And now the chatter would be laughable if it weren't so sad. It all kinda makes me not want to know my neighbors because meanness and pettiness abounds.
Here's the latest example.
Apparently there is a homeless man living in his car a few blocks away from us. I had no idea he was here but the neighbors on that particular block do and have become friendly with him-- or at least friendly enough to know his name.
Now it seems, after 6 months of "residency", one of the neighbors is upset because the homeless guys' car is leaking transmission fluid on the street and it leaves "an ugly spot on the road" by the side of her house.
The upset neighbor hung signs like this around our 'hood and posted about it on our community website...
And the community website blew up with nasty, nasty comments. Folks raged about the homeless guy and the upset neighbor's signs.
Honestly, I would not want a guy living in his car next to my house for six months. But I would research public services available to help get him off the street-- And I did-- Research options for him after I saw the signs. Unfortunately once the signs announcing his presence were posted, he moved from the neighborhood and hasn't been seen since.... Which I'm guessing was the upset neighbor's passive aggressive tactic all along.
Good grief.
How's your Sunday going?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
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What a contrast - neighbors kind enough to interact and learn the new 'resident's' name and then the snippy person with her magic marker sign.
ReplyDeleteI agree that having leaking transmission fluid all over the street is not the right thing to do. And I also agree that posting the sign is not the right way to address the situation. Give the guy a break! But I'm surprised the whole thing created such a controversy ... although I guess a nasty sign begets nasty comments.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see that your attitude is one of compassion. I hope the gentleman found a place with people who would never consider putting such an unkind sign by his car. That is truly sad!
ReplyDeleteThe homeless person who seems to live in the park across from our apartment building does no one any harm. He sleeps a lot, keeps his things gathered neatly in his packsack, and never says a word to anyone. He doesn't even smoke. I've decided to keep an eye out for him. Fortunately, to date, as far as I know, others in the neighbourhood have the same attitude.
Signs of the times.
ReplyDeleteYour wanting to get beyond this mentality is a sign of what we are bringing in next, sister! You, me, lots of us-
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
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Anybody living on the street doesn't have enough money to fix his car, but I agree that six months on, something should have changed, other than having that angry sign. It's hard to know what the right thing to do is here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog! Saddened that one nasty attitude seems to be contagious:(
ReplyDeleteTerribe that someone would have to live like that.
ReplyDeleteWow - sad that he is living like that, and sad that people feel they can be so nasty, hiding behind a sign.
ReplyDelete"Neighbour, publicly shaming a homeless guy is NOT the right thing to do."
ReplyDeleteI think the this person should not attempt to teach anyone the difference between right and wrong. I'd rather the "ugly spot on the road" than the ugly spot on my conscience.
ugh. i hear you...seems like the guy needs a break...not shaming in public...kinda heart breaking...i hope that someone finds the heart to help him out...
ReplyDeletePoor guy, hope he finds a good place that's a bit more permanent.
ReplyDeleteAwww. Such a sad situation!
ReplyDeleteWe have one guy living on the street by the church entrance since the past 15 years, probably more. The passersby support him with food and clothing and when it rains, he takes shelter at the bus shelter by the roadside.
And THAT is why I love your blog and love reading about you! I knew you would be a compassionate person and this just reaffirms it.
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing Joanna. It's a shame that no one got this guy some help during the past 6 months. We're all so "disconnected". A lot of people no longer know what the humane thing to do is.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living in New Hope, Pa. 20 years ago (can't believe it's been that long), the town borough gave a homeless woman a ticket out of town on a bus. That's it. I was appalled that no one tried to help her. Even on a smaller level I don't see people helping other people much. Like helping older people with groceries. Or giving someone with an access card a little change so they can buy more food, instead of judging them. People are too quick to go for the juggler out of self survival instinct. So it's really important that you tried to do something to help.
I guess, living in India, off and on, for well over a year out of the past three, I've seen so much worse...whole families living under tarps, right on the roadsides of busy roadways, with bumper to bumper traffic. Hopefully, with the new prime minister, there will be some changes for people here.
ReplyDeleteI guess, living in India, off and on, for well over a year out of the past three, I've seen so much worse...whole families living under tarps, right on the roadsides of busy roadways, with bumper to bumper traffic. Hopefully, with the new prime minister, there will be some changes for people here.
ReplyDeleteMany sides to most of these stories. Unfortunately the downtrodden ones seldom get to tell their story. Yes I would not want someone living in their car on my street. We should care enough to help before attacking.
ReplyDeleteOh, geez. And I thought our neighborhood was interesting and full of idiots. :)
ReplyDeleteOf course, you would be the voice of love, Of course. xo
ReplyDeleteSeriously - an ugly spot on the road is more important than some poor person with no shelter? What is the world coming to?
ReplyDeleteVery sad -- and I would have done what you did. Talk about passive aggressive. That's just shameful. I suppose no one had a blanket or something that he could park on top of or time to see how they could help, except for you. Yes, I understand when you say you aren't sure you want to know the neighbors. I'm not sure I would want to, either.
ReplyDeleteI guess there are two sides to this coin, but I would be more like to do as you did and try to find services for him. IT's unfortunate that he had already moved on. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteThat 'nice neighbour' wasn't at all. Mohamed no doubt had no other choice but to live in his car, poor bugger.
ReplyDeleteThat's a sad, but interesting, story. It made me think about how my neighbors would possibly react. I'm in a 800+ home subdivision and we also have a community website; plus a facebook page. Based on things I've seen on the page, we definitely have people who are capable of leaving a sign like that one. With social media allowing us to so easily voice our opinions, the trend is increasing. Lots of people are quick to judge without thinking about the reasons for issues or the alternatives in solving them.
ReplyDeleteI hope this man's life gets better.
Wow, that is some kind of nastiness on your neighbor's part!
ReplyDeleteMean people suck :(
ReplyDeleteUgh. I think I know that nasty person's cousin, she lives in my town. Calls herself christian, too, which totally sticks in my craw.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we just be KIND?