Vandalism is offensive…and painful.

← This is not an all legs buffet. Please, Mom, anything but showers! →

July 15th, 2012 · 85 comments

Here’s how Carter in San Francisco tells the story: “It was my birthday, and after everyone else wanted to go to bed, I wanted to take an adventure. Being wasted, though, I didn’t make it past the second step. Instead, I fell down a flight of stairs straight into a plant, breaking off two branches.”

When he awoke the next morning, not only was he bruised and hungover, he was also an offensive vandal. As it turns out, however, an apologetic one — the pink note is his. He also shelled out $22 for a pretty new plant. (That’s something we don’t see too often around these parts…)

related: Arboreal abuse

FILED UNDER: drizzunk · flowers, trees, houseplants & gardens · Oops?

85 responses so far ↓

#1 Suzie

I would feel like a total asshat if I had left the original note.

Jul 15, 2012 at 8:45 pm rating: 44

reply to this comment
- #1.1 Andrew Price
  
  I dunno, I mean it obviously worked.
  
  If I awoke to find my plant destroyed I’d probably want the vandal to know I wasn’t happy too.
  
  Props to the submitter for buying a new plant though. That’s class. Now try to be more careful when drinking
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 8:55 pm rating: 98
- #1.2 mystic_eye
  
  Sheesh the original note writer could have at least given the person a day to make things right before going on a rampage. Would they rather have had the person knock on their door and apologize at 3am?
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 11:43 pm rating: 14
- #1.3 DaveGI
  
  The original note was perfectly reasonable. How were they supposed to know when the destruction happened? All they know is when they came out their door that day (what time we don’t know) they found their plant destroyed. So they left a note complaining about the vandalism and went about their day.
  
  Vandalism was a perfectly rational conclusion since most people would appologise for accidents. They had no way of knowing that the culprit was simply too drunk to leave a note of appology at the time.
  
  Later the accidental offender came by with the replacement plant and left his note.
  
  This is reasonable behavior on both sides.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 2:56 pm rating: 34
- #1.4 Singe
  
  I don’t think he was “too drunk to leave a note” but rather “too late at night to buy a replacement plant yet”.
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 7:37 am rating: 7
- #1.5 Nunavut Guy
  
  MMMMMM…Smoke plant,replace said plant.
  
  Fairs fair.
  
  Jul 19, 2012 at 7:41 pm rating: 0
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#2 Monsoon

Good guy here. Sheepish apology doesn’t really fit the bill for this site, though… And, first!

Jul 15, 2012 at 8:47 pm rating: 8

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#3 shepd

You chose to become unable to control yourself and destroyed someone’s property. Not cool. You were rightly chastised for doing so.

If, instead, you tripped over something (especially a trip hazard placed there by the plant owner) then you could claim you’re not an asshat.

However, doing stupid things while drunk means you are absolutely fully responsible for them. In other words, don’t get wasted and run about like an idiot in public and not expect to get called out for it. It absolutely is vandalism what you did.

Jul 15, 2012 at 8:51 pm rating: 24

reply to this comment
- #3.1 Carter
  
  Vandalism: deliberately mischievous or malicious destruction or damage of property
  
  So….no. It’s not
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:12 pm rating: 101
- #3.2 NayNay
  
  Somebody needs a drink…
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:19 pm rating: 31
- #3.3 Anna
  
  I would hate to see my plant broken.
  
  But you’re wrong. Accidental damage, while drunk or not, is not vandalism.
  
  vandalism |ˈvandlˌizəm|
  noun
  action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.
  
  This guy went out to a party, tripped on the steps (oh gee, like that’s never happened), broke someone’s stuff, and apologized. If I had to be his friend or yours, I’d choose him in a second. Stop being a bore, buy a dictionary, and for god’s sake live a little.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:20 pm rating: 89
- #3.4 Lisa
  
  Lighten up, man. The submitter obviously took responsibility for his actions. Sadly, most people would ignore the original note or draw a giant penis on it. Heck, people steal my plants off of my patio.
  
  People can really suck and the note-writers of the world are stuck in 5th grade, petulantly crying “no fair!” when shitty things happen because they expect to run around throwing tantrums and still receive kind, fair treatment.
  
