General Discussion

Hekate

(100,133 posts)

128. Most people do not live like that. What the heck are you afraid of that you need a gate and walls?

Tue Apr 7, 2015, 12:44 AM

Apr 2015

I live in a basic middle class community. Anybody can drive down our streets. Anybody can walk down our streets.

We have some retirees, and we have some families with small children. We are in an okay school district and kids can walk to elementary school and middle school -- so that means kids are out on the street making kid noises.

People walk their dogs. My husband knows everybody from walking our dog.

Our next door neighbor runs his vending machine business out of his garage, complete with truck. He has a thing for Halloween and Christmas with massive decorations, and people actually drive through our neighborhood to see the display. At the end of each holiday he takes it all down and puts it away. Just because it's not my taste, doesn't mean he can't do this.

We have one nutball neighbor. When my friend across the street moved in and started putting in new bushes, the nutball came by to criticize her choices. My friend said, and I quote: I MOVED OUT OF MY CONDO SO I COULD DO WHAT I WANTED TO WITH MY OWN PROPERTY.

And my husband and I moved out of our apartment so our then-children would have a neighborhood where they could run all over the place being children.

This is actually how most of us live.

I would not live in a "gated community" if you paid me.

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city tells father to remove cardboard fort he built for kids in front yard [View all] Liberal_in_LA Apr 2015 OP

Ah....yeah that has to go yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #1

I see the authoritarian mindset is strong within you hobbit709 Apr 2015 #2

Whats authoritarian? treestar Apr 2015 #6

There is no mention of an HOA in the article. Comrade Grumpy Apr 2015 #12

If an ordinance is duly passed treestar Apr 2015 #45

"Mindless enforcement" often being little more than "enforcement of regulations I myself dislike..." LanternWaste Apr 2015 #150

There is no HOA involved here jberryhill Apr 2015 #14

I'd make a party out of tearing it down. Invite neighbors, have a grill going. KittyWampus Apr 2015 #23

Replace it every two weeks with new boxes jberryhill Apr 2015 #25

the poster mentioned them treestar Apr 2015 #46

Laws are not written in stone. In an evolved society people are able to be flexible. sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #127

They are close to it treestar Apr 2015 #148

yes i must withstand whatever pile of crap someone decides to pile up in the front yard Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 #20

you're an authoritarian if you believe all rules must always be followed to the letter of the law hobbit709 Apr 2015 #21

Why is that authoritarian treestar Apr 2015 #47

If you gotta ask you will never know why. hobbit709 Apr 2015 #49

Who gets to break them? treestar Apr 2015 #113

so if someone steals your car you'd be cool with that cause hey rules were made to be broken Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 #141

Ever been passed by a cop when you were driving 2 or 3 or 5MPH over the limit? A HERETIC I AM Apr 2015 #77

How slight is this? treestar Apr 2015 #114

What do you personally feel justified in doing about it? TampaAnimusVortex Apr 2015 #92

HUH? treestar Apr 2015 #115

Your kidding right? TampaAnimusVortex Apr 2015 #146

We're talking about a cardboard box here treestar Apr 2015 #173

So, because a group of dip-weed pols put something on paper we're supposed to genuflect? Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2015 #151

Seriously? treestar Apr 2015 #172

Law passed by elected official or not there is nothing in this incident that merits a response from Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2015 #174

If it violates an ordinance treestar Apr 2015 #176

Laws and whatnot are meant to give us a civil society for the benefit of the people. Nuclear Unicorn Apr 2015 #178

If you want to make your stand over cardboard in a front yard treestar Apr 2015 #180

That's not what an authoritarian is. Advocating adherence to laws arrived at through the democratic process pnwmom Apr 2015 #120

a few days or a week would be ok. let them have their fun Liberal_in_LA Apr 2015 #94

Your welcome to have that ugly monstrosity in your yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #52

Why do I get the feeling you're one of those people hobbit709 Apr 2015 #55

Lol. I am very easy going actually yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #57

just a reminder - KT2000 Apr 2015 #90

I have never asked the lawn service what they use yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #97

So the line of work you chose after college was ignorance? jberryhill Apr 2015 #121

It is a company they know what is legal for the state yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #129

Is it legal in your state to smoke cigarettes? Do you smoke them? jberryhill Apr 2015 #160

You take care of your state. I will take care of mine yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #161

The bay waters flow right through the canal in my state jberryhill Apr 2015 #162

I know enough to write a check every month to the company yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #164

Yo, man--you seriously object to trees and leaves? How, exactly, do you get your neighbors... Hekate Apr 2015 #56

No the lawn service takes care of it for me yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #59

How lovely for you. But most families USE their houses and yards for their KIDS... Hekate Apr 2015 #64

Of course I am in a gated community. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #83

Of course you are. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #98

Most people are. I am not special. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #102

Me? No. I live in a small old (1885) house on a small lot The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #107

It actually sounds really nice. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #108

It is, for me; but a HOA would never allow it. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #109

