Standing my ground

@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
January 29, 2008 11:01pm CST
There's an enterprise in our village that helps locals work for the dole. They're a pack of lazy so and sos in my book and others agree with me. They do odd jobs around town and last week they mowed the lawn next door to me. They also sprayed weed killer around the fence line, killing several young plants I was growing to trail over the fence. They were in there again this morning, putting in a gate. They started a generator at 7:15 am. We have noise pollution laws that prohibit any noisy work till 8 am. These guys don't care much about anything except where their next beer is coming from. Later this morning they were in the house on the other side of me . I approached a group of them in the back yard and they headed off in the other direction but one of them was walking down the side. I told him that the spray on the other side killed my plants and could they please be careful because I also had stuff growing next to this side fence. As I was saying this the group up the front started to shout "What's up?" and words to that effect. The guy I was speaking to was explaining and I raised my voice and added...."You could at least ask me or tell me what you're going to do first" and I walked away. I'm not assertive at the best of times and I'm usually very couteous and polite but I chose to be more direct and unfriendly this time so we'll see what happens. I don't think it's right that my peace is disturbed by these people and that they encroach with poison sprays into my yard. The house on one side belongs to the Country Women's Association and the house on the other is empty since my neighbour died. His cousin owns the house now and she is supposed to be moving in soon. These sort of people will run roughshod over others because there is always a group of them. Could I have done this any better in your opinion?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@jayman32 (267)
• Australia
31 Jan 08
hello Ms Tickle, i've come accross people like that before & trying to be nice or using words or going over their heads just does not work. make them think your nuts make them think that if they pee you off again something bad will happen to them. when you talk to them again have a bat in your hands. sadly you will have to lower yourself to their level if you want to get through.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
Yep, they understand bats and broken bottles very well. But that's definitely not me. I also don't let myself get down to the level of anyone. I try to set a good example and I think this is why they don't like me...I'm always showing them up. ;)
@jayman32 (267)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
LOL... good stuff........
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
30 Jan 08
Well hello there Ms Tickle. Have to say you possibly could have done it differently, cause now you have them offside and you are angryer than a cut cat! Excuse the saying. If this is a regular experience then I'd go to the organizer or supervisor who is/are supposed to be aware of the local bylaws. One of the problem with dealing with 'these type of people' is that they are used to being abused, verbally for sure, and more abuse is not going to have much effect on them - it's probably more of the same and more of the same response is what you'll get. Approaching them with the same attitude you would like to be approached with is a better option. Use a little bit of humor as well cause it does work for some reason! These guys are probably bored out of their skulls as well and maybe they would appreciate a more meatier project, something they could get some self respect out of, and which could give them a taste of what it's like to enjoy work. Get together with your council, have a resident forum - not from an angry viewpoint, but a constructive way of helping them and your community. Make them part of the meeting. The only way of changing a situation is to make the change happen.
1 person likes this
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
30 Jan 08
Okay then, ummmm? Get the press involved. A Current Affair perhaps. They like a good garden gnome type story. Headline - Dole bludgers kill favourite sentimental plant without remorse. I suppose the peacock with the prowess has nothing to boast about either!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Feb 08
Been there done that...it kinda back fired. LOL. An issue with the new town cop actually. He stepped way outta line and a group of us called him on it by contacting the press. About 12 months later he'f finally starting to understand how a small town Aussie cop isn't like a city cop because a small town in Australia is a sleepy lil place. The peacock is younger than my children. He was trying it on with me. I laughed about it at first but he wasn't taking "No" for an answer so I told him off and stopped being friendly.
• United States
1 Feb 08
I think you handled the situation pretty well! They should have been more careful in making sure you're plants didn't get sprayed. Even if they had to put some plastic up. It's always hard to tell when to be nice and when to be firm because they could retaliate -- though you could get them into trouble too for doing so I'd imagine. Good luck and I hope they be more careful of it from now on :)
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
Thankyou. I think they're smart enough to realise they are in the wrong and need to be careful because they are expected to be responsible and do the right thing. There would be expectations that they could be called in.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
30 Jan 08
Ms tickle don't think they should be spraying weed killer for one thing, that is just the easy way out, they could have weed eated but they must have been to lazy to do that.I do not blame you for being angry.The next time they start that noise out there before 8:00 call in on them.They should have respect for others as well as the ones they are working for..i think you did good to talk to them, however it did not seem to help because they seemed so rude..I love my plants and i would be very upset if someone killed them...Maybe you could have a talk with your next door neighbor about this...
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
I think I will be needing to talk to someone about this. I'm not looking to make trouble ...that's not me BUT, I will not let them get away with carelessness either. I will need to talk to someone I think, I just need to work out whom.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
30 Jan 08
I think you did the right thing, Ms Tickle, and having a word with them might produce results. If it doesn't, however, you should go over their heads because I'm pretty sure they have to answer to someone. There has to be someone who directs them as to what work needs to be done -and where. Good luck!
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
Yes there is but I'm not sure wether these guys will do what's expected. I'll be expecting them to produce a chemical handling certificate if I catch them spraying weedkiller again.
• Australia
6 Feb 08
I think you handle it very well. The next step would be to tell the people they work for that these things are happening and remind them of what the laws are.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
12 Feb 08
Thankyou, that's what I will do if something else happens. They were back yesterday and were more cautious.
@mummymo (23706)
30 Jan 08
Definitely not! I am proud of you for standing up for yourself but if these people are as bad as they give the impression of then you do not want to feel intimidated or be picked on! I probably would have tried to smile nicely and to be friendly but explain what had upset me. They do say that sugar attracts more flies right? Also sometimes people can give off an impression of themselves which does not reflect their real personality - they could be really nice underneath and just need someone to be friendly to open up. Just a thought sweety! xxxx
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
3 Feb 08
I've been friendly to everyone since I arrived at this place. The house was a meeting place for all the boozers in town. I've been cleaning it up and it's looking quite nice. The fact is that they carelessly destoyed some of my new garden and I felt I needed to let them know that I was aware of their carelessness, and that I would be keeping an eye on them in the future. I have animals who are curious and friendly and these people would think it funny to be cruel to them - I really don't trust them. These people are different. They get away with a great deal and they've chosen not to be friendly to me. I've chosen to stand up to these people because the alternative is to be intimidated by them.
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
3 Feb 08
MsTickle my dear friend I do hope that you didn't think I was being judgemental or thought you were wrong in any way - that really wasn't what I meant! I know that you would be friendly and try to do things pleasantly if that were possible - I have learned that from everything I know about you here sweety! I was only saying how I wouold have tried to deal with it at first and that sometimes it does work. I did say I was proud of you and I am, I also agree that it is far better to stand up for yourself than to be intimidated. I also hope that you have reported the things tey have been doing and keep a log of it - it will all help to get things resolved ig they continue the way they have been! xxx