  This guy apologized and replaced the plant. If anyone can be forgiven for the great sin of consuming the godforsaken alcohol on his friggin birthday, I’m gonna say it’s good guy submitter.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:35 pm rating: 68
- #3.5 Seanette
  
  I don’t drink, and I’m quite capable of stumbling in a way that could cause such damage under the wrong conditions.
  
  Understandable that the owner of the plant was unhappy, not so much that the immediate mental leap was to “wah, some meany deliberately attacked my precious!” rather than “whoops, an accident” (and was this plant in a spot where it was especially vulnerable to such accidents?).
  
  Submitter did show considerable class in apologizing and replacing the wounded plant, and not wailing about how mean and unreasonable the plant owner was being. Now just try to be more careful next time, OK, Carter?
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:49 pm rating: 24
- #3.6 shepd
  
  Well, I hate to be a bore, but I disagree. If you choose to get yourself in a state where you are unable to control yourself (such as being drugged on alcohol by your own personal choice) the results of your poor choices (being drugged in public and damaging property) are not an accident.
  
  This is why drunk driving is considered a criminal act. The driver chose to harm others when he started driving in public. And, when someone is drugged by their own hand in public and harms property, the results are deliberate.
  
  Otherwise, the face eater who took bath salts only did the face eating “by accident”. The fortunate thing for this person is that alcohol is generally a more mild drug and as such, the bad decisions made while under its influence are somewhat less terrible (although alcohol is still known to destroy the lives of millions each year).
  
  You can be assured if this happened to me, there would be no note, but rather, the cameras I use on my property would have helped give this irresponsible person the justice he requires.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 8:12 am rating: 11
- #3.7 Annabelle
  
  That’s your opinion – that doesn’t mean you get to twist a word’s meaning to suit it. It’s illegal to drive whilst under the influence because you’re in control of several thousand pounds of metal and could kill someone; being drunk (not drugged as you love to put it) is not illegal. It was an accident, dude replaced it, chill out.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 9:47 am rating: 35
- #3.8 dot
  
  Technically, it is illegal to be drunk in public. Because of stuff like this. Being drunk lowers your judgment and makes stupid/dangerous stuff more likely to happen (even by accident), thus creating a public hazard.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 9:55 am rating: 10
- #3.9 Redheadwglasses
  
  This guy wasn’t drunk “in public.” He was on private property. Chill.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 12:52 pm rating: 22
- #3.10 The Elf
  
  Yeah, that plant threw him into “public”. Arrest it.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 1:05 pm rating: 29
- #3.11 dot
  
  A common hallway of an apartment building is semi-public property. It belongs to his neighbors just as much as it does to him, and if he’s drunk and stumbling and causing damage, his neighbor would have had the right to call the police.I doubt they would arrest him over a plant however.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 3:09 pm rating: 7
- #3.12 DaveGI
  
  Sorry folks, but the original note-writer had every reason to assume this was vandalism. Normally when a person destroys something by accident, the apologize for it. Either in person or they leave a note if it’s the middle of the night.
  
  In this case Carter was too wasted to do that. Maybe he wasn’t even completely aware of what happened until he saw the note the next day. But barring any acknowledgement of what happened the note-writer was reasonable in assuming vandalism.
  
  But Carter made good on what he did, so everything worked out in the end!
  
  Annabelle, you’re making an assumption. Carter never says he was drunk – just that he was wasted. That could be legal drugs (like alcohol), illegal drugs, or both. There’s a high probability that you’re right about him just being drunk, but it’s not supported by the information given.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 3:14 pm rating: 11
- #3.13 catethulhu
  
  I bet you’re fun at parties.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 6:52 pm rating: 17
- #3.14 Anna
  
  @shepd–
  
  Your example actually proves the opposite: that the law does distinguish between intent to harm, and accidental harm. This is why we had to criminalize drunk driving separately from the harm it causes. Too many people got off light because “it was an accident”. The law now recognizes it as a crime to operate a motor vehicle and do other things while intoxicate precisely because vehicular manslaughter is manslaughter, not murder, even while the driver is drunk.
  
  The face-eating issue was one of *intent to harm* (or so we suppose) regardless of the attacker’s sobriety. That is why the bath-salt taker will probably be prosecuted for murder rather than manslaughter. Sure, he was high, but he also wanted to harm while high.
  
