Why are some people so lazy that they do not do yard work?

[rh71]

i love the way you said "my family". Do you actually partake in the maintenance of the yard yourself also ?

 

[jwells777]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
You must have been lucky never to have idiot neighbors. A couple years ago my family's neighbors of (then) 19 years moved away. Our first meeting of the people who had bought the house occured when we came home one night to find them in our driveway trying to covertly fix our basketball hoop after they had bent it by hanging from it. Mind you, this is an exurban (exurban = "a region or settlement that lies outside a city and usually beyond its suburbs and that often is inhabited chiefly by well-to-do families") neighborhood bordering a rural area, so it's not as though we were in the projects where such trespassing and vandalism might be expected. These people have also illegally run a commercial enterprise (some sort of gutter topper thing) from their home, violating zoning laws and keeping their driveway full up to the street with vehicles making it impossible to see traffic while pulling out of our driveway. They have also kept unlicensed and rusted/broken vehicles sitting in their driveway for more than 6 months without having a valid license on the vehicles (also a violation of zoning laws). They have openly shot at wildlife with a rifle (again, illegal under the village's zoning laws) and have, in general, done their best to transform a nice neighborhood into some Kentucky backwater shanty-town. No matter how many times we talk with them, they refuse to do anything. They didn't even pay to replace the hoop that they broke and because we had not been there when they broke it, we couldn't file any charges.

ZV

If you don't like how your neighbors park in their driveway maybe you should buy more land and stop telling people how to use the property they own.

Yeah, good idea. Let them violate city ordinances without reprecussion. Brillient. How about we do away with all punishment for everything? It is not legal to park cars such that they obstruct the vision of people pulling out of their driveways. It represents a hazard when one cannot see oncoming traffic while backing out of a driveway because some dumbass hick has his 1970's full-size van parked with its bumper hanging out in the street.

I also absolutely love how you conveniently ignore the fact that these people vandalized our property, and discharge weapons within the village limits. I am not alone in my dislike for these people. Everyone who was in the neighborhood prior to when these people moved in is upset with them. They let their little kids wander into our yard unsupervised; the fence in their backyard is rotting apart and becoming an eyesore. Because of their inability to properly maintain their house and land, they are driving down the value of every other house in the neighborhood.

If you move into a neighborhood, you agree to abide by the laws and ordinances of the city/town/village/township/whatever. You may prefer to allow people to break the law, but I tend to think that everyone needs to obey it. We tried talking with these people. It didn't work. When they don't respond to talking, there is only one avenue remaining.

ZV

Your fundamental assumption that since something is law, it therefore must be correct and just is disturbing. At any rate, regarding the issue of vandalism, that is a seperate matter and should be dealt with in the appropriate criminal channels. Most importantly; however, is your belief that since everyone in your neighborhood dislikes someone or something, that means it gives you some right to impinge your will on someone else's property or personal freedom.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Eli
I'm curious if we even have such retarded laws around here. Then again, we don't live in a cookie cutter subdivision with houses a foot away from eachother(and neve will!) either.

We always neglect mowing our lawn for about the first month of spring. Sure, it gets about 8" tall.. but it also gives the wildflowers a chance to flower and seed. I hate mowing them all down before they get a chance to complete their lifecycle, it feels like I'm doing my yard a disservice.

Further, we have a 1/2 acre field behind us that has never been mowed or anything. So f'in what? It looks fine to me. It looks natural. It would not look as good if it was a nicely manicured lawn. It also wouldn't support all the wildlife if it was a lawn.

I would much rather have all the thistles, wild berries of several types, wildflowers, etc... that reside in the field. Not to mention all the habitat and feeding grounds it gives birds and insects.

I dislike cookie cutter yards with non-native plants. It may look "clean cut", but it sure as hell doesen't look natural.

Depends on where one is, yes. Out in the country, it doesn't matter because there is so much space. But even where I'm from, on a 1.5 acre lot, it's only about 100 feet wide.

There's nothing wrong with leaving an area go fallow, but it should not be done within city limits where houses are close together and a poorly maintained lot causes decreased property value for everyone.

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: gotsmack
I solved the lawn problem. I don't water the lawn, unless it is scorching hot, then I'll water it at night. Then when its time to mow, I cut it to about 1"

I also really like moss and crab grass. I want to know where I can get crab grass seeds.

Here is why crab grass is better then real grass,

1. never have to cut it and it looks like grass from afar.
2. It is hearty and never have to water it.
3. if it dies, who cares! it's crab grass.

