I hate having neighbors

[blueiis99]

The OP stated in her first post the neighbor came over with the bill.

"reimburse for depreciated value"? You've got to be kidding?

TC

Check out anyone that has gone to court if the neighbor tried inflating the cost it's always what it would cost to replace at depreciated value or just the glass itself. There is no way that someone should be getting the most expensive new item because of an accident

 

[EMom]

OP, your kids messed up. They shot toward someone else's home and put holes in multiple windows. That is a foreseeable consequence of shooting toward an object. You should pay up and be glad the police were not called. I am sure your neighbors do not appreciate living close to your children.

Here's a solution to avoid this in the future. Have the boys go to the back of your property line and shoot TOWARD YOUR HOUSE FOR A CHANGE. Let them shoot holes in your windows a few times and see if your tune changes. If shooting bb guns in a suburban setting is such a great idea, why haven't they been shooting toward your house the whole time??? Food for thought.

 

[Bob NC]

Here's a solution to avoid this in the future. Have the boys go to the back of your property line and shoot TOWARD YOUR HOUSE FOR A CHANGE. Let them shoot holes in your windows a few times and see if your tune changes. Food for thought.

Now, that's a good one.

 

[blueiis99]

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!!

ita

 

[RitaZ.]

OP, your kids messed up. They shot toward someone else's home and put holes in multiple windows. That is a foreseeable consequence of shooting toward an object. You should pay up and be glad the police were not called. I am sure your neighbors do not appreciate living close to your children.

Here's a solution to avoid this in the future. Have the boys go to the back of your property line and shoot TOWARD YOUR HOUSE FOR A CHANGE. Let them shoot holes in your windows a few times and see if your tune changes. If shooting bb guns in a suburban setting is such a great idea, why haven't they been shooting toward your house the whole time??? Food for thought.

Excellent idea!

 

[luvsJack]

Ummmm, does the size of the hole determine whether or not the window was shot out?

If a window has a hole in it it doesn't make any difference what size it is, the window has been "shot out."

If a hole in the window via bb isn't shot out, what is? Would it take a 22 slug making the hole to make it a "shot out" window?

If a projectile from a gun makes a hole in a window, it's been shot out.

I know it's a complicated situation, but seriously?

I would describe "shot out" as in a window that is broken enough that you would have to replace it immediately. As in a major hole/breaking of the window. Maybe the difference in our thinking is actually having a bb hole in a window (got one and its hardly "shot out") and seeing an old house where the windows are actually "shot out".

A BB hole can be lived with if need be. Not saying the woman should have to live with it or that the windows shouldn't be replaced.

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.

Exactly!

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.

Actually, a little dent, I probably would let go. Just not something I would get in a tizzy about.

What assumptions have I made? That everyone is jumping on the OP about her kids? That's fact not assumption. And any alternate suggestion I have made about what happened was presented just as that; a suggestion, not as fact.

But, I never once said the woman didn't have the right to have her windows fixed. I agree that the woman's property was damaged and should have been repaired.

My issue (or entertainment actually) is with the usual assumption that the OP has these wild kids that are not in control at all and are running wild with BB guns shooting up the neighborhood. Because as we all know, all Dis parents have perfect children that never make mistakes and never have accidents and are always punished to the fullest extent of the law if they dare to step out of line and actually act like a kid.

 

[LisaR]

I think the reason some of us are bugged is because of the way the thread was written.

If I was going to start a thread on this topic, my title would have been:
Kids shot out neighbor's windows. Was this handled correctly?

My post would have gone something like this:

My "stoopid" kids were out playing with their BB guns. They didn't follow the rules and accidentally ended up shooting holes through three of my neighbor's windows. Needless to say, my kids are grounded for life and will be scrubbing our grout on their hands and knees until they are 30.

But here is what I did to try and pay for the windows. Did I handle it correctly.......

If the OP'er had worded it that way, I think people would have been more understanding. We all have kids who do stupid things.