  If everyone who trips down the stairs (tired, forgot glasses, had one glass too many) is guilty of vandalism or gross negligence, the courts will be full. The truth is, accidents happen, drunk or not.
  
  Intent matters in the law.
  
  Getting drunk is legal.
  
  Seriously, live with it. If you don’t like it, please, go somewhere everyone agrees with you… like some small dry town in the midwest.
  
  Even there, however, being over-tired, etc. are probably legal so at some point you will have to come to terms with the fact that people occasionally make decisions that lead to increased risk, and it may affect you. If that upsets you, may I offer you a drink? Claret or a cabernet? Or perhaps an ale?
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 11:12 pm rating: 17
- #3.15 Jen
  
  Anna -
  
  I agree with most of what you’ve written, but would like to point out that the bath-salt taker was NOT actually under the influence of bath salts at the time he ate the man’s face. He only had marijuana in his system, and not bath salts, LSD, or synthetic marijuana as was previously supposed.
  
  http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/state/tests-in-cannibalism-case-zombie-like-attacker-rudy-eugene-used-pot-not-bath-salts
  
  Additionally, a death that results from driving under the influence isn’t always something that is charged as vehicular manslaughter, regardless of the severity. It depends on the state, but some states have varying degrees of severity ranging from vehicular manslaughter, second degree vehicular manslaughter, etc. etc. The “highest” level that it seems to be charged as is regular second degree murder. It varies widely based on state/town though.
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 3:14 am rating: 0
- #3.16 Singe
  
  “Otherwise, the face eater who took bath salts only did the face eating “by accident”. The fortunate thing for…”
  
  Uh, the “face eater” had not taken any “bath salts”. This was a scandalous rumor than pervaded the media because it was sensational and a lot of people are very anti-drug. The fact he hadn’t taken any was discovered only later in an autopsy.
  
  Why all that hatin’ on people who drink? Elitism?
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 7:42 am rating: 3
- #3.17 The Elf
  
  The “face eater” did test positive for pot though, which just goes to show that if you have the munchies go find yourself an “all-legs” buffet. I hear there’s one in a small town in Iowa.
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 9:24 am rating: 21
- #3.18 DaveGI
  
  I hate when I get to the buffet and the faces are all gone!
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm rating: 17
- #3.19 shepd
  
  Actually, I do drink. I just do it responsibly, because I believe I am responsible for any actions I do and that there really isn’t such a thing as an “accident”. Anything else would be uncivilized.
  
  Fortunately, I’m also very litigious and wouldn’t let this irresponsible person off without police involvement.
  
  As for whether this is vandalism or destruction of property, it’s still illegal and morally wrong–the only thing we’re debating here is how wrong it is–I hope. Oh well, if you feel it’s morally right, feel free to test your theory. If you do so on my property, enjoy your night’s stay at the graybar hotel.
  
  And, for the record, I really am no fun at parties. Perhaps it’s the responsibility thing that keeps me from letting it all hang out.
  
  Jul 18, 2012 at 12:30 am rating: 2
- #3.20 The Elf
  
  Well, there’s only one per chicken, Dave GI. You gotta be quick.
  
  Jul 18, 2012 at 10:21 am rating: 2
- #3.21 The Elf
  
  Shepd, you’d call the police for…. a broken plant that you didn’t witness being broken and was replaced? Your local police must love you.
  
  Jul 18, 2012 at 10:22 am rating: 20
- #3.22 Redheadwglasses
  
  No, dot, the hallway in an apartment building isn’t “semi-public.” The building is owned be someone other then “the public,” so the hallway is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Now, it may be considered a “common area” by the landlord as far as setting rules for its use, but just because numerous people use that area does not make it public or semi-public.
  
  Jul 18, 2012 at 12:06 pm rating: 7
- #3.23 AlfaCowboy
  
  The guy did take responsibility for his actions. That’s the obvious distinguishing feature of this post. He apologized, explained what happened and replaced the plant. What do you want him to do, Shepd? Should he wear sackcloth and ashes for a month and walk around with a bell crying: “Unclean, unclean?” I mean, Jesus, I don’t think drunk is an excuse for anything either, but if someone accidentally breaks a plant (a plant!) for whatever reason, then sincerely apologizes and replaces the dang plant, I don’t see the problem. Good neighbor.
  
