Comments on: The most unpleasant of pleasantries

By: Mike Pooposterous

Mike Pooposterous — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:50:26 +0000

All of these notes are pretty reasonable though I’d back off of the “absolutely dry” on the dishes. Almost absolutely dry is fine. Hard water crusts up kettles, large loads can break a weak washing machine, food areas should be clean, dishwashers aren’t perfect, towels shouldn’t get stained (wash your hands a little maybe?). Sounds like Jen needs to live in her own place where she can be as messy as she wants.

By: Canthz_B

Canthz_B — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:22:57 +0000

oi, I grew up in a college-area of town, live in what can be considered one (God knows the kids will be back soon … )…I guess it depends upon the college town, and your experience may be quite different than mine.

In my experience, people rent rooms out, they don’t share homes as in “You have the run of the place. What’s mine is yours.”
It’s more of a landlord/tenant relationship.

Not saying that never happens, but I can only comment based on what I know…though things may have changed due to the economy, and maybe more people are looking for half of their mortgage to be paid instead of help with the bills, I still doubt they are willing to sell their “king of the castle” status.

By: hd

hd — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:06:29 +0000

control issues….

By: Wench

Wench — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:04:30 +0000

This is EXACTLY why I will NEVER house share….

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:58:29 +0000

I’m on the fence here – my mother is an absolute neat freak who thinks things are messy when by everyone else’s standards, they are immaculate. The 50-year-old sounds a bit anal about things, like my mom, but Jen sounds like she’s a bit sloppy too.

By: infant tyrone

infant tyrone — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:45:40 +0000

Filling a Brita with too much force has a way of forcing little bits
of carbon out of the filter element down into the pitcher.
It won’t hurt the water much, but it rubs some drinkers the wrong way.

There may be a YT video on the subject. Search away.

By: oi

oi — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:21:46 +0000

It’s actually common than you think CB, at least in college towns.

By: Canthz_B

Canthz_B — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:14:26 +0000

Risha, while the notes are in Canada and I’m in the US, the situation here is different. One would have to be pretty desperate if one were willing to rent half of their home as opposed to a bedroom in their home.

We’re possessive control freaks!

By: Canthz_B

Canthz_B — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:04:50 +0000

ADC I agree that if two people move in together at the same time there should be a give and take.

But if you move into a home someone else has established, it is you who must conform to the established norms of their home.

Sure, she could not know about how to fill the water filter without being shown or told…hence the instructional note…WTF?

You say your roommate was way too uptight, I suppose your roommate would say you were way too lax. Coins have two sides, but roaches prefer the side with crumbs and water on the counter.

By: lownote

lownote — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:43:03 +0000

@Ponytail Americans seem to use those kettles you put on the cooker…so no automatic switch-off.

By: M S

M S — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:54:54 +0000

I FUKIN’ HATE THAT BITCH!!!!!!!!!

By: r2p2

r2p2 — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:06:17 +0000

These notes sound exactly like my MIL, who has been diagnosed with OCD. I am not a slob and my house is certainly not a pigsty. Still, I could easily see her leaving notes like this around the house (and have seen it to some degree when we visit her home) simply because the way we clean things is not the way SHE cleans them (both in method and frequency).

These notes scream passive aggressive for a number of reasons.

1. THEY ARE NOTES. This woman could EASILY just say to Jen next time she sees her, “Hey by the way, I prefer we do X around here.” If she’s older and forgetful she can leave notes to remind herself to tell Jen. Not leave it for Jen.

2. The oozing of “pls” and “Thanks!” sounds nice but then certain phrasing (e.g. reminding us that Thurs to Mon is 5 days straight) and highlighting key points conveys nothing but belligerence.

3. One or two notes for a new housemate who doesn’t know the idiosyncrasies of the appliance, I could understand. 6+ is just wimping out of what could otherwise be a harmless confrontation.

Ultimately, I think older lady needs to clarify certain household rituals with Jen face-to-face. Jen could then attempt to appease this woman, who will in turn learn to compromise in living with another person.

By: LLL

LLL — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:45:54 +0000

So you were her roommate after me, huh?

By: Nomi

Nomi — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:32:33 +0000

I think Jen is lazy and sloppy, and the other woman has every right to tell her to clean up after herself.
It would have been nice to say it personally though, the notes make everything so much more.. dramatic.