Is this petty? An argument with the neighbours

by needproof 41 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Tuesday

  I would just go over and ask them if they saw your recycling bin. Tell them it has your numbers painted on the side and to be on the look out for it. Pretend like you don't think they took it. Hopefully that will turn the conscience on where your bin will just magically show up in a few days. If it doesn't show up in the next few days at least they won't be able to use your recycling bin because you already mentioned it's yours and it has the numbers on it, I don't think anyone would be brazen enough to use something they stole in front of someone after they asked about the item being missing.

  That's the way I'd do it, but I'm a non-confrontational type of guy.
• 

  vitty

  Bloody foreigners
• 

  whyizit

  I can see that this would be an irritating situation. However, is it really worth an escalating war with the neighbors?

  I took a class in basic Russian a few years ago, and my teacher and I became friendly. They are very social people and they are not accustomed to the boundaries that we take for granted here.

  It is probably a cultural difference more than down-right "ornery" behavior.

  Perhaps you could make an effort to be friendly and meet up with them on a more personal level. You may find that they are not trying to antagonize anyone, but are just doing as they would in Russia. Keep in mind that they may not fully understand your language either, but they will understand your kindness.

  I would probably try that, before completely dismissing them as a Pain In The Butt. After you get to know them better, you could kind of fill them in on how things are done here. That some of the neighbors view it as inconsiderate when someone is too loud after certain hours. Etc..... I would guess that they really don't understand the problem.
• 

  gwyneth

  Can you acquire a new recycling bin from the city/county and paint their number on it? As long as it didn't inconvenience you more than a phone call so they can drop one off without charge, it may be less of an inconvenience than escalating bad feelings.
• 

  ninja

  I think I would go the whyizit route...well said matey...when I had dealings with Albanoids...I mean Albanians....they had customs way different to mine....i.e when I went to visit them they brought out tea and biscuits out for me....criminal act....I mean where's the booze?...it didn't matter that I was on the ministry at the time...that's a minor matter....grrr ....angry ninja....stomp stomp stomp stomp....slam!!!!...oops forgot my jacket...byeee....slam!!!!
• 

  needproof

  Thank you everybody for your advice.

  I tend not to think down the 'it's their culture' route because I become frustrated and start going down the whole racial route. It would be easy for me to go there but it would just screw me up.

  In my head I wish I lived in a cloud cuckoo land where it was Victorian England, I have plenty of money with a nice garden and I could nod my head and say 'Good morning' to every person I pass to work in the morning. Oh, how I wish those days were here again!
• 

  bebu

  1) Call the city and tell them that someone has run off with your bin and left you with theirs, which is in bad shape. Could they "recycle" their old one and give you a new one? WATCH OUT for this new one disappearing.

  2) When you get the new one, or even if you don't, you can arrange to have someone take in your can as soon as the garbage is taken in. Remember... he will be sticking it out himself each week. You could reclaim it and he'll be stuck with the old one. This could become a weird game each week...

  3) Is there a landlord? Or is he the owner? If there is a landlord, talk with him/her and let them know you will be displeased if other things start disappearing from your area.

  4) Learn to drink vodka and speak Russian. Then steal his garbage can. If you can't beat'em, join'em...

  bebu
• 

  Warlock

  No, it's not petty. If there were any way possible, I would buy the house and rent to whoever I wanted to.

  Warlock
• 

  needproof

  I like the idea of buying the house and booting them out. AND I have always fancied learning Russian. Neither are going to happen, but the weird game sounds fun ;)
• 

  Sad emo

  How about taking the tatty bin in this time and if you can, speak to them over the fence - you have the evidence - the bin they have has your house number painted on it. Just explain that they took the wrong bin and then see what happens the next time it's green-bin day.

  They might be ok about it, but if they get unpleasant with you, do you have a 'neighbour reconciliation' service in your area who you could call in? (The council should be able to tell you this)

  If that fails, threaten an ASBO on them - you need to keep a diary of all incidents - times, dates, event etc. If they're illegals, they won't want the attention from the authorities.