Instead, the OP'er hates having neighbors! Really?? Can you imagine what the neighbors are thinking about them?

 

[nathalee81]

My neighbor behind me came over about 6 wks ago saying one of my kids hit her back windows with bb's. She could never tell me which boy she saw but I figured it probably was one of mine since it obviously came from our back yard

If the kids were aiming at something else, missed, and the shots went further than the kids thought they would and hit the window. Do you call that intentional?

We have no idea how far the neighbor's house is from the OP's. We have no proof it WAS the OP's kids. Granted, she's admitted it COULD be, but is it possible some OTHER kids in the neighborhood have BB guns?

Assumption Number 1, that they were aiming for something else. How do we know the kids WEREN'T aiming for the windows?

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

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

Assumption Number 2, even though (read above)the OP even admits it was "probably one her kids". If she doesn't even admit that it was some other kid, why in the world would we think that?

Assumption Number 3, you are assuming they didn't know, I am assuming they did. Why is your assumption any more valid than mine?

 

[sam_gordon]

Nathalee, do you understand the definition of "assumption"? Let's look at my assumptions as you presented them...

Assumption Number 1, that they were aiming for something else. How do we know the kids WEREN'T aiming for the windows?

I presented a hypothetical... you can tell that by my including "if". Such as "if this happened, this could be the result". If I was assuming, I would say "the kids did this..."

Assumption Number 2, even though (read above)the OP even admits it was "probably one her kids". If she doesn't even admit that it was some other kid, why in the world would we think that?

Another hypothetical. In fact, I even said "I doubt that's what happened".

Assumption Number 3, you are assuming they didn't know, I am assuming they did. Why is your assumption any more valid than mine?

No, I'm saying it's POSSIBLE they didn't know. There's a difference between assuming something and offering a hypothetical.

 

[nathalee81]

I would describe "shot out" as in a window that is broken enough that you would have to replace it immediately. As in a major hole/breaking of the window. Maybe the difference in our thinking is actually having a bb hole in a window (got one and its hardly "shot out") and seeing an old house where the windows are actually "shot out".

A BB hole can be lived with if need be. Not saying the woman should have to live with it or that the windows shouldn't be replaced.



Exactly!



Actually, a little dent, I probably would let go. Just not something I would get in a tizzy about.

What assumptions have I made? That everyone is jumping on the OP about her kids? That's fact not assumption. And any alternate suggestion I have made about what happened was presented just as that; a suggestion, not as fact.

But, I never once said the woman didn't have the right to have her windows fixed. I agree that the woman's property was damaged and should have been repaired.

My issue (or entertainment actually) is with the usual assumption that the OP has these wild kids that are not in control at all and are running wild with BB guns shooting up the neighborhood. Because as we all know, all Dis parents have perfect children that never make mistakes and never have accidents and are always punished to the fullest extent of the law if they dare to step out of line and actually act like a kid.

Since having a child I am infinitely more patient about kids and their behavior, in general.

I realize you can't control everything your kids do...and, I can absolutely guarantee, my kid is going to screw up. She is going to break someone's window, she is going to dent someone's car or she is going to break a toy in the store. Heck, she could very well do all three. All I can hope for, is that she won't do anything that will involve felony charges (and seeing as she is only four months right now, I figure I can hold out that hope for a few more years). I will never expect my kid to perfect, as it is impossible goal.

However, it is MY responsibility as her parent, to teach her that, while "things" happen-you must take responsibility for your actions and, hopefully, learn from them.

If my child breaks my neighbors window with a BB gun, I will tell her she needs to apologize, take responsibility for it and pay for it. It would not, however, occur to me to get on a discussion board and vent about my horrible neighbors and how awful they are because MY kid screwed up. More than likely, I will get on a discussion board and say "do you know what the h--- my kid did, and now I have to pay out 450!@@##$$%$%$ dollars"

 

[Tuffcookie]

Check out anyone that has gone to court if the neighbor tried inflating the cost it's always what it would cost to replace at depreciated value or just the glass itself. There is no way that someone should be getting the most expensive new item because of an accident

Neighbor had a bill for $450 for 3 windows. Hardly exhorbitant.

