I hate having neighbors

[wvjules]

I'm curious, how old are the kids in question?

According to this post they are 18, 13, and 11.

 

[msjprincess]

You're assuming the kids KNEW their shots had gone through a window.

How bad does it need to be? Were they shooting cans? Paper targets? They only need to miss by a fraction of an inch.

Or the kids brought their friends over who ALSO had BB guns. Granted, I doubt that's what happened, but it is possible.

It doesn't matter, if they can't hit what they're aiming for and they shoot into another yard they should not be allowed to use it. It's quite simple. what if there was a kid or a pet in the yard?

 

[SaraJayne]

She needs to be made whole, period. But the neighbor should have worked with the OP.

Continue on with your witch hunt!

Actually, she should have called the police.

 

[sam_gordon]

Wow.

Wow.

So, your kids put holes in THREE of your neighbors windows and your kids never even apologize or take responsibility for their act of violence and you are mad at your neighbor because she couldn't make things easier for YOU.

Assumption #1

The fact your kids are randomly shooting BB guns frightens me and astounds me.

Assumption #2

Don't blame your neighbor for the money you lost due to this "accident" or the fact she didn't bend over backwards to make YOUR life easier. Place the blame where it needs to go, YOUR kids. None of this would even be a problem if your kids would have acted responsibly (and if they are old enough to have BB guns, they should be old enough to accept the responsibility that goes along with having them).

Assumption #3.

I'm pretty sure luvsJack and I are on the same page here. We aren't defending the kids, we're not saying the OP shouldn't pay for the windows. Our point (and luvsJack will correct me if I'm wrong I hope) is there are too many assumptions from people, and then judgments following those assumptions.

 

[nathalee81]

I'm not taking anything too seriously. I have gotten quite a laugh out of the way so many have made so many assumptions about something they have no idea about and now its gone from bb holes in windows to "shooting windows out". I mean, I know this is the Dis but seriously??

So, you are allowed to make assumptions but others aren't? I don't understand that method of thinking.

Also, what does is matter if it is a nick, a scratch or the whole window cracked. The neighbors property was damaged due to the OP's kids. It doesn't matter how bad it was damaged, it was damaged. If someone dented your car "a little", would you let it go? No, it would need to be fixed. The extent of the damage is really insignificant.

 

[threeboysmom]

Oh gosh, this thread was my entertainment for the afternoon.

I feel truly bad for the OP that this happened and I'd be very upset with my boys if they did something like this, but guess what? I would NOT be obligated to come back to the DIS Board and post their ages, what I gave them for punishment, did I take away their guns? etc. etc.

LOL'ing at all of you that are demanding an explanation from the OP as to how she handled her children.

All she wanted to do was to rant about the way the neighbor handled the estimates and the bill. She did NOT come on here for punishment advice!!

 

[nathalee81]

Wow.

Assumption #1


Assumption #2


Assumption #3.

I'm pretty sure luvsJack and I are on the same page here. We aren't defending the kids, we're not saying the OP shouldn't pay for the windows. Our point (and luvsJack will correct me if I'm wrong I hope) is there are too many assumptions from people, and then judgments following those assumptions.

So, YOUR assumptions are okay, but everyone else isn't. Interesting.

 

[Heidict]

WOW So, your sons shot 3 holes in her windows with their BB guns, damage which you take responsibility for, yet you are upset with her?

Seriously? It is not your decision who replaces the windows, nor is it your responsibility to book the appointment for her or decide what type of window they are going to use. Your only responsibility is in paying for it.

I'm sure she is wishing you lived out in the country also. Personally, I think she handled this very well. Most people would have flown off the handle, there would have been yelling, fighting, cops and then court involved.

 

[Bob NC]

Wow.
I'm pretty sure luvsJack and I are on the same page here. We aren't defending the kids, we're not saying the OP shouldn't pay for the windows. Our point (and luvsJack will correct me if I'm wrong I hope) is there are too many assumptions from people, and then judgments following those assumptions.

The DIS is known for making assumptions.

If one is going to frequent the DIS, some things just have to run off your back.

