New neighbors insisted on using my snowblower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the hate on boomers.

In my experience they are generous to a fault.

OP started the generation generalization and hate.

Typical boomer to start something but then get offended when others do the exact same thing.

[Anonymous]

Funny how so many posters rant on and on about the nobility of helping older neighbors yet it was OP’s younger neighbors looking for a handout. Let’s not twist the narrative!

I think OP is right and that this sort of behavior is typical of younger generations. These are the same people that started working during COVID and learned that working from home meant working 20 hours per week instead of 40, no longer needing daycare, being able to run errands during the day, and starting up an internet side hustle.

1. See what others have
2. Want it for yourself
3. No appreciation for hard work required
4. Throw tantrums until you get it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A neighbor I've never met snowblower my sidewalk without ever talking to me.

OP is trashy, but not every one is like that.

Do we live in the same neighborhood? There is a man I don't know that for the past 2 years goes all the way around 4 sides of our large block with his snow blower and I am insanely grateful. l

[Anonymous]

Way to generalize about an entire generation from a sample of one or two!

I live out in the sticks and sometimes don't see my neighbors for months, but we always check up on each other and help one another out in a weather event like this. Our older neighbors even offered to loan us their tractor and bushhog once.

You're just strangers who live near one another, as somebody said earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the hate on boomers.

In my experience they are generous to a fault.

Hating on boomers is right up there with hating on in-laws, here in DCUM land.

The boomers I know are generous, creative, and empathetic. And my in-laws are fantastic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Great for you. Your experience is not what all of us experience. I have helped my neighbors but I live in a neighborhood where no one does anything for anyone else. I was being taken advantage of and no more.

Snowblowers vary greatly. The one I own is not cable of doing a lot. To assume that I should do my neighbors, the people who vandalize my house for fun, is ludicrous. I see a few other neighbors have the same small type of snowblowers and at most they can help one other neighbor is the yard is small. This doing an entire street is beyond most of these.

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing:
When you allow someone a bit beyond the threshold, that person expects more next time.

If OP had said yes, this neighbor will be back to borrow bigger and more, like the car or host their child's party in OP's pool.
And then get huffy when turned down.

I had a neighbor who asked to borrow some lawn chairs which was fine. Then that neighbor asked to borrow my house to host a meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny how so many posters rant on and on about the nobility of helping older neighbors yet it was OP’s younger neighbors looking for a handout. Let’s not twist the narrative!

I think OP is right and that this sort of behavior is typical of younger generations. These are the same people that started working during COVID and learned that working from home meant working 20 hours per week instead of 40, no longer needing daycare, being able to run errands during the day, and starting up an internet side hustle.

1. See what others have
2. Want it for yourself
3. No appreciation for hard work required
4. Throw tantrums until you get it

Lol, OP is the one throwing the tantrum here.

[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.

Ah, the tragedy of the commons. No one owns it, so no one takes care of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You're selfish for not having shared your equipment and taught them how to use it. My snowblowing neighbor does both sides of the whole street.

You're also nasty and stupid for generalizing one incident to an entire generation.

Why should she have to? Assumably these neighbors have money and a job and can buy their own equipment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny how so many posters rant on and on about the nobility of helping older neighbors yet it was OP’s younger neighbors looking for a handout. Let’s not twist the narrative!

I think OP is right and that this sort of behavior is typical of younger generations. These are the same people that started working during COVID and learned that working from home meant working 20 hours per week instead of 40, no longer needing daycare, being able to run errands during the day, and starting up an internet side hustle.

1. See what others have
2. Want it for yourself
3. No appreciation for hard work required
4. Throw tantrums until you get it

That's what I think too, not sure why so many people are hating on OP.

The way people ask or bring up borrowing makes a huge difference. Would almost guarantee that they asked with a huge sense of entitlement. People generally buy their own appliances, tools, yard care equipment, etc. You don't really ask to borrow someone else's in anything besides an extreme situation like your lawnmower broke, but you're hosting a wedding.

Just the fact that they come over and asked abruptly would make me think they wouldn't care enough to use it properly & take care of it in the process. Snowblowers aren't a one use in a lifetime type of equipment, they should just buy one or shovel.

Sure it's nice when the neighbor with the snow blower does more than just their area, but that's their choice. The fact that some people are willing to do this doesn't make it a free for all for the whole neighborhood to use their snowblower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a complete tool, OP. Pun firmly intended.

Do you vote Republican, by chance? You sound like the type that would vote Republican. You know, "I got mine, screw the rest of y'all."

Actually it’s a lib view that neighbors don’t have to help each other because the government will do everything for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Republican's are known to help their neighbors when farm equipment breaks down.

[Anonymous]

The new neighbors did not insist, they asked to BORROW.

[Anonymous]

I would have done it for them, but not loan it out. I would never loan out a critical item like a snowblower during snow event. If it breaks, it's on me then.