  Jul 19, 2012 at 9:15 am rating: 13
- #3.24 Nunavut Guy
  
  @Shepd…..A slim-jim could not get up your tight mighty than thou ass.
  
  Jul 19, 2012 at 7:45 pm rating: 8
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#4 narcogen

Deliberate, malicious destruction? No. Gross and willful negligence? Yes.

Jul 15, 2012 at 9:21 pm rating: 10

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- #4.1 makfan
  
  Gross negligence? Wow. I’ll give you negligence, but I must admit the response was very reasonable.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:38 pm rating: 11
- #4.2 Jen
  
  Gross negligence is generally characterized as a willful or wanton disregard for something that is likely to cause injury to persons/things that you have a duty to. E.g., if you’re a doctor and you choose to perform a complex heart surgery on your patient while you’re intoxicated. You have a duty to the patient that you break when you willfully or recklessly engage in actions that will likely result in harm to that patient. Regular negligence is just a failure to use reasonable care… for instance, maybe not completely slowing to a stop at a stop sign before turning right (assuming it’s not a major intersection).
  
  This is definitely not gross negligence. Please don’t throw legal terms around if you don’t know what they mean.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:47 pm rating: 55
- #4.3 kermit
  
  But throwing legal terms around makes me sound sophisticated and impressive to others!
  
  I need that plausible deniability, man!
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 5:51 am rating: 39
- #4.4 Dane Zeller
  
  I’ll drink to that, Kermit.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 8:04 am rating: 3
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#5 Sass

Getting drunk, damaging someone else’s property….and then TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT?!?!

What’s this world coming to?

Jul 15, 2012 at 9:28 pm rating: 80

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- #5.1 Carter
  
  Bwahaha, indeed. This will destroy deomcracy
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 9:40 pm rating: 10
- #5.2 The Elf
  
  When I read that he had replaced the plant, my estimation of humanity rose just a tiny bit.
  
  I’m sure it won’t last, but I’ll enjoy the heady feeling of optimism while it does.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 7:46 am rating: 23
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#6 Carter

Thanks for posting!

Jul 15, 2012 at 9:40 pm rating: 5

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#7 Mrs.Beasley

(So am I the only botanophile who’s curious about what kind of plant it was?)

Jul 15, 2012 at 10:14 pm rating: 13

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- #7.1 Dewprisms
  
  No, I was definitely wondering, too… and what he replaced it with.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 10:18 pm rating: 7
- #7.2 kermit
  
  My money is on something cheap, like a fern or an aloe. If it was a a rare/expensive/fancy/award-winning whatsit, I doubt that anybody would go through the trouble of shelling out hundreds of dollars and many a days work to track down another one.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 5:54 am rating: 0
- #7.3 Seanette
  
  Granted, math classes were a long time ago for me, but I’m having trouble figuring how $22 equals “hundreds of dollars”. We also have no time frame for obtaining the replacement plant, so I’m at a loss as to where the “many a days work” comes from (assumes information not in available evidence).
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 10:18 am rating: 3
- #7.4 Janie4
  
  Plants can be expensive and obscure. If he had no clue what it was, he’d have to run through hundreds of photos looking for plants that are similar, and then spend the money paying for it.
  
  For example, a hinoki cypress can run $150, depending on size. That’s if you can figure out what type of plant it is. It’s an evergreen, and looks kind of like a pine tree, or a cypress, or a fir. If the tag wasn’t odd and you crashed into my ornamental tree, you might not know what it was.
  
  An aloe plant or a basil plant are often very recognizable, and fairly cheap to replace, even at a large size/
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 10:32 am rating: 4
- #7.5 kermit
  
  A Saffron plant can run you a pretty penny, given that dry saffron will run you around $1000 / lb. A single stem of a particular orchid (Rotschild’s slipper) can run you around $5000.
  