A few people have made assumptions and judgements on how the kids acted after the incident. I choose to just let those opinions turn into vapor and blow away.

My opinions on this thread just deal with what happened and how I view the facts as presented.

Just ignore the rest.

 

[cabanafrau]

OP, one thing I can tell you for certain is that you do need to take control of the BB guns & must make sure they are only used w/ adult supervision from here on out. At this point, even accidentally, your children using the BB guns improperly could result in some serious financial & legal consequences for you. I'm not suggesting what happened w/ your neighbor's windows was intentional at all, but the fact is if they had hit a pet or a person & caused injury you could be facing some very serious consequences.

Another mishap w/ the guns & it would be very easy to find yourself facing charges of parental neglect for failure to supervise (especially because you have knowledge of previous improper use/damage), reckless endangerment, negligent use of a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property, etc., etc., you get the picture. I get that your kids likely had no intention of hurting anyone or anything, but protect yourselves, your kids and your neighbors & make sure they can never make the same mistake.

Someone in the thread mentioned that the discipline of the kids was between OP & her DH. That's true, although I do think the neighbor has the right to be assured the parents have made sure this can never happen again.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think peoples problem really hinges on the fact that the OP is kinda making light of the whole situation by calling it just an "accident." OP believes that it is all so inconsequential that she should be allowed to handle all the details rather then the neighbor.

I'll disagree with you here. I think the OP believes since she's paying she should be allowed to get her own prices (which I disagree with). I don't think she thinks it's all so "inconsequential".

As I see it, JUST ME IMHO, if the neighbors guns point at my house, that is unacceptable. BB's and bullets are EXPECTED to miss the targets sometimes. To ME, it's not an accident. Whether the target is missed by a 16th of an inch or 10 feet is immaterial. Missing a target with a bullet is NOT an unexpected outcome of target shooting.

I agree with you. Although according to msjprincess, they should ALWAYS hit what they're aiming at. To me, it is an "accident". Otherwise it would be "intentional". That doesn't mean the kids made the best decisions, or should get off without punishment. I just don't think it was intentional, therefore it's an accident (I hope that makes sense).

If I were the neighbor, I wouldn't care if you called it an "accident", I wouldn't care whether or not your kids "KNEW" they shot my windows.

My point of whether the kids knew they shot the windows was in response to the number of windows shot. Assuming this was 'accidental' (ie: the kids didn't mean to hit the windows), wouldn't they stop if they knew they hit the first window?

 

[Casperina]

Oh gosh, this thread was my entertainment for the afternoon.

I feel truly bad for the OP that this happened and I'd be very upset with my boys if they did something like this, but guess what? I would NOT be obligated to come back to the DIS Board and post their ages, what I gave them for punishment, did I take away their guns? etc. etc.

LOL'ing at all of you that are demanding an explanation from the OP as to how she handled her children.

All she wanted to do was to rant about the way the neighbor handled the estimates and the bill. She did NOT come on here for punishment advice!!

 

[sam_gordon]

So, YOUR assumptions are okay, but everyone else isn't. Interesting.

Can you please show me what I assumed?

My bigger problem isn't the assumptions as much as the JUDGEMENT based on the assumptions.

 

[msjprincess]

I'll disagree with you here. I think the OP believes since she's paying she should be allowed to get her own prices (which I disagree with). I don't think she thinks it's all so "inconsequential".

I agree with you. Although according to msjprincess, they should ALWAYS hit what they're aiming at. To me, it is an "accident". Otherwise it would be "intentional". That doesn't mean the kids made the best decisions, or should get off without punishment. I just don't think it was intentional, therefore it's an accident (I hope that makes sense).


My point of whether the kids knew they shot the windows was in response to the number of windows shot. Assuming this was 'accidental' (ie: the kids didn't mean to hit the windows), wouldn't they stop if they knew they hit the first window?

