New neighbors insisted on using my snowblower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a snow plow. We plow everyone’s driveways. Neighbors were always so thankful but over the years, it has now become expected that my husband does the plowing and unless the homeowner is outside, not so much as a thank you text. The final straw was a text from a neighbor down the street asking when we’re going to get to his house because he was planning on heading out. I would love a friendly neighborhood but people have became such selfish a holes it’s getting harder and harder to be generous.
Separately over the summer we had heavy winds. I was working from home. My desk is by the front window and I saw my recycle bin blow into the street. I was on a call so couldn’t deal with it at that moment. My neighbor came out, moved his bins and ignored mine.

This. You do something nice and it is definitely appreciated – but also teaches people to start to expect and become dependent. It’s human nature.

OP’s neighbors have undoubtedly been coddled and cared for by their parents for years and are now struggling with the realities of being actual adults. This thread isn’t really about being neighborly, it’s about younger generations needing to learn to grow up and finally become self sufficient and independent contributors to the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor asked to use our mower and I said no because of liability reasons. So, they said oh they understand but can I cut their grass and they will pay me. I said well I don't won't to because you have two dogs and you never pick up their dog poop and I don't want the dog poop on my mower. They gave me a dirty face but tough luck they can go hire a service.

Shocked a dog owner could be so inconsiderate!? /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many posts and photos in neighborhood FB groups and NextDoor of thanks to neighbors who anonymously used their snowblowers to help their neighbors.

Next time, take a break and tell them you’ll be over in a little while.

Wonder what future non- transactional benefit you would have received in the future for that.

From the eye-rolling taker neighbors? None.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a snow plow. We plow everyone’s driveways. Neighbors were always so thankful but over the years, it has now become expected that my husband does the plowing and unless the homeowner is outside, not so much as a thank you text. The final straw was a text from a neighbor down the street asking when we’re going to get to his house because he was planning on heading out. I would love a friendly neighborhood but people have became such selfish a holes it’s getting harder and harder to be generous.
Separately over the summer we had heavy winds. I was working from home. My desk is by the front window and I saw my recycle bin blow into the street. I was on a call so couldn’t deal with it at that moment. My neighbor came out, moved his bins and ignored mine.

This. You do something nice and it is definitely appreciated – but also teaches people to start to expect and become dependent. It’s human nature.

OP’s neighbors have undoubtedly been coddled and cared for by their parents for years and are now struggling with the realities of being actual adults. This thread isn’t really about being neighborly, it’s about younger generations needing to learn to grow up and finally become self sufficient and independent contributors to the world.

No, it’s about the boomers being selfish, judgmental cows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just to be clear, my DH is the one that uses our snowblower. I’m the light shoveler and scared to death of that thing. We cleared our driveway last night because he had to go into work early this morning (he is a surgeon at INOVA). I’m sure DH would have volunteered to help clear their driveway but he was gone and probably wouldn’t have lent it anyway given how dangerous they can be. Just seemed really off putting that they were so insistent about it. I guess I should have told them to wait until DH was home later and he would be happy to help but wasn’t really thinking on my feet.

You are scared to death of a snowblower? That is like a man saying he is scared to death of a dishwasher or washing machine!

These comments are insane. If you've never used one, they can be intimidating. Some of them are huge pieces of equipment. Mine is small and hard to start. It also dies often.

But why hasn't she used one? It isn't a man's job to snowblow anymore than it is a woman's job to do the dishes or laundry. It is a household piece of equipment than anyone can use. So yes, if a man said well I don't know how to use the dishwasher because my wife always does that and I wouldn't know where to start, same as a woman saying, well I don't know how to use a snowblower because my husband always does that and I wouldn't know where to start.

Boomers have more rigid gender roles.

[Anonymous]

Why the hate on boomers.

In my experience they are generous to a fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m 50, I don’t think this is a new generation problem. I think it’s a you being selfish. Your excuses about liability are lame. You are a Boomer, I guess?

+1

53 and think OP is being selfish.

57 and I agree.

44 and team OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The neighbors were presumptuous to ask to borrow this equipment. This was not a shovel, it's a mechanical piece of equipment. Not only because it requires a certain amount of skill, but also because there is liability involved.

It's not like the surly neighbors had no other option. Like most homeowners, they could use their shovel.

I had a neighbor ask me if she could borrow my living room for a meeting. I couldn't believe that.

Some people....

When I lived in a condo building, I once had a neighbor who I just met ask me to cat sit for a week. After I told them no because I was allergic and not comfortable with animals, they kept asking. I had to tell them no several times - it was crazy.

[Anonymous]

OP, ignore the poster who repeatedly comments on your rude and unneighborly behavior. You don't have to lend out anything to anyone. Would they pay if they broke it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the poster who repeatedly comments on your rude and unneighborly behavior. You don't have to lend out anything to anyone. Would they pay if they broke it?

You can be certain they will sue if they lose a finger in the auger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents have a really sketchy neighbor (not going to get into all of it here). My dad was out snowblowing and the neighbor approached him nearly in tears because he hadn’t prepared for the storm and had next to no food in the house and not even a shovel to clear his driveway. My dad showed him how to work the snowblower and gave him some cereal, potatoes, and yogurts. So yes, I’d say you were in the wrong … you could have showed them how to use the snowblower and left them to it under light supervision.