I live in a middle-class, small town neighborhood Bettie Apr 2015 #110

Most people are?!?!? Coventina Apr 2015 #124

Ok 8 million and growing fast yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #133

"I couldn't afford the million dollar homes in the open concept that you live in." Coventina Apr 2015 #152

I thought you did by your posts. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #153

Wow! I'm super curious! What did you see in my posts that made you think that? Coventina Apr 2015 #154

Most people do not live like that. What the heck are you afraid of that you need a gate and walls? Hekate Apr 2015 #128

There must be an awful lot of folks you don't count as "people," then n/t Scootaloo Apr 2015 #134

I exaggerated. It's 8 million and growing. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #135

So about 2% of the population. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #165

I know. I know. I fessed up that I exaggerated yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #167

Spraying fertilizer on the lawn is what is bad... Blanks Apr 2015 #76

Yes but we have to have it here. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #80

It can be done environmentally... Blanks Apr 2015 #86

And don't let anyone get away with that "crab grass" execuse goldent Apr 2015 #87

Thank you so much for the tip yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #96

Happy to help. goldent Apr 2015 #132

I'm curious... haikugal Apr 2015 #177

You're not your. panader0 Apr 2015 #72

Thanks. I always do that typing. yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #79

Oh, you are one of those. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2015 #73

You wouldn't last in my neighborhood yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #78

Wow, a gated community with no trees allowed over the house!! With a guard! panader0 Apr 2015 #85

Lol. Good thing we picked appropriate neighborhoods for each of us yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #95

Our house is about 45 feet high. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2015 #99

Hey you kids! Get off your lawn too! n/t lumberjack_jeff Apr 2015 #74

So how, exactly, do you propose to stop that tree from shedding its leaves in your yard? The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #75

This one apparently got yelled at too much; A HERETIC I AM Apr 2015 #81

Psychoanylize it. That tree has boundary issues, I can tell. nt Hekate Apr 2015 #131

It is pretty ghastly. alphafemale Apr 2015 #9

Really? Cardboard boxes made into a kid's fort are "ghastly"? Comrade Grumpy Apr 2015 #18

It'd look freaking awesome if it was painted gray with "grout lines" to make it look like real brick KittyWampus Apr 2015 #24

Yes. It is trash. And cardboard attracts cockroaches for another thing. alphafemale Apr 2015 #26

You sound like a lot of fun. panader0 Apr 2015 #71

It's trash. And cardboard is notorious for attracting roaches. alphafemale Apr 2015 #36

Leftover house paint seals and preserves cardboard a treat. I should know. Hekate Apr 2015 #60

Roaches outdoors? That's a new one on me. LiberalElite Apr 2015 #61

I don't know how cold the winter was in Utah this year truebluegreen Apr 2015 #70

If this had been done in the back yard, it's likely no one would have said a word. MADem Apr 2015 #34

It was just a prototype. Some brainstorming with his neighbors and I bet ... Hekate Apr 2015 #136

Yeah. I was thinking he should either move it or rebuild it in the back yard. WillowTree Apr 2015 #42

Yeah 2naSalit Apr 2015 #140

that is why drray23 Apr 2015 #40

That will last until the first good rain and the rain will "melt" the boxes. Let the kids enjoy them shraby Apr 2015 #43

Shush. Gormy Cuss Apr 2015 #48

It's likely to rain or snow there this Wednesday struggle4progress Apr 2015 #50

Seriously Hekate Apr 2015 #66

Really, I was thinking the same thing.. mountain grammy Apr 2015 #88

Oh come on - "every day"?The first good rain and the cardboard turns to soggy mush - problem solved. Kashkakat v.2.0 Apr 2015 #63

Who fucking cares? It's kids having fun. tabasco Apr 2015 #101

I did and live where it would NEVER happen yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #103

Where I live it could happen, and I wouldn't mind. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #111

"You're" n/t tabasco Apr 2015 #170

Ugh....I am trying... yeoman6987 Apr 2015 #171

That was my thought... Bettie Apr 2015 #104

their 'law' he has 15 days and then case closed. in my neighborhood, it's instant fine & 1k a day. Sunlei Apr 2015 #159

No biggie. Let the kids enjoy it for a couple of weeks, Ron Green Apr 2015 #3

IMO you're right treestar Apr 2015 #7

amen demigoddess Apr 2015 #37

Step One: Leave it up for 14 days GreatGazoo Apr 2015 #4

Lets assume there is 10 lbs of cardboard in the fort. 11 Bravo Apr 2015 #41

10 pounds or 1 ton, what's the difference? FSogol Apr 2015 #53

If I was looking to buy a home, it would increase the value - Ms. Toad Apr 2015 #93

Crowdsource the fines and keep it up as long as it stays dry. tridim Apr 2015 #5

What's the harm? It's temporary, he didn't build it with concrete blocks. Avalux Apr 2015 #8

