What's wrong with everyone?

[cezanne]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

You blessed two neighbors with your generosity! One probably needed the money more than she needed mangoes... the other was able to make smoothies! I would feel good about it... but that's just me.

[Walkoff Balk]

Re: what's wrong with everyone?

Especially if your rude neighbor is a hottie, and rarely wears a bra under her shirt at home.

As a woman would say on Benny Hill, "I give tit for tat."
A set of mangoes for man goes where.

[Random]

Re: what's wrong with everyone?

OMG! i guyez is too much!

the tree does not overhang onto her property. when speaking with her today, and yes took some mangoes along, she oohed and ahhed about making smoothies every morning!!! told her that it is not necessary to pick the fruit and all it takes is a phone call should she wish any more. with that she changed the subject then dismissed me and said that she was getting ready for CHURCH!!! auwe no ho'i e!! maybe she needed to go to confession? um, what happened to, "thou shalt not steal" and "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods"?

She Catholic?

[Random]

Re: what's wrong with everyone?

As a woman would say on Benny Hill, "I give tit for tat."
A set of mangoes for man goes where.

Hey, if I can pay a girl with mangoes ... I'm planting more mango trees.

[salmoned]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

It seems if you graciously shared your mangoes and your neighbor sold them, that indicates you no longer need share your mangoes with that neighbor (unless you want them to sell some more). As for the picker, I would let it be known that that behavior was noted and not appreciated and I would not be forthcoming with any more mangoes for at least a season. The problem with giving something away is that the recipient may think you don't value it. If, instead, you sell your mangoes, even for a token amount, it lets everyone know it's not free for the taking. By the way, I like mangoes.

[salmoned]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

It seems if you graciously shared your mangoes and your neighbor sold them, that indicates you no longer need share your mangoes with that neighbor (unless you want them to sell some more). As for the picker, I would let it be known that that behavior was noted and not appreciated and I would not be forthcoming with any more mangoes for at least a season. Okay, less harsh, 'if you want more just ask, but please don't take without asking'. By the way, I like mangoes.

[Random]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

By the way, I like mangoes.

By the way, I like mangoes.

You don't have to tell me twice.

[scrivener]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

There's no question that your neighbors' behavior is slightly outside social expectations, but some people do need to be told, or they don't learn. I feel bad that your generosity has caused you this kind of stress and has been repaid with less-than-neighborly actions.

However, I would like to mention a couple of things that have me slightly concerned. First, the implication that a woman who steals should not go to church or vice versa is kind of erroneous. Church is for the broken people. Church is for the needy, the hurting, and the sinful. When your neighbor told you she was late for church, you shouldn't have been surprised; you should have been pleased. A friend of mine had his car broken into. His stereo was taken and his bible. He was encouraged by the theft of the bible.

Second, I'm kind of concerned about the way you make blanket statements about people based on a couple of examples. In this thread, you ask why teens are "out of control" based on details in one article. I stayed out of that discussion because I'm used to hearing people say that teens nowadays are out of control or have no respect or no appreciation. I've been a high-school teacher for twelve years and nothing I've seen backs any of that up; however, I also know that every generation says this about every generation of teens that follows it, so I just keep my mouth shut.

In this thread, based on the actions of two neighbors, you ask what is wrong with "everyone." Perhaps I am the Pollyanna some of my friends insist I am, but I think far more than MOST people would never behave the way your two neighbors have. Please, take a few moments to read some nice stories about the world. You will find, I believe, that not only is there nothing wrong with "everyone," but that in the fight of niceness vs. badness, badness is losing by a long shot. That's why the news is always bad. The day it becomes "news" when people are good is the day I'll want to check out.

Here's a story that might make you feel better about people. Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star, a sort-of controversial columnist who consistently rails against young black athletes' dismissal of education, writes about a pre-teen voice-actor who used his earnings to create a movie aimed at encouraging young men and women to get educated.

I hope you're having a nice day.

