Demanding attitude of some people, slightly annoying

wyld thang · #21 09/25/10, 10:02 PM

you guys posted--I see he's not a "boy", still think he's either brain damaged or drug damaged or something. Biker types usually don't have a thing for chickens.

Wayne02 · #22 09/25/10, 10:04 PM

The initial contact and question re giving him the chickens doesn't surprise me, particularly in today's society. However, the persistence and follow-on after you made it clear you were not giving away chickens is troubling.

JuliaAnn · #23 09/25/10, 10:11 PM

Forerunner-- I have both calibers, among others. And a .308 that has a stock on it *just my size*. I haven't done any target practice for a while, so yeah, yeah, some might be in order. I have some of those huge styrofoam blocks that are used for shipping bass boats, they make excellent backstops.

WyldThang---maybe that's what struck me so odd at the time and I didn't put my finger on it---that bikers don't usually have much use for Silkies and various heavy breed layers?

Patt · #24 09/25/10, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf mom

Some with a mild retardation or moental disorder say/do things like this, coming across as having a sence of entitlement, but really having boundary issues. We need to find out what's really going on before making judgements like this.

But, because of this, I would keep a closer eye on my chickens though.

I have to agree, it does sound like someone with a mental issue that causes them not to understand social interactions. I wouldn't be too worried about it but I would keep an eye out and the next time you see your neighbor I would just tell them something like the oddest thing happened the other day. They will probably be able to clear it up for you.

Forerunner · #25 09/25/10, 10:17 PM

A gallon jug brim full of water and the lid screwed on tight, set up on a 55 gallon drum, and a smiley face scrawled in with black marker makes a nice mental image of what a skull might do when shot in the center from about thirty paces.

Just sayin'.

Patt · #26 09/25/10, 10:20 PM

Some of y'all are scarier than her neighbor boy! Just sayin'.

CocalicoSprings · #27 09/25/10, 10:21 PM

Maybe in his own twisted way, the guy was hitting on you. Maybe it wasn't the chickens he was after.

Forerunner · #28 09/25/10, 10:24 PM

Funny thing about scary reputations and all...... my neighbors are all pretty happy to have me close by.....

Oh, and, JuliaAnn......

Quote:

Forerunner-- I have both calibers, among others. And a .308 that has a stock on it *just my size*.

somehow, I'm not surprised.

Joshie · #29 09/25/10, 10:27 PM

I'm betting that he saw you while he was on his way to help himself to your birds. Lock 'em up. Practice using your gun when you know he's there. You don't live alone, do you? Write the date and time this happened in case any chickens go missing. That way you'll be able to tell the cops exactly when the guy popped out and asked this.

tailwagging · #30 09/25/10, 10:35 PM

I, myself, would call the cops and say "if anything happens...." at lest it would be on their tapes of incoming calls. (sorry I was raised in CA, and I don't trust anyone)

JuliaAnn · #31 09/25/10, 10:36 PM

Quote "Maybe in his own twisted way, the guy was hitting on you. Maybe it wasn't the chickens he was after"

OH YUKKKK!!! Oh now I'm all just eeeyyyyiiissshhhhhhhhhhhhaahhhhhgggwwrrrraaaaccckk kk!!!!!!!!!! If my brain could spit, it would be spitting right now!! GROSS GROSS GROSS. Oh, I sincerely hope not!!

And like Forerunner, I have a reputation too. All the kids say I'm "mean", and the ladies around here that I know seem to either like me very much (the level headed, decent ladies) or hate me (the ladies who are, shall we say, not level headed or decent?). I'm not really a mean person, but I do have principles, and I do scowl a lot. I don't intend to, it just seems to be a genetic artifact of my German/Russian heritage. Heck, when I was little, everyone scowled, all the time. It can be an advantage in some respects.

Forgot=== old watermelons, half rotten cantaloupe, and pumpkins make excellent targets. They just absolutely explode in a huge shower of goo. Plus, you get volunteer seedlings the next spring...

ETA the .308.... DH makes sure the stocks are the proper length for me. I need a shorter stock, but not as small as a youth stock. I have a couple other rifles that fit me very well, thanks to dh's gunsmithing and stock modifying skills. I like to shoulder a rifle and have it go right where it's comfortable and not have it bang off my arm, or have to extend it too far out before bringing it back to my shoulder. Too awkward.

Forerunner · #32 09/25/10, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliaAnn

Forgot=== old watermelons, half rotten cantaloupe, and pumpkins make excellent targets. They just absolutely explode in a huge shower of goo. Plus, you get volunteer seedlings the next spring...

A compost pile makes a nice backdrop.
Just be sure to use biodegradable bullets.

fordy · #33 09/25/10, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliaAnn

Neighbor on one side has a daughter who has a boyfriend. They apparently know I keep poultry because as I was cutting grass today, the boyfriend appears out of the woods on their side of the fence and waves his arms to get my attention. So I turn off the mower and he asks me if I will give him some of my chickens. I was kind of taken aback, because I don't know this person, and I barely know the daughter of the neighbors. And I dont really know the neighbors all that well, to be truthful. I told him I didn't have any that I wanted to sell, maybe in the spring but not right now. And he actually *says* to me, 'no, not sell them to me--let me have them'. I just stood there blinking for several seconds, not quite sure how to respond. I knew what I *wanted* to say, but instead chose to say "No, sorry, I just can't give away my birds. It costs too much feed and time caring for them to just give them away'. As I was about to start the mower again, he says something about 'they're just chickens' and that I had too many anyway. ??? I just said no, sorry, have a nice afternoon, and started the mower and kept mowing. He stood there with his arms on the fence for several minutes, like nearly 10 minutes, it was odd. I never looked at him again, just kept mowing but I could see him in my peripheral vision. He finally wandered back thru the woods toward their house.

