone has problems and that I shouldn't feel targeted in my neighborhood. You're right: it's all just a pain in the ass but it's not severe. JetPilot on the other hand spurs me on, breaks my inertia and has made me weigh my options and order my priorities. Balthazaar, you're an ass and I'm ever so grateful to you for making me laugh about the whole thing. I thought it was a good joke but when my boyfriend read it, he got this distant look in his eyes... "Baseball bats with nails eh...." So to the three of you, in some way or another you were all inspiring and I'd like to say thanks. Thanks for not merely writing "Start a neighborhood watch"; that would have just pissed me off and I'd have had to sic my dog on you! duckgirl says: 2006-04-17 17:49:29 Tha'ts why you sbould never buy a house in an undesirable neighbourhood. The bad guys will always take over and overpower the good guys. I think you need to get out of there. Who cares if youre part of the problem. Take care of yourself and your property. the area is going to the dogs anyways. Let them all kill themselves. BigB says: 2006-04-26 15:08:32 bad out weighs good? Where did that come from? I always read that good will always empower evil in the end. I guess i need to rethink my inks. THETRUTH says: 2006-05-22 23:00:43 Well as long as the government will give away free money for people to sit on there ass, drink, have 16 kids and feel free to look at us tax payers and complain without being forced to take advantage of the the numerous programs the government wastes further money on to help people get on thier feet. These neighborhoods will get no better. I am not mad about this as I once was. I realise the government has let it go way to far to spend the kind of money needed to really fix problems, but can not appear not to care so it has these programs that give the impression they care. They have thier merit for those that use them and are willing to succeed. The government needs to cut welfare slowly by giving people a deadline to get help and a planned process to get them off welfare, but forcing people to do something is un-democratic and wrong by our societies standards. Move! don't feel guilty you can not improve your neighboorhood or that you can affford something better and your neighboor can not. It is not your fault or in somecases their fault either due to enviromental issues due to thier up bringing. Do what is best for you help people where you can and that is all you can do. Anonymous says: 2006-07-08 22:57:00 Hello i live in the west end of town a less deirable area of town too. by moving you will have let the scum win, by staying you can help the neighbourhood BigRedS024 says: 2006-12-20 23:26:48 I live out in Gods country...Yup, Transcona. Nice neighbors, intact fences, etc. Once a week, all us folk pile into cars, visit other parts of the city and trash it! Sorry folks, gotta take out our frustrations somehow...freakin\' $#@%^#$&&*@#%%*@*& stop signs! Well look at the time...Hello sunny St. Vital!!! |
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For starters, I love ur nick. That said, Interesting rant. You sound like a good person. But you seem a little nieve. Let me fill you in on the joys of owning realestate. You will run into issues with bad neighbours (I live in a upper-middle class neighbourhood, pay $4000/yr in property taxes and still have my car stolen regularly, have a drug dealing neighbour and have people walking into my backyard). I thought I could escape the scum in society, but the truth is they are everywhere. Leaving a bike out or lawnmower and more importantly doors unlocked is just not a good idea anymore regardless of location. Based on the issues you have brought up (broken gates/fences), it really doesn't sound like you have had that much grief. Those can all be put back up at low cost and minimal time. I realize its a pain in the ass, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. I can't even shoot up on my front porch anymore because there are always cop cars in the neighbours driveway. Now thats a run of bad luck!