What HOA? jberryhill Apr 2015 #17

Sorry - it was the city not an HOA. n/t Avalux Apr 2015 #19

I'd expect a good rainstorm to take care of the problem in that time... LiberalElite Apr 2015 #62

That's a badass cardboard fort. Warren DeMontague Apr 2015 #10

Geez...it will probably rain in a day or two anyway. BlueJazz Apr 2015 #11

What's the harm Politicalboi Apr 2015 #13

There's a Gladys Kravitz on every street. hobbit709 Apr 2015 #15

The city is nuts. When I was in kindergarten our school used cardboard boxes to build a child size jwirr Apr 2015 #16

He should have built it in the backyard... joeybee12 Apr 2015 #22

Exactly. The front yard is pretty regulated as far as what you can do for the sake of all eyes. alphafemale Apr 2015 #29

I mean, it's neat that he did it for his kids... joeybee12 Apr 2015 #33

Was he even planning on keeping the fort up for 15 days? JVS Apr 2015 #27

I once installed a whole bunch of kitchen cabinets, all in different sized cardboard boxes. panader0 Apr 2015 #28

That sounds so cool Hekate Apr 2015 #68

yep out back dembotoz Apr 2015 #30

That's just great. Boxes from big appliances are the BEST. nt Hekate Apr 2015 #69

I miss the days when you could go to the loading dock at Sears Blue_Tires Apr 2015 #168

Boo! Hiss! AtomicKitten Apr 2015 #31

town sphincter police LOLOLOLOL KittyWampus Apr 2015 #35

Set this little fella's fort free! AtomicKitten Apr 2015 #39

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!! Quantess Apr 2015 #32

Be nice to your neighbors - use the backyard MaggieD Apr 2015 #38

There shall be ORDER in that city. Trillo Apr 2015 #44

If he leaves that stuff on his lawn more than a couple days it will kill the grass tularetom Apr 2015 #51

If he lives where it rains, the grass will grow back. Or so I've heard. It never rains in California Hekate Apr 2015 #137

There's no mention of an HOA. This isn't a condo or gated community. Someone griped to the City... Hekate Apr 2015 #54

The first rain storm will take it down. I'd just leave it up for a few days riderinthestorm Apr 2015 #58

The pantie-wadding is strong in this thread. Throd Apr 2015 #65

Frankly, given the state of the world right now..... Smarmie Doofus Apr 2015 #67

Can you say "First World Problem"? I knew you could!! Coventina Apr 2015 #82

send in the SWAT team guillaumeb Apr 2015 #84

I told my realtor to not bother showing us any more homes that had an HOA Contrary1 Apr 2015 #89

Yep, NEVER AGAIN will I EVER have an HOA. Coventina Apr 2015 #91

This isn't a HOA issue, it's a city ordinance. n/t tammywammy Apr 2015 #100

In some cities, the ordinances and the inspectors are almost as bad as HOAs. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2015 #112

You have to wonder if the spread of HOAs has in turn Trillo Apr 2015 #118

I hate them too. alarimer Apr 2015 #143

ahh, HOAs--Lord Acton was wrong: people get crazier the less power they have MisterP Apr 2015 #105

Some of you members forgot what it's like to be a kid johnnysad Apr 2015 #106

exactly. Great dad for building this. maybe he can move it to backyard Liberal_in_LA Apr 2015 #116

Not the most... one_voice Apr 2015 #117

Is there a reason they didn't build it in the back yard? Could it be moved there? n/t pnwmom Apr 2015 #119

Yes. Chellee Apr 2015 #126

How disgusting! KMOD Apr 2015 #122

Won't someone PLEASE think of the grumpy old men!! Coventina Apr 2015 #123

seriously!!!! uppityperson Apr 2015 #169

I have not yet read any of the responses to Jenoch Apr 2015 #125

Well, have you read them yet? Chellee Apr 2015 #130

I feel sorry for the kids davidsilver Apr 2015 #138

You don't frighten us, English pig dogs. Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly person. Monk06 Apr 2015 #139

Fetchez la vache!!...nt SidDithers Apr 2015 #142

My HOA was not registered correctly as an HOA when the development Puglover Apr 2015 #144

You lucky, lucky thing... ScreamingMeemie Apr 2015 #147

Oh believe me. Puglover Apr 2015 #155

Fucking Obama. Orsino Apr 2015 #145

lol treestar Apr 2015 #149

Really cute idea but even knowing it's a "fort" I still think it looks too much like yard trash Mike Daniels Apr 2015 #156

local govs are the most oppressive of all, even on your own land. don't break the leash law for cats Sunlei Apr 2015 #157

I suspect pipi_k Apr 2015 #158

Yet another big difference between being a kid in the 70s/80s and today JustAnotherGen Apr 2015 #163

So the city gave it 15 days to rain and render the matter moot. n/t PoliticAverse Apr 2015 #166

I both love it and hate it. Glassunion Apr 2015 #175

The only conclusion I can reach from the OP & some responses... DeadLetterOffice Apr 2015 #179