It must take a LOT of gall to just demand someone give you something, and then be so snippy and petulant when they don't give in!!

We have lived here nearly 30 years, and have had just a few problem neighbors over the years, but thankfully they were semi-transient types who eventually moved on. We have a group of neighbors that, like us, have been here for many years, and those we never have problems with. Likewise, I have always tried my best to be a good neighbor. I have never imposed myself or my animals on anyone, and I have never demanded anything of anyone.

I was really kind of shocked, to be truthful.

..................You can buy motion sensors at Harbor Freight , they work very well , we use them at work too notify us when a vehicle is entering our guarded area . , fordy

Tracy Rimmer · #34 09/25/10, 11:00 PM

It sounds like he was trying to intimidate you -- see how much he could push you.

I'd be watching my chickens for a bit, and careful myself when out and about.

naturelover · #35 09/25/10, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliaAnn

..... And he actually *says* to me, 'no, not sell them to me--let me have them'. I just stood there blinking for several seconds, not quite sure how to respond. I knew what I *wanted* to say, but instead chose to say "No, sorry, I just can't give away my birds. It costs too much feed and time caring for them to just give them away'. As I was about to start the mower again, he says something about 'they're just chickens' and that I had too many anyway. ??? I just said no, sorry, have a nice afternoon,.....

Obviously you know enough about the guy to know he's not mentally handicapped.

You made your biggest mistake by being polite to him and explaining yourself when he asked you the second time for the chickens, and then again by not telling him to "get lost NOW" when he was hanging over the fence for 10 minutes watching you. I don't understand why you let him hang around like that while you went on to mow your lawn. By doing that you just let him know that you were discomfitted and that means he was manipulating you and he knew it.

You know you're not required to say sorry or explain yourself or your reasons to anybody like that and you don't have to be polite and say "sorry, have a nice day". If the guy comes around again just tell him bluntly that you're not interested and to get lost and not come near your property again.

.

Curtis B · #36 09/25/10, 11:12 PM

Since your DH already shortened the stock, maybe the next project should be a gunrack for the mower.

chewie · #37 09/25/10, 11:31 PM

is it weird neighbor week??? geesh! this is odd. i think you handled it ok, but i also think if there is a next time you'd better have something more stern in mind. not sure what, as if you'll remember, i had my own neighbor issues that i coudln't solve!

it so odd anymore, ppl are so expecting and demanding and yet don't make one move towards doing for themselves. i can never figure if that is what they feel or they are just putting on a good show.

best of luck, tho., this could get ugly.

JuliaAnn · #38 09/25/10, 11:31 PM

Quote "By doing that you just let him know that you were discomfitted and that means he was manipulating you and he knew it.""

Actually, I wan't discomfitted at all. I walked away from him in order to dismiss him and to continue mowing my grass, and because I had no intention of explaining to him again that I was not going to give him anything. *Had* I felt discomfitted, I would have 'bowed up', so to speak, and told him to leave. I tend to bow up when I feel threatened. But as for him hanging around, yeah, he probably was trying to intimidate. He didn't succeed.

I wonder if I could adapt one of those gun racks on my dh's atv to fit my Toro? Or maybe fit the bagger with a quick draw sally holster?

Seriously, now I'm gonna be on pins and needles all night, listening for tell tale squawks and quacks. The ducks sleep in the pen with the chickens, and any little out of the ordinary thing sets them quacking.

Sorry I keep coming back to ETA, but I post and then read someones reply...

Chewie, I know you're having problems with your nutty neighbor. I've told this guy no, no birds for you, and I don't know if there will further problems or not. Who knows what he really wanted. I'm not a nut like that, so it's hard for me to speculate. But if there IS a next time, it will also be the last. As I mentioned, I bow up when I feel threatened, meaning I become agressive and forceful. I'm good at nipping things in the bud.

But yeah, the demanding mentality seems to be a growing problem, doesn't it? I don't recall people behaving this way in such a widespread fashion in the past. It almost seems like it is a generational thing, at least to me. People about 25 years and under seem to be the most demanding, almost as if they have a right to demand, and that it's not unreasonable or unusual for them to do so.

happy@home · #39 09/26/10, 06:13 AM

We have a problem neighbor and it started with her demanding I give her things and take care of her kids. I started out politly saying no. She just got worse so I got more firm. She got so bad that we had to get a restraining order. Everyone in the area now has had enough contact with her that no one will have anything to do with her or her family.

Since he has latched onto your neighbors he may be trying to spread his territory. Stay firm and do keep a close watch on things, not just the chickens. I agree with getting something on the record with the sheriff if possible.

Hopefully he will just slink back to the neighbors for his mooching.

Sammy · #40 09/26/10, 07:26 AM

Could have run the mower past him with the discharge chute aimed in his direction.