What. The.

[oloriel]

As most of you will know by now, I am living on a former farm now.

Among the many things that we inherited from our predecessors (such as the un-insulated roof, the rotted south wall, the decrepit Hobbit hole of a cellar, etc) were a raspberry thicket, a lot of brambles, a hazel bush and a walnut tree.

Now I think it's perfectly okay if one of the many people who hike or ride past our house picks a blackberry or two, or if they collect a handful of walnuts as they pass.

However, as I got home from going grocery shopping today, there was a car parked underneath our walnut tree, and an elderly woman and a small blond child - her grandson, I assume - were collecting walnuts in two huge plastic bags.

I parked my car, then joined them and said, "Excuse me, don't you think you should at least ask?"

Now I don't know about you guys, but if I was caught at something that technically constitutes as theft, I'd at least be embarrassed. And I'd at least apologise.

What did the dear grandmother - well-dressed, well-kept, complacent - say?

"I thought nobody was collecting those." Grinning.

I was speechless for a second.

What I should have said is "... so because you think nobody collects them you have the right to park your car on private ground (in a natural preserve, I should add) and pick them up? So if I see your car somewhere and think nobody's driving it I can take it, too?!"

I was, as I said, speechless, and what I eventually said was "Well, we do. They just keep growing, but that doesn't mean we don't collect them."

"Do you want them, now?" she asked, in the "Don't bitch, there's more than enough" kind of tone.

And I am too kind-hearted, and it wasn't about the nuts really (we do have too many, but is it too much to ask that people at least ask before taking them by the barrel?!), and I was still kind of shell-shocked by her impertinence, and the cute little blond kid was looking on confusedly, so I said "Oh, take them - but ask the next time." She said she would, in the "Who are you anyway" kind of tone.
(I was afraid of offending, too. I should have gone right ahead, really: She was the one stealing from my grounds!)

But the more I think about it, the angrier makes me, because this is a phenomenon I see too frequently nowadays. People seem to think that whatever looks okay to them is okay to do, seem to think that everything they don't get punished for is just fine.
People complain how the kids nowadays don't show any respect for other people and their property.
Well, small wonder if the people who teach them treat other people and their property like things that happen to other people.

I bet this dear old lady is the first to whine, if her grandson gets into some messy property offense a few years from now, "I don't know where he got that from!"

Well bitch, he got it from YOU, too.

Comments

[allamistako.livejournal.com]

Next time, shoot her. Or call the cops.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

The latter, I think. ;)

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Argh, some people. Gotta love the hypocrisy.
Back when I was a kid we used to get together to collect chesnuts and acorns to sell them to the local forest warden - off other people's grounds too, and even though it was common knowledge we were allowed to take them, we still went ahead and asked. Every year. (Ach ja, früher war doch alles besser.) It's not too much to ask. And that kind of impertinence - no words. I do think it was better that you said what you said, though - of course you were right about the things you should have said, but that woman sounds like someone who would have managed to make it seem like you were wrong in telling them off, and that kind of drama isn't really worth it. Is it?

I agree to the above comment, though. Next time, don't bother. Just call the police.

[fuchs.livejournal.com]

Die, die am meisten im Unrecht sind, bitchen am lautesten und frechesten herum. Weil sie meist damit Erfolg haben. Dann nicht nett und zuvorkommend zu reagieren, ist erschreckend schwer. *sad nod and schultertätschel*

[cowboy-r.livejournal.com]

It does seem rude. Here in the states, we tend to post boundries with signs that say things such as "Tresspassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again." Which doesn't really mean what it says (usually), but does serve notice that you're not on public land. Perhaps a sign on / near the tree which reads, "Please ask at the house before gathering nuts"?

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

There actually is a sign on the tree saying that it's on private ground, no entry no parking. Both the boyfriend and I are unhappy with it, actually, because we hate being the kind of people who put up signs and fences. It's sad that apparently it's necessary.

[cowboy-r.livejournal.com]

I believe it was Robert Frost who said "good fences make good neighbors."

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

*g* Except in this case it would be "good fences make good passers-by". The neighbours are all right.

[gaharr.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's rude, honestly...

You should have simply thrown them of your Land, not that I would have been able to do so.

[dawn_felagund]

Woooow ...

That is really astounding. The rudeness of some people in this world today (though I am assured that it is nothing new) never fails to amaze me. I know that I feel like I'm intruding to use someone's driveway to turn around if I miss a street sign ...

And to then act like you were the one being rude! (And I read way to many etiquette columns--it's a guilty pleasure of mine--and think that you handled the situation beautifully.) The funny thing is that in the rural U.S., trespassing like that on a farm is likely to meet not with "Excuse me?" but with a shotgun barrel following the person off the property. Not that I advocate violence (or threats thereof), but the well-dressed grandmaw should be glad that you were so polite!

[vashachu.livejournal.com]

Wow, the audacity! I agree with calling the cops!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Respekt...
Ich hätte vermutlich die ein oder andere Bemerkung über ihre Erziehung fallen gelassen... -.-
Selbst wenn Du in Walnüssen ersäufst, hat sie noch lange nicht das Recht zu klauen wie 'ne Elster.
Das nächste Mal, sprich einfach ein Hausverbot aus und bei Zuwiderhandlung zeig sie an. Da wäre ich glashart...

LG und *beruhigungsteereich*
-F-

;o)

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Ich hab mir die Bemerkungen ja noch verkniffen, weil ich dachte, nee, du willst nicht, dass die dir Ärger macht. Als sie sich dann getrollt hat, fiel mir überhaupt erst ein, "... Scheiße. DIE klaut auf deinem Grundstück und DU hast Angst, dass SIE dir Ärger macht?"
*sfz* Hinterher weiß man immer mehr. Nächstes Mal bin ich nicht mehr so lieb.

*teeschlürf*