Glass depreciation?

TC

 

[jen1977]

Couldn't they have just replaced the glass? If the glass had the holes, the frame of the window should be fine

 

[RitaE]

Couldn't they have just replaced the glass? If the glass had the holes, the frame of the window should be fine

They probably did. I had the glass replaced in a medium sized broken window at our house and the glass + labor was around $160. The bill is right in line with what I would expect for 3 windows.

 

[nathalee81]

Nathalee, do you understand the definition of "assumption"? Let's look at my assumptions as you presented them...
I presented a hypothetical... you can tell that by my including "if". Such as "if this happened, this could be the result". If I was assuming, I would say "the kids did this..."

Another hypothetical. In fact, I even said "I doubt that's what happened".


No, I'm saying it's POSSIBLE they didn't know. There's a difference between assuming something and offering a hypothetical.

. Sure, Sam, you are offering "hypotheticals", while others are offering "assumptions". Okay, you are right that is TOTALLY different.

 

[firecracker725]

It is the neighbor's right to hire who she wants to repair/replace the windows. It shouldn't be her concern to try to save you a few bucks if your kids did shoot out her windows.

TC

That was my initial thought as well, but it does sound like the OP was trying her best to work with the neighbor on the issue. She at the very least could have returned your messages.

 

[LisaR]

. Sure, Sam, you are offering "hypotheticals", while others are offering "assumptions". Okay, you are right that is TOTALLY different.

Sam,
Time to look in a mirror. Trust me, you are doing exactly what you are accusing others of, but you are choosing not to see it. If that works for you, so be it, but it doesn't make you any different.

 

[jujube]

When I began reading the thread, I thought 1 window had 3 holes which I understand could have been an accident. 3 windows though stretches the accident story. If the kid's aim is that off and it truly was an accident, I'd suggest not letting them have the BB guns.
My kids would mow the grass and help out around the house to work off the $450. If they had allowances, they wouldn't get that for a while.
I'd think some gratitude that the neighbor didn't call the police is in order. The police would say to pay for the window but they could also bring in CPS.

 

[nathalee81]

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!!

This is a discussion board, and we are discussing. That is what people do on a discussion board.

The OP has no obligation to come back and give any additional information, she really doesn't. But, others no have no obligation to simply agree with her post of having horrible neighbors.

It is the chance you take when you "vent" or "rant" on a public discussion board. I would NEVER come to a public discussion board and expect sympathy when talking about things like this. Maybe a friend (and even then, I think my friends, in this case, would be slapping me silly if my thought process was similar to the OP), but not the dis boards.

I don't think there is any pixie dust on the community board, ya know?

 

[SMD]

The OP skipped something in her narrative. The incident happened, then the OP went on a cruise and a trip to WDW, and when she got back the neighbor presented the bill. The OP doesn't know how many times the neighbor tried to contact her while she was gone. And I don't think the neighbor was obligated to wait around with her property damaged for the OP to return. I agree with the previous poster who said OP is lucky the police weren't called. If my neighbor shot at my windows and then skipped town I'd file a police report.

 

[sam_gordon]

. Sure, Sam, you are offering "hypotheticals", while others are offering "assumptions". Okay, you are right that is TOTALLY different.

Sam,
Time to look in a mirror. Trust me, you are doing exactly what you are accusing others of, but you are choosing not to see it. If that works for you, so be it, but it doesn't make you any different.

Let me make sure I understand... do these two statements mean the same thing:

1) It's possible the kids didn't know they hit the windows.
2) The kids didn't know they hit the windows.

If you think they mean the same thing, I apologize for any offense I caused.

I'm sorry, to me, they are different. #1 is presented as a possibility, #2 is presented as a fact.