Hehe.

Thankfully all of my neighbors (6 on a cul-de-sac and the lady behind me) keep their lawns well maintained so dealing with the OP's problem is not a concern of mine.

We're in a cu-de-sac in a subdivsion too. 69 out of the 89 homeowners voted to do away with a Homeowners Association so the grass can be as high as the County allows which is 18".

Weird that people would vote that away if it's already there. Seems like they'd only do it so that they could finally have free reign in letting their yards go to hell.

Hmmmm....I am not sure what to say here. Your property value is neither a right nor a valid reason to implement laws which intrude on personal freedoms. If you don't like driving to your house and feel that you are nastier by association, you have the freedom to move.

It's not an inherent right as a human being to keep my property value high, but it's definitely a valid reason to implement such laws. I can't imagine you'd be happy if your neighbor decided to rip his entire yard up and cover it in pentagrams, dug a whole in his front yard, filled it with skulls, and painted his house yellow and boarded all his windows up. That's an eye sore. Say goodbye to ever selling your house for much money. I guess you'd be fine with that though. I wouldn't be. BTW if you're interested in personal freedoms you can move into the middle of nowhere. Perhaps a little forest in Alaska. No rules to abide by. In society you have to follow guidelines and rules that the society sets forth collectively. In our society you'll find that the vast majority of home owners consider their property value to be something worth keeping, and if some lazy sod is pulling down their value they will react.

If you move into a neighborhood, you agree to abide by the laws and ordinances of the city/town/village/township/whatever.

Amen. And exactly what I'm saying too. If you want to be a slob you can find some plot of land in the sticks to do it in. When you buy a house in the city it's expect that as a resident in close proximity to others you will behave yourself.

I dislike cookie cutter yards with non-native plants. It may look "clean cut", but it sure as hell doesen't look natural.

I like em It doesn't look natural, but neither does a fit woman who works out a lot and I bet you like her too compared to "natural" women :Q

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jwells777
Your fundamental assumption that since something is law, it therefore must be correct and just is disturbing. At any rate, regarding the issue of vandalism, that is a seperate matter and should be dealt with in the appropriate criminal channels. Most importantly; however, is your belief that since everyone in your neighborhood dislikes someone or something, that means it gives you some right to impinge your will on someone else's property or personal freedom.

Incorrect, "sir".

My fundamental assumption is that laws MUST BE OBEYED, regardless of whether they are right or not. If they are wrong, one must work within the system to change them. One is not free to simply disregard laws. Right or wrong, a law is a law and should be obeyed. If the law is wrong, then change it by working within the system. If people just disobeyed laws whenever they pleased, the result would be anarchy. The laws were pre-existing. The laws exist in order to protect my family's right to a fair value for our property and for our safety (e.g. being able to see traffic when backing out our driveway).

I mentioned that the people are universally disliked to illustrate that this is not a two-party fued that the remainder of the neighborhood couldn't care less about. Nice baseless assumption though.

ZV

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: wells777
If you don't like driving to your house and feel that you are nastier by association, you have the freedom to move.

So he should be forced to up and move each time a neighbor neglects his property? What happens if he settles in his new home and someone moves in a month later next door and trashes their yard with an overgrown lawn and rusted cars? Is the burden on him to have to move everytime? At what point do the fellow home owners have to take some responsibility here?

Yes, he should either buy more land or quite whining about how other people use their property.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: rh71
i love the way you said "my family". Do you actually partake in the maintenance of the yard yourself also ?

For the past 8 years I have done the vast majority of the yardwork. That is the responsibility of a son when he is home for the summers from high school and then university. And yes, I worked a 40 hour week all summer while doing this. Satisfied? Quite honestly, as I have recently moved out and far from home I would worry about my father doing that yardwork (my parents were older when they started the family) if it weren't for his decision to hire the bigger stuff out.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: wells777
If you don't like driving to your house and feel that you are nastier by association, you have the freedom to move.

So he should be forced to up and move each time a neighbor neglects his property? What happens if he settles in his new home and someone moves in a month later next door and trashes their yard with an overgrown lawn and rusted cars? Is the burden on him to have to move everytime? At what point do the fellow home owners have to take some responsibility here?

Yes, he should either buy more land or quite whining about how other people use their property.

So I have no right to be able to use my property safely? I should just accept that I'll have to pray that the van is not blocking an oncoming car from my vision every morning when I leave my house? That's just asinine.

Grow up kid.