You are completely wrong. I don't know a single person who loans out their snowblowers. Has the sketchy neighbor ever done anything for anyone else? There are so many wealthy grifters who live around me, that I'm far less generous.

It’s literally a next door neighbor! You can watch and see if they’re using it correctly. You’re not driving it across town and leaving. The micromanagers can just do it themselves if they’re so concerned. And no, sketchy neighbor doesn’t do anything and in fact is not well liked in the neighborhood because he lets his dogs poop in others yards and puts his trash cans out on non trash days. He is late 20s (a 1990s Gen Z) and clueless. They live in an HOA but are responsible for their own driveways and sidewalks, and like many places, the HOA does not do a good job on the streets either. But they are in close together “cluster” type homes and the driveways are flat and barely long enough to park a car in without overlapping the sidewalk. So it really doesn’t take much to just help a person out.

You clearly don't own a snowblower. It isn't something you just turn on and use. You are dumb but love trying to live out your fantasy of being morally superior. We all know by the time we're middle aged that it's an act.

Snowblowers aren’t rocket science. Don’t put your hand down the chute. Be careful clearing jams. Being old just makes you think it’s difficult and scary. Are you calling your kids every time you have an update to your iPhone asking for help because it’s sooooo confusing…

You're full of crap. You don't just turn them on and run and most of your neighbors would have no clue how to use it. No, I wouldn't loan my snow blower to anyone. I'm realistic not rude.

Some people act like operating a heavy duty snow blower is the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner. OP's DH has to get to work so operates the snow blower which OP has difficulty using. How is it powered? Battery powered operate for 30 to 90 minutes on a charge. Gas were about 90 minutes.

On shovels- yesterday I had to use a pointed garden spade to cut through 4-5 inches of top layer iced snow then fling blocks. Snow shovel used for the lighter stuff underneath.

[Anonymous]

You really have to remember that not everyone grew up around snow. They may not know how to shovel with all the ice we got. Maybe they have a medial condition. My neighbor with a snowblower cleared my sidewalk without me asking. Some people are just nicer than you!

[Anonymous]

I had a similar experience with a gas-powered pressure washer. I was cleaning my sidewalks and siding when a neighbor asked if he could borrow it. I reluctantly agreed and provided him a quick tutorial on how to use it and cautioned him that when the engine was running the water must be turned on, otherwise it will damage the pump. Several hours later, I noticed he was done with what he wanted to pressure wash, but my equipment was nowhere to be seen. I asked where it was and he said he let some guy down the street borrow it. First off, he had no business loaning equipment to someone else without my permission nor was he interested in tracking it down at all. I went to the guy's house whom he lent it to and found that he also loaned it out to another person on the street. Do you see the pattern here? Apparently, it quickly became community property. I finally found out who had my power washer and retrieved it from this person who questioned whether I was truly the owner and seemed put off because he was not able to finish what he wanted to wash. About a week later, I started the power washer and quickly noticed the pump was barely generating any water pressure. I took it to a repair shop, and they said the pump was burnt out, likely due to running the engine without the water hose attached and water flowing. I mentioned the damage and pending bill to the neighbor who I let borrow it and he simply said, "well, that sucks for you". I let that be a lesson learned after a $350 repair bill, and I do not loan out anything from the power washer down to a screwdriver anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a similar experience with a gas-powered pressure washer. I was cleaning my sidewalks and siding when a neighbor asked if he could borrow it. I reluctantly agreed and provided him a quick tutorial on how to use it and cautioned him that when the engine was running the water must be turned on, otherwise it will damage the pump. Several hours later, I noticed he was done with what he wanted to pressure wash, but my equipment was nowhere to be seen. I asked where it was and he said he let some guy down the street borrow it. First off, he had no business loaning equipment to someone else without my permission nor was he interested in tracking it down at all. I went to the guy's house whom he lent it to and found that he also loaned it out to another person on the street. Do you see the pattern here? Apparently, it quickly became community property. I finally found out who had my power washer and retrieved it from this person who questioned whether I was truly the owner and seemed put off because he was not able to finish what he wanted to wash. About a week later, I started the power washer and quickly noticed the pump was barely generating any water pressure. I took it to a repair shop, and they said the pump was burnt out, likely due to running the engine without the water hose attached and water flowing. I mentioned the damage and pending bill to the neighbor who I let borrow it and he simply said, "well, that sucks for you". I let that be a lesson learned after a $350 repair bill, and I do not loan out anything from the power washer down to a screwdriver anymore.

Ugh, that is awful.

[Anonymous]

In our DMV neighborhood, everyone in the 60 and under group helps a neighbor who is older. That way we cover everyone. It just naturally works out, no formal organizing. Those that have snow blowers tend to do everyone’s sidewalks and the plow snow at the end of the driveway for several houses.

I am struck by the audacity of the OP’s new neighbors asking to use their snowblower. I am also struck by the fact that OP just did theirs and did not help someone else on the street.