When is "snitching" not "stealing"?

I propose an end-of-unit Field Trip to the police station, wherein all the "good people" turn themselves in.

Honestly, I doubt this thread would have gotten so heated if the OP hadn't set it up like this: "We - Good People. They - Bad People. Ergo, Their Stuff - Ours."

One last bit: I applaud the notion of moral & ethical discussions. It's just that, in this case, I see very little to discuss. It is not a gray area. Clearly, most folks (here, at least) think it's a pretty clear black & white answer.

Correct! It's not a gray area. But these are kids and discussion is good.

Ruth

The police would laugh and tell you to save the plants, I'll bet.

I find it quite funny that either people read what they want and ignore the rest or maybe they just "skim" the posts and come to their own conclusion.
Nel not in any post said that they took drugs or were naked. Yet I saw many times people acting like this was the case.
She said from the beginning that she took nothing and they were discussing this.
Yet Fin29 soon after questions her morals and wants her license number! Others do not want to live near her.
It is a class room debate for pete's sake and the woman has done nothing wrong.
I believe in God, but am not super religious... yet I see many Christians casting stones at her for something she has not done!!
As far as the taking of shoots if her neighbors do it and she does not it is not her theft!
Would I run to the "hardly their neighbors" and tell them.....no. Because I would want to have good relations with my "always there" neighbors rather then these guys. But if they stole something of value and or importance then yes I would feel the need to tell. But would I call the police for stinking blueberry shoots? I think not. Would I personally take them...no. I would ask first since I do not want people coming on to my property and taking things either.
She has created a good topic of discussion for her home schoolers and is teaching them morals and values, I am not going to knock her for it.

Nel a "pointy head" might mean narrow minded? I cannot find his post so that was my first thought when you said it.

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fin29: I did not "interpret" the issue of trespassing, I called the Local Sheriff's Dept., the State Wild Life Dept., the State Forestry Dept. and our tiny Local Police Office and asked THEM about the local laws and customs regarding "trespassing" ALL = count them = ALL said that when we "hike" over, we are NOT trespassing. They also explained the laws about hunting, fishing and wild-crafting (NONE of which we do) and NO ONE would be "trespassing" if they went on the property in question to do any of the mentioned, except those who know the people should not hunt. They have asked me and several other nearby folks NOT to hunt and we do not hunt over there.

Several of you have jumped way to conclusions for matters about which you have little knowledge. Besides being off topic.......

My sons have taken care of the blue berry plants for 5 yrs. now. They water, fertilize, prune and in general care for the berry plants. The plants are next to our jogging and hiking paths and the owners of the property know we hike/jog on the paths. It is an old trail (jeep trail) that has been there for over at least 110 years. It is also right beside our own creek bed which is owned by me. We hike or jog "over" their side to our side, back again and then back. It is a known path and has never been in dispute.

My license to practice law has nothing to do with this DISCUSSION. I have not broken any laws and I cannot quite understand the yearnings to make it seem so? Young people = children ages 9 to 19 (3 of my own and today 5 not my own / last week 6 not my own in addition) are reading these posts and quite frankly are quite taken aback at the rudeness of adults?

Dente deLion: Just what do you think we should be turning ourselves in for? We have committed no crimes here at all = so why would you suggest we go to the Police Station?

My husband has now left messages with the owners of the land upon which the plants that started the Debate live. We will let you know what they say. When asked about the plants in the past, they said "blue berry? what blue berry?" -- so we will see what they say.

We also have invited two other neighbors over this afternoon for discussion. Both are "old timers" and both are very interested in debating with the students. They are calling it "hashing it out" - a term we find appealing! The students plan to ask them about the long time rules as to trespassing and "stealing" and learn from them too.

And since I see someone above still seems to think I stole something:
Again -- no one from this house has stolen anything. None. NOT at all. And it is wrong for any of you to say we have. Remember please - you are talking about a 9 year old / 15 year old / and.......well the 19 year old is an adult but still. Kids.

Thank you again to those of you who have kept on topic. We are really learning a lot from the Debate and discussion.

Nel, make 'em write a report when they're done gathering information. I'd love to read it!

Ruth

You must have 'skimmed' post #1 then by the OP! I highlighted the naked part in blue just for clarity!

Pot, meet kettle!!

Seems to me, KY, just about everyone has done some "skimming" on this thread.

Ruth

...and God said, "Do not touch thy neighbor's blueberry plant"

But the Husband and his Mate discussed the options and decided to translate God's word to suit their wants:

We won't touch it if they are there.

