is posting a “polite” sign for the neighbors passive-aggressive? “perhaps,” says the washington post.
perhaps this portland resident could learn a lesson in politeness from our famously good-natured neighbors to the north? or, um, maybe not.
(photos from guy in toronto, via jerrold!)
related: boston, a place for friends
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102 responses so far ↓
#1 secondsout
If that’s the deal, I’d like to leave my lawn mower out during the summer, and my rake out during the fall. Maybe if someone could sweep and mop my house, too…
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:34 pm rating: +8
#2 secondsout
It’s such a peaceful, Currier & Ives type scene, minus the angry note. It kinda detracts from the decor.
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:39 pm rating: +1
#3 Canthz_B
This only works if it is really true that the thief will return to the scene of the crime.
They should put out some crack-head bait, like a new snow shovel.
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:53 pm rating: +1
#4 Canthz_B
Why are tenants required to do grounds work in Portland, Maine?
Our property manager provides this type of service.
I’d suggest a nice slip-and-fall lawsuit after the next good snowfall.
Team take the slumlord to the bank!
Mar 26, 2008 at 5:58 pm rating: +6
#5 Wade
Why should the other tenants shovel the steps, if the husband does it every year?
Why should the landlord step up and take care of it, if the husband does it every year?
I imagine that until the shoveler asks for help, not via note but personally, everyone else will just assume he likes to do it, and will gladly let him.
Oh, and the photo. I usually reserve that level of vehemence for the person that parks in the space I shoveled out.
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:06 pm rating: +3
#6 amy d
Actually, this seems quite reasonable to me.
The risk of stealing is arrest.
This is an offer to barter. The pay for shoveling their walk is a snow shovel.
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:10 pm rating: +2
#7 shirky
the other tenants keep trying to complain to the landlord who never shovels, but every time they call him, someone has shoveled the walk! “I do not see a problem,” he says, twirling his mustache.
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:42 pm rating: +2
#8 Gwynn
It wouldn’t surprise me if the owners of the shovel conspired to hide it away and then wrote this letter, placing it out conspicuously for all of the other tenants to see in an attempt to enforce the responsibility of the yard up keep onto everyone now that the shovel has been “stolen”
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:43 pm rating: +2
#9 pry
i’m betting these are the same “young people” who don’t ever shut the door. who raised these young folks?
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:45 pm rating: +2
#10 tlyzer
If the wife was so concerned about her husband and his bad back, she should get off her polite ass and help out instead of writing letters to Miss Manners.
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:48 pm rating: +4
#11 Gwynn
If these are the kind of manners and etiquette that Jerk has, I would say his mother named him appropriately.
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:56 pm rating: +3
#12 Anono
That damn 5 headed, triflin, shovel stealin SOB!!!
Mar 26, 2008 at 6:59 pm rating: +1
#13 Suhayla
What a shitty year for someone to steal the shovel. Maybe the guy stole it because he saw that they (like so many others in Toronto) weren’t actually using it, and figured he could put it to better use in his efforts to navegate this treacherous, unshovelled hinterland.
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm rating: +1
#14 Gwynn
What happened to the window in the background ? Did something fall ? I certainly wouldn’t take a picture of my house if the window looked like that.
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:06 pm rating: 0
#15 Gwynn
Oh, I see that now but at first it looked to me like the curtain and the rod fell down exposing the blinds behind it.
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:14 pm rating: 0
#16 memememe
It’s also worth mentioning, that as healthy young tenants, they possibly don’t notice that the walk “needs shovelling” because it’s easy to manage. What I consider a clean walk when I’m healthy and what I consider a clean walk when I’m in pain are very very different.
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:31 pm rating: +2
#17 amazon
Team Move to a Warmer Climate! Shouldn’t all old people be in Florida, anyways?
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:45 pm rating: +3
#18 Rachel (your girlfriend, idiot)
This is a message for bamBAM, so please disregard this if you are not him, here goes:
Look, david, youre being real immature by not answering your phone or emails, so maybe you’ll read this at least. I’m sorry. I pressured you into something you didn’t want to do, and I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be a bitch, I just thought that cause of your reply to that question, you didn’t love me. I’m sorry, I just was feeling pretty awful, and I didn’t mean my words to hurt you or our relationship. I just really need some closure here, I understand if you never wanna talk to me again, but the David I know isn’t that stupid. I’m really really sorry.
Rachel
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:53 pm rating: +1
#19 bamBAM!!
Doesanyone know why the above comments came up on My blog log??
Mar 26, 2008 at 9:04 pm rating: +1
#20 bamBAM!!
How long was I logged in?? I got some sort of email about folow up comments, but my laptop died, so I was kinda freakin out that someone posted something…
Mar 26, 2008 at 9:07 pm rating: +1
#21 known unknown
*scrolls through comments*
wha? oh LOL!!!
*dies laughing*
Mar 26, 2008 at 9:56 pm rating: +4
#22 known unknown
::known unknown’s ghost::
ha!
I’ve never seen a couple sort themselves out in the comment section of a blog before, my heart was just not prepared.
Mar 26, 2008 at 10:05 pm rating: +2
#23 bamBAM!!
I apologize to all you innocent bystanders of this mess. Its all sorted out now, and hope everyone had a good hearty laugh. Well, I guess I’ll go sit in a closet and die of embarrassment, now. Thanx, all.
Mar 26, 2008 at 10:09 pm rating: +3
#24 known unknown
Don’t let me embarrass you, Bam.
If it makes you feel any better, I spent all day yesterday with toothpaste in my hair. It was a big crusty beacon on the side of my face and no one told me.
You’ve got relationship issues, I’ve got a staff and four so-called friends that let me walk around looking like a busy hooker.
Mar 26, 2008 at 10:20 pm rating: +9
#25 morpho aurora
buy another snow shovel, paint it a really obnoxious gaudy color and draw pink penises on it. this may not prevent theft, but at least you’ll know who stole it.
Mar 26, 2008 at 10:38 pm rating: +7
#26 known unknown
“Dick Paint”
*shrieks*
But honestly, I intend to draw penises on everything I don’t want stolen. Does Dick Paint come in metallics? Or puffy paint?
Mar 26, 2008 at 11:13 pm rating: +2