  Granted, you wouldn’t keep that sort of thing in the common hall, but unless you’re really really into orchids you couldn’t tell by looking it at it that it’s so expensive.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 2:21 pm rating: 1
- #7.6 Ratastic
  
  Actually, saffron crocus bulbs are fairly inexpensive – about the same as a fancy tulip or iris. What makes saffron expensive is that you only get a few threads from each flower.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 3:47 pm rating: 5
- #7.7 kermit
  
  If you’re using it for cooking, I assume you don’t need more than a couple of saffron plants. In my (unqualified) opinion, it’s silly to spend thousands of dollars on something like an orchid. If it’s one of those badass carnivorous plants from some exotic location, on the other hand…
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 5:56 pm rating: 6
- #7.8 Al
  
  ‘If you’re using it for cooking, I assume you don’t need more than a couple of saffron plants. In my (unqualified) opinion…’
  
  Yeah, you said it, brother…
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 4:59 am rating: 0
- #7.9 aynur
  
  Re: Kermit
  
  Depends what you cook; if you’re Central Asian like I am, we put saffron on our rice and we eat rice everyday sooooo
  
  We also add it to ice cream, meats, etc so we need quite a bit actually; if you mean 2 plants a day then yes that should suffice
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 3:12 pm rating: 4
- #7.10 kermit
  
  I don’t think I’ve ever eaten something with saffron in it, but I assume that it’s a spice that tastes best when used sparingly like black pepper or chili powder. (There’s nothing to stop you from piling it on by the ladle-full except the subsequent mouth burn that will result.)
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 3:40 pm rating: 0
- #7.11 Noelegy
  
  I had an orange saffron custard at a Greek restaurant in Colorado Springs a few years ago. It was revelatory.
  
  Jul 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm rating: 2
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#8 Jitty

This is sweet I think both parties acted reasonably, and it warms the icy cockrels o me heart.

Jul 15, 2012 at 10:38 pm rating: 14

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- #8.1 Seanette
  
  I’m not sure it was reasonable of the plant owner to jump straight to “vandalism” to explain the damage without (so far as we can tell) considering “accident” as a possibility, but that’s me. I tend to try to offer benefit of the doubt and assume non-malicious explanations where known information allows for it.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 10:47 pm rating: 4
- #8.2 Jami
  
  Maybe past history with what others have done to their plants? My mom used to have a “fence” of rose bushes around the front yard, until some guy came along and poured motor oil all over them. (We’re a corner lot and people have always liked to cut through instead of rounding the corner. So they didn’t like the roses much.) And every time I’ve tried to plant geraniums someone has ripped the plants out by the roots within 24 hours of being planted and flung them into the street. No other plants harmed, just my geraniums.
  
  So with that history if I found a plant broken I’d assume someone has willfully destroyed them. Maybe the plant owner had the same problem.
  
  Jul 15, 2012 at 11:01 pm rating: 15
- #8.3 Serenity
  
  that’s awful, what jerks! sounds like it’s time to build a real fence around your corner, and grow some flowers over THAT. Or, depending on what climate you’re in, some cacti. They can stand up to pretty much any kind of damage you throw at them, probably including motor oil. Having accidentally leaned against one before, while in a state of extreme tiredness and not paying attention, I can assure you that it is painful and tedious pulling all those needles out. They will seriously damage anyone that messes with them…and they grow pretty flowers from time to time, too
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 12:27 am rating: 13
- #8.4 Jami
  
  That’s the plan, but first we have to put in a new driveway and a sidewalk. We remodeled the house and one of the requirements to get the permits is we put in a sidewalk. Nevermind it will end at the neighbor’s property. So it’s a sidewalk to no where. Nope, city insists on having the sidewalk.
  
  And once the fence it finally up I’m planting a flower garden with geraniums well out of reach unless someone wants to go all the way around the fence, stand in our yard, and rip them out.
  
  I always wondered why someone hated my poor geraniums so much. And the fact it happened more than one time means it was someone living in our neighborhood.
  
  I wonder what the history of the original note writer/plant owner is. Have they had people constantly breaking their plant? Leaving cigarette butts in it? Peeing all over it? Hey Carter, think you could leave them another note saying that plant loving inquiring minds want to know? Pretty please?
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 1:04 pm rating: 6
- #8.5 DaveGI
  
  Wow, Seanette! Your note is a perfect example of PA in action.
  