We won't touch it unless they behave in some manner different than the manner we are used to.

We won't touch it if we can remove pieces using tools (look, Ma, no hands!).

We won't touch it unless we take a poll and others agree we should touch it.

We won't touch it unless other people are already doing so and if we don't hurry there won't be anything left for us to steal.

We won't touch it if we find our own bush of blueberries on our land.

We won't touch it if we can replant pieces to the border so some of it falls over the line and is now ours.

Aren't you proud of us, God? Don't we make great parents? Is this what you meant by being a good neighbor?

Nah KY I saw I made a mistake as soon as I posted it. I meant she never said " Druken naked parties". They told her they get naked in the hot tub.
I personally would have told them "TMI keep that stuff to yourself!" But maybe she is a nicer and not as vocal as I am.
The rudeness to you Nel is strange since you have stated many times that neither you or your children have not taken a single shoot.
Do you have any interest in the shoots or were you just inquiring about the neighbors removing them? Personally if you care for the bush and are the ones keeping it alive, I as the naked hot tubbing neighbor would tell you thank you and take whatever you want from the bush any time. Again though I would not be pleased to have people just come and take it with out me offering or being asked first.


Disclamier: No I am NOT her neighbor, do not own a hot tub nor am I naked!

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#1: It was a joke.
#2: Short answer - you're the lawyer, you figure it out. May I suggest a starting place? NC Gen. Stat. Sec. 14. Start reading around 100. You will find crimes that have been committed by some of your "good" neighbors, at the very least.

But you know what? Maybe it's time to stop and try a new tack. Have you considered things from the new neighbors' point of view? The first thing that came to my mind was this: Why would "city folk" even want to buy a country place that they intend to visit only occasionally? Could it be that they get tired of being around so many other people all the time? Could it be that the very reason they bought the place was to get *away* from people, including nosy, meddling neighbors? Maybe they just want to be left alone, for pete's sakes.

I just thought of other topics for discussion -- the law of diminishing marginal utility and opportunity cost.

What more can be gained by hashing this out? If something isn't yours, don't take it. Don't violate the property rights of others. Seems like we're moving into "cutting switches to beat a dead horse" phase now.

Opportunity cost: In the time spent dissecting this weighty issue, you could have driven to town or sent away for blueberries, and also gotten in several hours work on a real honest-to-goodness 100 percent legally owned and operated garden.

Jan, I like your interpretation.

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http://www.henryleuthardtnurseries.com/

For those who like to pay for their blueberry bushes...these folks can't be beat!

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I agree. Contact the owners and ask permission. Go beyond that, offer to do some cleanup of the deadfalls, the branches and such (you'll get firewood, kindling, etc) and ask if they would mind if you cleaved some roots, cuttings or suckers. If you simply say cuttings that may be simplest. Don't take without asking and don't take if they say no either.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

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Thanks, I have been looking for some legal blueberry bushes

There's two huge bushes here that are supposedly blueberries but from what I've been told, they've never produced even 1 blueberry.
Time to add some new plants to the patch IMO.

I so agree with that. It's still an issue of to steal the blueberries or not to steal them. Surely we have seen every manner of justification for stealing and many have clearly stated it is stealing and why.

Merry-go-rounds can be fun for a time but after a while you will PUKE!

NEXT!

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Dahc.

After the merry-go-round, lets all get on the tilt a whirl!!

Thanks Twix!

Ruth

I am a homeschooling mother to 4. I would never want to teach my children that they have my permission to go onto a neighbor's property and touch anything.

One of our dogs got out when we were on vacation. When we got home, the kids could hear her tangled in the woods on someone else's property. My kids would not go and get her. They found an adult neighbor who was out in his yard. They asked him if he knew who owned the property, and if he knew how they could get permission to retrieve their dog.

Unfortunately, not all of our neighbors have taught their children to respect property lines. I had to repeatedly tell one family, "Do not come in my yard without permission. Do not go in my barn without permission. Do not come to my door without calling first." They just couldn't understand that they were not just welcome anytime.

I was so happy when that family moved away.

You're very welcome. I bought a ton (well, not actually a ton) of fruit trees from them two years ago, and they are doing so well you just wouldn't believe it. Thanks to, uh, someone or other on the Gardening Forum.

It's a little long, but this really should be the tag-line of General Chat.

Me, I don't puke too easily, so I'll get on the Tilt-a-Whirl with y'all. Happy Friday!

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"I'm not mean. You're just a sissy." - Happy Bunny

"I think you should be able to flush anything you want. Just don't call me when your toilet clogs." - BlueHeron Farm