Don't put words in my mouth. What I said was

if they can't hit what they're aiming for and they shoot into another yard they should not be allowed to use it

 

[Bob NC]

I agree with you. Although according to msjprincess, they should ALWAYS hit what they're aiming at. To me, it is an "accident". Otherwise it would be "intentional". That doesn't mean the kids made the best decisions, or should get off without punishment. I just don't think it was intentional, therefore it's an accident (I hope that makes sense).

I don't think it was intentional, but I don't think it was in any way an accident either simply because it was an outcome that should have been expected.

If the kid had shot himself, that's an accident.

If the kid missed his target and the neighbors house is directly behind the target? Granted, it's not intentional, but since that outcome was highly LIKELY I wouldn't put it in the "accident" category.

 

[sam_gordon]

The DIS is known for making assumptions.

If one is going to frequent the DIS, some things just have to run off your back.

Once again I agree with you. That doesn't mean I can't find fault in what folks do.

A few people have made assumptions and judgements on how the kids acted after the incident. I choose to just let those opinions turn into vapor and blow away.

My opinions on this thread just deal with what happened and how I view the facts as presented.

Just ignore the rest.

I'm bored.

 

[Rafiki31]

You know who really hates having neighbors? The OP's neighbors! OP, I think the amount of the bill is reasonable. I would apologize, pay the bill, and buy her some flowers and a card. I honestly would have just called the cops and let them handle it, windows are expensive. And my windows would have cost a LOT more than 450 if there were that many broken. I would not be shopping for estimates or deals, I would do to the company and installer that put them in to begin with. I would want the same ones I had. Just be thankful it was some glass and not someone's eyes. I know someone who got shot with a bb and sued the parent's homeowners insurance for medical bills and won. The parents of the bb shooter could not get insurance after that. I wonder whatever became of that debacle.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't think it was intentional, but I don't think it was in any way an accident either simply because it was an outcome that should have been expected.

If the kid had shot himself, that's an accident.

If the kid missed his target and the neighbors house is directly behind the target? Granted, it's not intentional, but since that outcome was highly LIKELY I wouldn't put it in the "accident" category.

If I knew how far back the neighbor's house was, I'd be more likely to agree with you. There are neighborhoods where an 8yo can throw a ball from the back porch and hit someone's house. From what I did a quick read, a BB can travel up to 300 yards... 3 football fields.

Did the kids think about what would happen if they missed the target? Probably not. Should they be held accountable? Sure. Should they suffer consequences for their bad decisions? Absolutely. We don't know they didn't. But that hasn't stopped people from casting the kids as "out of control". I'm sorry, I have a problem with that.

 

[Heidict]

Wow.

So, your kids put holes in THREE of your neighbors windows and your kids never even apologize or take responsibility for their act of violence and you are mad at your neighbor because she couldn't make things easier for YOU.

OMG, I almost spit out my soda. Violence? Wow, just wow.

Talking about hyperbole and exaggeration. There has to be some part of this story I missed. The part where they were chasing down the home owner, shooting their BB guns at her, or were trying to kill her cat on the other side of the window. Or maybe it was all the death threats the boys sent to them early to lead you to believe that this was an actual act of violence.

Where did the OP say that her boys did not apologize or take responsibility?

All these strikes and guess what I would be doing as your neighbor? Calling the cops on your kids and taking you to small claims court for the damage.

Don't blame your neighbor for the money you lost due to this "accident" or the fact she didn't bend over backwards to make YOUR life easier. Place the blame where it needs to go, YOUR kids. None of this would even be a problem if your kids would have acted responsibly (and if they are old enough to have BB guns, they should be old enough to accept the responsibility that goes along with having them).

So, your neighbor take responsibility, agrees to pay for the repairs and you would still call the cops on them and take them to court? Gee, and we wonder why our courts are so backed up.

 

[ZachnElli]

Eight years ago, I replaced the glass in two windows that had been shot out by BB's. It cost me $756! My house backs up to the common area that has trees so I don't know who did it. Some neighbors told me who they had trouble with other neighbor kids and BB guns in the past, but that's not proof. So I paid and I think the OP'rs should be thankful that 3 windows only cost $450! Three separate windows?! I don't think the OP'r has the right to be mad here. She could have called the police and hired a lawyer!