[tutusue]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

I think technically, if it drapes over your yard, then you can have that fruit.

I agree with that. Ditto for plumeria blossoms for lei making. Thirty years ago I owned a home with many beautiful plumeria trees in the back yard. They could barely be seen from the street, over the roof. Still, I used to get several door knocks a week from lei makers wanting to pick the blossoms. I loved that the plethora of blossoms would be turned into something beautiful and useful that would also be a bit of an economic gain for the makers. The more the blossoms were picked the more the tree blossomed. What I didn't expect, tho', was that I would be gifted in exchange. I always received some sort of a handmade basket, usually of lauhala. I loved those baskets and used them thruout the house. Such lovely ladies.

I have an avocado tree that drapes over the neighbor's yard and they no bother. These are the creamy 1-pound plus avocadoes, too! Breaks my heart that no one is eating them.

<Wildly waving my hand!> Here I am!

What I don't like is the fact that Kani-Lehua gave them to a neighbor who then SOLD them. What the heck? CLASSY. Sheesh. Make chutney for gawd sake.
I have a neighbor I never give any more. Used to give, give, give. Never once get one thank you. All I get is his cigarette smoke in my house because she won't let him smoke inside. Gee, tanks, wussy-whipped brah.

A coupla decades ago I owned another home with prolific mango, avocado, papaya, lemon and coconut trees. None hung over to the neighbors yards. I regularly gave away bags full of incredible fruit and loved being able to do so. If someone needed the money bad enough to sell the produce, so be it. However, I would not have appreciated anyone encroaching on my yard to help themselves. The courtesy of a quick knock on the door is all it would take for me to give permission.

[...]The day it becomes "news" when people are good is the day I'll want to check out.

Hmmm...I guess you wouldn't be a regular viewer, or a viewer at all, of cable station GNN...Good News Network...nothing but good news from around the world. It's been a fantasy of mine for over 15 years. I even spoke to someone who has experience starting up a cable station. He had the same GNN idea!

Here's a story that might make you feel better about people.[...]

Great story. Thanks for the link. I love hearing about young people out to make a difference in the world. It seems their numbers are growing.

[cynsaligia]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

technically, when you give someone a gift, like your mangoes, you have also relinquished say in how the mangoes are used.

yeah, crass that they sold them, since you meant for them to enjoy them as freely as you gave them, but...*shrug*

most likely the neighbor who helped herself has been embarrassed into not helping herself again. if i were in your shoes, i'd make the last time you graced her with the mangoes the last time.

[Pedro]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

Too bad I don't get that kind of problem up here in Utah during the winter..... It would be interesting

[Random]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

I've been a high-school teacher for twelve years and nothing I've seen backs any of that up; however, I also know that every generation says this about every generation of teens that follows it, so I just keep my mouth shut.

That's because every generation the punishment get weaker on the teens. It's more about analyzing and medicating the teens rather than disciplining them.

In my high school days in the 80's, I have quite a few teachers that can't handle the rude students sitting in the back of the class so they ignored them, but when one of us in the front of the class made a slight disruption, they scold us, never mind the louder disruption in the back.

They might as well replace the student desks with couches.

[Bobinator]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

Mango, lychee and jabong trees create thieves.

You may handle it in several different ways-

1) Put up a sign that says "You can take, but please ask first".

Or,

2) Set up a hidden motion sensor camera, take video or photos of the neighbor-thieves, and put a photo copy of them on their door when they come home with a note saying it may end up in the hands of the police if it happens again.

[Random]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

or 3) booby-trap the tree.

Of course one should post a liability waiver and "notify next of kin" signa should the perpetrator suffer any damage or death.

-- a fan of cruel and unusual punishments, especially for rapists.

[Bobinator]

Re: What's wrong with everyone?

or 3) booby-trap the tree.

Of course one should post a liability waiver and "notify next of kin" signa should the perpetrator suffer any damage or death.

-- a fan of cruel and unusual punishments, especially for rapists.

With pungi sticks laced with chili pepper?