  You would never jump to conclusions, and you would always “offer benefit of the doubt and assume non-malicious explanations.” Yet you jump to conclusions about the original note writer and assume maliciousness on their part.
  
  Why wouldn’t they assume their plant was vandalized? If it was an accident, wouldn’t the person at fault apologize, either in person or by note if it was the middle of the night? Or at the very least come by first thing in the morning. They may have spent half the day waiting for someone to “fess up” before finally putting their note up – all while Carter was sleeping it off.
  
  And as others have said, we don’t know if this person has had plants stolen or destroyed in the past.
  
  I would give the original note writer the benefit of the doubt, as well as be pleased that Carter was decent enough to replace the plant and apologize in a note. But that’s just me.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 3:43 pm rating: 6
- #8.6 nikki
  
  I used to have a small potted rose bush outside my old apartment and furiously discovered that someone had broken several of its stems and pulled off some leaves. Another day I came out and found some of the dirt had been kicked out of the pot. Yet another day found my pot knocked over. I lived in a college apartment and began to cast angry glances at my partying neighbors, wondering what asshole was damaging my plant. Then one day I discovered the litter of kittens I’d taken to feeding gleefully chewing on and playing in my rose bush. Glad I didn’t leave a note! Cats can’t write.
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 3:27 pm rating: 13
- #8.7 Snicklefritz
  
  I don’t think they can read either. However, I’m not altogether sure.
  
  Jul 18, 2012 at 2:26 pm rating: 6
- #8.8 The Elf
  
  If they could, do you think they’d tell you?
  
  Jul 18, 2012 at 2:46 pm rating: 5
- #8.9 Snicklefritz
  
  Maybe one day they’ll tell us, when they eventually rule the world and turn us into their subservient underlings.
  
  Oh wait…..
  
  Jul 19, 2012 at 11:08 am rating: 7
- #8.10 kat
  
  cats read with their buts that is why they always sit on your books and newspapers.
  
  Jul 20, 2012 at 11:47 pm rating: 4
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#9 Polly

You know, where I live, some asshat would have stolen that plant the minute I put it outside my door. The complainer should feel doubly happy how things have turned out.

What really interests me, though, is the turn of phrase, “to take an adventure.” Is this translated from a mother tongue other than American English?

Jul 15, 2012 at 10:45 pm rating: 9

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#10 Voodoo

Dumb submission. The submitter clearly wants us all to feel sorry for him that he fell when he was drunk (boohoo!) and then to pat him on the back and tell him what a great guy he is for replacing something he damaged.

What he should have done was go to the neighbour when he was sober and apologise in person instead of leaving silly notes around. Who knows, the original notewriter would probably have been far more receptive to that than the pink note and random plant. It’s amazing the positive impact a genuine face-to-face ‘I’m sorry’ has on people.

Jul 16, 2012 at 7:06 am rating: 14

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- #10.1 Hargle
  
  Why would you assume that?
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 9:16 am rating: 7
- #10.2 Voodoo
  
  I assume that because little details such as making a point of telling us how much he paid for the replacement plant make this guy look like he’s full of himself. It’s kind of like saying “Look what a good boy I am to have done this! Please agree with me, PAN community!”.
  
  And sorry, his reply is just as passive aggressive. The bullet points are pretty snarky which makes the apology seem insincere, and writing it on a pink note is the PA icing on the cake, a bit like the smileys you see at the end of some other PANs. Writing PANs in the first place is low, responding in PANs in the same manner is just as pathetic. Which is why I would have had more respect for him if he’d manned up and just apologised in person. That’s probably all they may have wanted anyway.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 9:38 am rating: 14
- #10.3 Valerie
  
  No, we certainly don’t want to praise people for doing right! They should be shamed, instead. Then they can learn to sneak away from problems, like the smart folks do.
  
  I’ve been a teetotaller all my life – have never been drunk once – but still can’t work up to the level of righteous wrath that some of you people do. People get drunk. If they aren’t driving or attacking people, who cares?
  
  Tripping? Jeez I do that all the time now, just from age. Get over it.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 11:19 am rating: 36
- #10.4 catethulhu
  
  I thought it was a nice submission. You’re being kind of a drag.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 6:50 pm rating: 12
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#11 Smokey

I am curious- if the original note wasn’t left, would he have bought the apology plant?