ZV

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: wells777
If you don't like driving to your house and feel that you are nastier by association, you have the freedom to move.

So he should be forced to up and move each time a neighbor neglects his property? What happens if he settles in his new home and someone moves in a month later next door and trashes their yard with an overgrown lawn and rusted cars? Is the burden on him to have to move everytime? At what point do the fellow home owners have to take some responsibility here?

Yes, he should either buy more land or quite whining about how other people use their property.

Let me guess...you're 17 and live at home with mom and dad.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: PanzerIV

Originally posted by: wells777
If you don't like driving to your house and feel that you are nastier by association, you have the freedom to move.

So he should be forced to up and move each time a neighbor neglects his property? What happens if he settles in his new home and someone moves in a month later next door and trashes their yard with an overgrown lawn and rusted cars? Is the burden on him to have to move everytime? At what point do the fellow home owners have to take some responsibility here?

Yes, he should either buy more land or quite whining about how other people use their property.

So I have no right to be able to use my property safely? I should just accept that I'll have to pray that the van is not blocking an oncoming car from my vision every morning when I leave my house? That's just asinine.

Grow up kid.

ZV

No you should buy a house that isn't 20 feet away from your neighbors.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Eli
I'm curious if we even have such retarded laws around here. Then again, we don't live in a cookie cutter subdivision with houses a foot away from eachother(and neve will!) either.

We always neglect mowing our lawn for about the first month of spring. Sure, it gets about 8" tall.. but it also gives the wildflowers a chance to flower and seed. I hate mowing them all down before they get a chance to complete their lifecycle, it feels like I'm doing my yard a disservice.

Further, we have a 1/2 acre field behind us that has never been mowed or anything. So f'in what? It looks fine to me. It looks natural. It would not look as good if it was a nicely manicured lawn. It also wouldn't support all the wildlife if it was a lawn.

I would much rather have all the thistles, wild berries of several types, wildflowers, etc... that reside in the field. Not to mention all the habitat and feeding grounds it gives birds and insects.

I dislike cookie cutter yards with non-native plants. It may look "clean cut", but it sure as hell doesen't look natural.

Depends on where one is, yes. Out in the country, it doesn't matter because there is so much space. But even where I'm from, on a 1.5 acre lot, it's only about 100 feet wide.

There's nothing wrong with leaving an area go fallow, but it should not be done within city limits where houses are close together and a poorly maintained lot causes decreased property value for everyone.

ZV

heh.. yeah, I guess.

We do live in the middle of the city, though... on 91st. St.

We live on an acre.. there's an apartment complex on one side, and some other houses on the other..

The landlord does like us to keep the yard mowed, but nothing is ever done about the field.. it would be pointless. Plus, there are lots of other expanses of land that nobody takes care of.. so it just kinda looks normal right around here I guess.

 

[BooGiMaN]

i find it funny everyone that says the neighbor must do this and that and they better maintain their yard are the same people that say they can blast the music and home entertainment systems as loud as they want...and do whatever they want since its their property..


i often find the hypocrisy on OT funny and ridiculous

 

[Ornery]

Screw yard work and such crap. I do it as little as possible, and only when I feel like it. I've seen landscaping trends come and go. Once upon a time, people used to but little plastic fences around their plantings, with mirror balls and pink flamingos. Next was the railroad tie/landscape timber, border and terrace era. Now mounds are all the rage. I see nitwits putting huge earth mounds in their front yards, with umpteen plantings on it. By the time two years go by, they can't be bothered to buy the dumptruck loads of mulch required to cover the damn things. Boy, they're quite a monument to "self appreciation" at thet point! :roll:

The freak across the street cuts his grass at least twice per week. I happen to understand that, "By keeping your grass length longer, the roots of your grass go deeper and can reach more water during dry periods. You save water. money and time." I keep mine 3-4 inches, which means I wait till it's longer than that before cutting it.

 

[radioouman]

I am someone who enjoys yard work. It is relaxing and even though it isn't strenuous exercise, it is better than sitting on my butt in front of a computer.

My wife and I bought a house in a pretty nice neighborhood that was not taken care of well. There was a LOT of yard work to do, but we looked at it as an investment. The work that we do to take down 25+ year old bushes and dead trees, and plant grass will pay us back when we sell this house. Our neighbors appreciate the work that we are doing since the house will no longer be a sore thumb in the neighborhood.

 

[Feldenak]

I'm not sure...do you mean people should keep their lawn mowed or go for that "manicured" look?