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The Lost Art of Being Neighborly

Posted Friday, August 22, 2008, at 5:05 PM

So I'm sitting at home at my computer today, checking e-mails and whatnot, minding my own business.

As per usual, my kid is out in the yard playing with the neighbor kids. He calls to me and tells me there's someone here to see me.

That's odd, I think, because I don't really have any friends here who's visit me just yet.

Turns out the guy who's here to visit me lives a couple of houses down.

"Is this your little white dog?" he asks me, pointing to my Jack Russell Terrier, who has been let off his tie-out by the kids (something I've told them repeatedly not to do).

"Yes," I tell him, and before I could explain that the kids let the dog loose, he goes off on me.

Without even telling me who he is or where he lives, this jerk rants about how my dog has been at his house 25 times in the last hour, that he is driving his dogs crazy and that if Bruiser comes into his yard again he's going to mace him.

Mace him. An 11-pound dog.

"It's bad enough that I have every kid in the neighborhood right by my driveway," he spits, as four wide-eyed children are watching his nasty tirade. "We have a leash law, you know."

Yes, I do know. Which is why I had the dog tied up. Did you not just hear me say the kids let him loose?

So then the guy stalks off. The lady next door to me had to tell me who he was.

I can understand and appreciate not wanting another person's pets in your yard. What I cannot fathom is people whose first impulse is to be nasty. I mean, I'd never seen this guy in my life. Why would come to my door, stand on my porch and read me the riot act in front of a bunch of kids?

Nice example.

I guess he won't be inviting me to the block party.

Comments
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Sounds like a case of the itchy a**hole. I have personally been in the same scenario. The advise I would give to you is to go down to his house and speak your mind to him about how he reacted to your pup. Remember though, you need not to be rude. You cant fight hate with hate. Isn't that a strong word, hate? You know what's stronger though? love. Give him a peice of that. Be the nicest person in the world to him cause there is nothing americans hate more than a person that wont retaliate. It's time to take time picking the weeds, choking the flowers.

-- Posted by joey_cope on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 3:32 AM

Welcome to Greencastle-one of the least friendly towns in Indiana.

-- Posted by gocubs on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 8:01 AM

Heck, just take the dog a walk on his leash and let him take a dump in his yard and forget to pick it up. That will let the jerk know how you really feel.

-- Posted by mad-mom on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 3:46 PM

When did neighbors go from being the people we could call friends and start being people to try to cause problems for us? It's a shame that these people are often so small minded that they can't take care of their problems at home, instead of being jerks out on the sidewalk(or front porch). Everyone is too intent on me, me, me. IT's a shame! I grew up with neighbors who I still call dear friends, and feel very blessed to have them in my life. Just remember there are some really great people out there and don't let one grouchy jerk ruin it for you!

-- Posted by putcogirl on Sat, Aug 23, 2008, at 4:49 PM

THE GUY IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG JERK TAKING HIS FRUSTRATION OUT ON AN 11 POUND DOG. HE MUST BE RELATED TO MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR...

-- Posted by Michele1953 on Mon, Aug 25, 2008, at 3:02 PM

Makes you wonder what must have happened to him for him to feel threatened by the presence of children and a small dog. Maybe one day he will realize how much easier it is, for everyone, to just calmly explain the situation and find a compromise for all people involved...

C'est la vie.

-- Posted by greengirl44 on Mon, Aug 25, 2008, at 10:08 PM

You are right about unfriendly neighbors in Greencastle, it is so much easier to be friendly, and then they would feel better about themselves, they must be an unhappy lot, to be able to act this way..Some people must have had a very unhappy growing up, to be so grumpy with children, and pets, he could have just as easily walked your dog home to tell you it was loose, sure would have made him look better. Guess our world is full of his kind,sorry for your experience with a bully.

-- Posted by whatno_guessing on Tue, Aug 26, 2008, at 4:02 PM

I'm guessing your dog has dropped several loads in his yard and kids have knocked over his trash cans before. He probably sucked it up for a long time before he snapped on you.

-- Posted by tackleberry65 on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 8:18 AM

I believe your neighbor suffers from Optical-rectitas.

This is a condition where the eye nerves and rectal nerves get crossed.

Symptoms usually include a crappy outlook on life.

-- Posted by VonMises on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 10:35 AM

Maybe he shouldn't "suck it up" for so long if he knows it will result in a blow up. If someone does something that upsets you, and you don't tell them so they can correct the situation, then you have no right to blow up in their face.

-- Posted by greengirl44 on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 3:15 PM

Hey VonMises, that is the funniest thing i've ever heard. Do you mind if I use it some time?

-- Posted by mad-mom on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 3:47 PM

Folks aren't friendly in Greencastle and it seems they don't work out problems as adults. If you are new in town your an outsider. Welcome to Hill Billy Alley. I was born and raised here and never realized how folks were here till I lived out of state and was welcomed into any community I lived in.I moved back and still haven't adjusted to the enviroment of this community.Maybe friendship day folks will stop and think about this.Everyone needs to be nice to everyone and smile-it could be contagious.I feel sorry for that man-children were around and he was not acting as an adult.Maybe because he is lonely? He could have handled the situation with the dog in an adult manner and set a good example for the children and made friends with a new neighbor.His loss-that is sad.

-- Posted by bam on Thu, Aug 28, 2008, at 7:54 PM

You bring up a bigger problem. After a generation of teaching each individual is number 1, challenge leadership, don't respect authority, defend our kids, even when they are wrong, explain it is ok to lie, etc., your situation is where we have arrived.

Even your paper encourages argument and other rediculous uninformed comments, gossip, etc by allowing anonymous communication. This should be reserved for whistle blowers.

I understand why the BG uses this type of platform for discourse (drives business), but it promotes and encourages the exact behavior you mention in your blog.

Be a leader on this. Change how discourse is handled in Greencastle. Don't allow for us to hide behind a curtain. Don't allow comments to be posted that aren't respectful as you instruct us to be.

-- Posted by vivera on Fri, Aug 29, 2008, at 4:45 AM

We just moved into town and have found our street to be filled with very nice neighbors! Very friendly AND helpful in returning our ever-straying little dog. Sorry your new neighbor is not so nice, but there ARE great people in Greencastle!

-- Posted by mistyclites on Mon, Sep 1, 2008, at 4:22 PM

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