Disrespectful neighbors will reap what they sow
Moon Base
Issue date: 9/2/09 Section: Opinion
Hello, my name is Moon Base. I'm a college student who likes to drink and have a good time, and if my calculations are correct, there are people out there who are just like me. There's a good chance I've even met some of them. Of course, there are the other types of people in the world who like to sit back in the shadows like some sort of troll and harp on everyone's good time and hand out stupid flyers like they own the place.
To be more specific, I'm referring to my newly appointed white knight of a neighbor who has proclaimed himself the king of the block and has taken the necessary means to put an end to the good times had by all. Now, I don't live on Adams Street, and I understand the very important fact that college kids have to respect the lives of Macomb residents, but this guy is nuts.
For instance, last weekend he decided to not only stroll around our property and take pictures, he also invited himself into our screened in porch at 7 a.m. Saturday morning to pound relentlessly on the door until someone answered. He went on to explain how he was personally offended that there were half a dozen beer cans on the ground in our backyard, an area that cannot be seen unless you've trespassed on our property.
How some people get this self-inflicted sense of entitlement, I have no idea. I could probably make a really well-placed guess, but I don't want to offend anyone.
Take it from my perspective. I am who I am (a person that goes by Moon Base) - would you want me walking into your house unwelcomed? "Oh, but he's an adult, and you're just a weirdo," one might say, but that doesn't even the scales. Trespassing is trespassing regardless of how old you are or what your current rank in the service is (which on the "watch group" flyer he was sure to emphasize).
But from his point of view, I can see why he'd hate us. We're young, in the prime of our lives and he's … well, he's not. I can understand why he might call the police on a party that may or may not be next door if they're being loud, but if they're not and a few onlookers see him standing in his driveway rubbing his hands together menacingly, probably cackling, "all has gone to plan" under his breath, that's where I draw the line.
Who does he think he is making up arbitrary rules like, "No beer pong in the front yard," or saying the noise ordinance starts at 7 p.m.? What's worse? Trying to pass it off with lame jokes like, "Parties are like mullets; business in the front, party in the back," as if he's trying to sympathize.
I'm not going to come out and say that I'm going to cause problems for this person on my block, because he's just a dad doing his own thing. I am going to say that since he walks around with the idea that he - unlike us - can do whatever he wants, I'm going to care a lot less about what happens. If we all know he's going to call the cops, why bother? There's more of us than there is of him.
To be more specific, I'm referring to my newly appointed white knight of a neighbor who has proclaimed himself the king of the block and has taken the necessary means to put an end to the good times had by all. Now, I don't live on Adams Street, and I understand the very important fact that college kids have to respect the lives of Macomb residents, but this guy is nuts.
For instance, last weekend he decided to not only stroll around our property and take pictures, he also invited himself into our screened in porch at 7 a.m. Saturday morning to pound relentlessly on the door until someone answered. He went on to explain how he was personally offended that there were half a dozen beer cans on the ground in our backyard, an area that cannot be seen unless you've trespassed on our property.
How some people get this self-inflicted sense of entitlement, I have no idea. I could probably make a really well-placed guess, but I don't want to offend anyone.
Take it from my perspective. I am who I am (a person that goes by Moon Base) - would you want me walking into your house unwelcomed? "Oh, but he's an adult, and you're just a weirdo," one might say, but that doesn't even the scales. Trespassing is trespassing regardless of how old you are or what your current rank in the service is (which on the "watch group" flyer he was sure to emphasize).
But from his point of view, I can see why he'd hate us. We're young, in the prime of our lives and he's … well, he's not. I can understand why he might call the police on a party that may or may not be next door if they're being loud, but if they're not and a few onlookers see him standing in his driveway rubbing his hands together menacingly, probably cackling, "all has gone to plan" under his breath, that's where I draw the line.
Who does he think he is making up arbitrary rules like, "No beer pong in the front yard," or saying the noise ordinance starts at 7 p.m.? What's worse? Trying to pass it off with lame jokes like, "Parties are like mullets; business in the front, party in the back," as if he's trying to sympathize.
I'm not going to come out and say that I'm going to cause problems for this person on my block, because he's just a dad doing his own thing. I am going to say that since he walks around with the idea that he - unlike us - can do whatever he wants, I'm going to care a lot less about what happens. If we all know he's going to call the cops, why bother? There's more of us than there is of him.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 37
Gyrl
posted 9/02/09 @ 12:41 PM CST
First of all, you've got your facts wrong. The noise ordinance has no time component. If someone is being noisy at 3 p.m. and a complaint is made and police officers agree that you're too noisy you've violated the noise ordinance. (Continued…)
jwill
posted 9/02/09 @ 6:26 PM CST
Nice column Moon Base. I like your style.
I also have a neighbor that does the same thing. He is constantly harassing me and my roommates. It sucks but all we can do is let are voices as students be heard. (Continued…)
RUSerious?!
posted 9/02/09 @ 9:36 PM CST
Wow. I have no idea where to begin... let me start by saying that the people who live in Macomb year-round, do not have it in for the college students. (Continued…)
really?
posted 9/02/09 @ 10:09 PM CST
jwill: I responded to Moon Base, but I'm not a "Macombie Homie". You make the mistake of thinking everyone who lives here that is NOT a college student is from Macomb. (Continued…)
AJD
posted 9/02/09 @ 11:23 PM CST
The problem with the mindset of some WIU students is that they believe that if they move off campus, they have escaped rules. WRONG! ANY community is going to have rules and regulations. (Continued…)
AJD
posted 9/02/09 @ 11:40 PM CST
I'd like to add that gyrl is absolutely right...there is no need to trespass on the property to see a mess. The only part of the property you can't see from the street is what's directly behind the house. (Continued…)
RespectOthers
posted 9/03/09 @ 12:33 AM CST
Hmmmm....just found this. Maybe Mr. Moon Base needs to look into it and get some help.
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD or APD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as ". (Continued…)
ShowItToGetIt
posted 9/03/09 @ 1:24 AM CST
I find the title of this article extremely funny in an ironic sort of way. At first I thought it was going to be about college students not being respectful to their neighbors and the consequences that can come of that. (Continued…)
wut
posted 9/03/09 @ 11:42 AM CST
i think people need to get some sand out of their collective vaginas.
GrowUp
posted 9/03/09 @ 1:20 PM CST
wut = yet another example of the fact that there are some students at WIU that don't have the maturity to be here. I think that's the problem that is at the heart of much of the difficulties between students and nonstudents. (Continued…)
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