Jul 16, 2012 at 7:52 am rating: 10

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- #11.1 shepd
  
  No, because like certain others who seem to believe similarly, he clearly feels that when he is drunk he is not responsible for his actions.
  
  Rather, he feels that he is only responsible for his actions while drunk when called out for them.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 8:16 am rating: 9
- #11.2 girl_with_all_the_yarn
  
  I dunno. I would have. But then, I like plants.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 9:14 am rating: 7
- #11.3 The Elf
  
  Maybe yes, maybe no. I would have. In fact, since I am klutzy, I have replaced items that I’ve accidentally damaged. Most notably books that I have borrowed and accidentally dropped in the tub/on the pizza/down the escalator.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 1:08 pm rating: 15
- #11.4 DaveGI
  
  Smokey, are you assuming that the note was left on Carter’s door as a way of saying “I know you did this”? Because if so then I think you missed that the note is on the door (or wall next to the door) of the person who’s plant was damaged.
  
  They had no way of knowing who damaged the plant in the middle of the night, so they left the note as a general notice to anyone in the area that “Vandals suck!”
  
  That’s why Carter’s note has the arrow pointing down to where he left his replacement plant.
  
  So I think we can assume he was sincerely sorry for the destruction he caused.
  
  Jul 16, 2012 at 3:29 pm rating: 8
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#12 AP

When you break branches off of plants, they grow back, y’know. Heck, sometimes you can put the broken branches in water and make extra plants out of them.

I don’t see what all of the fuss is about. Prune, water, fertilize, and the plant will fix itself.

Jul 16, 2012 at 10:07 am rating: 16

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#13 jUStPunkin

I blame the plant. It shouldn’t have been in the hall. It got exactly what it deserved.

Team note writer(s)

Jul 16, 2012 at 3:39 pm rating: 21

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#14 alanc230

Nice to see that there is still SOMEONE left in the world willing to accept responsibility for his mistake and make good on it.

Jul 16, 2012 at 4:58 pm rating: 10

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#15 catethulhu

Seeing some unnecessary and intense sounding anger here. He made a mistake, he fixed it. It was nice.

There’s such a thing called Ketamine. I know drugs aren’t always the answer, but sometimes they are.

Jul 16, 2012 at 7:04 pm rating: 10

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#16 Singe

I wonder if all the commenters here with so much anger towards tipsy guy falling down stairs and breaking a neighbor’s plant would be quite so righteously indignant in fury if it instead was a sober guy falling down stairs and breaking a neighbor’s plant.

Geez, at least he replaced it. That’s more than most people would do.

Jul 17, 2012 at 7:50 am rating: 12

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- #16.1 girl_with_all_the_yarn
  
  It’s only one person. And it’s been unanimously decided that shepd is a troll.
  
  Jul 17, 2012 at 9:52 am rating: 7
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#17 AlfaCowboy

That plant shouldn’t have dressed that way. B***h was asking for it.

Jul 19, 2012 at 9:22 am rating: 3

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#18 Nunavut Guy

Making amends for your mistakes(F@@ck ups),especially when you could get away Scot free is pretty commendable in my mind.

Jul 19, 2012 at 7:53 pm rating: 6

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#19 Poltergeist

Eh, this one isn’t so bad. I guess the all-caps and highlighted words are a bit dramatic, and they might have come off as jumping to conclusions, but I don’t think it’s necessarily unreasonable to assume vandalism in this case. You wake up, find your property damaged, no note. The guy probably wouldn’t have even known of this little mishap otherwise. It all worked out in the end and nobody’s head was bitten off. Carter seems like a reasonable fellow, although I would caution him about being more aware of his drunken behavior. Next time he falls down the stairs, it might be his neck that snaps rather than a plant. A note won’t fix that!

Jul 22, 2012 at 12:00 am rating: 3

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- #19.1 Poltergeist
  
  Oh…I seemed to have skimmed over the part where Carter just had to mention that assuming vandalism is offensive. Attempting to deflect like a child caught doing something wrong. Cute.
  
  Still, he did buy them a new plant. A happy ending is a happy ending I suppose.
  
  Jul 22, 2012 at 12:24 am rating: 2
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