Post #278207 by Swanky on Thu, Jan 11, 2007 11:10 AM

I had not read this before so I searched out on your other post about thatch.

Sucks. Sounds like people who have too much time on their hands. Sounds like people who might could be distracted if some worse threat moved in like Jews, Mexicans, gays or whatever. Low life haters is what you have there. They are willing to expend a lot of time and energy in this that you are not. Or you certainly would prefer not to.

I would not suggest any sort of "offensive" strategy. That is likely just fueling the fire and they already seem more willing to fight than you. You want peace, like most normal people.

Any official, especially the police that come to your door, should be filled in. Any documentation, piles of papers, etc. and your calm words explaining that the neighbors are crazy. If they bug the cops very much, they will be known and told not to call again on this stuff. Once enough people know who they are and that they are wasting lots of time, it will trickle down that they get no responses.

IF it gets to some point that they really are getting you in some trouble, then you might turn the spotlight.

I would plant a line of cypress trees around your property along with a fence. Keep their eyes off your land.

Also, in general, if you leave the flashers on on your parked car, you can often get away with leaving it in various parking spots you would not normally be able to. May not be true there though. But, you can call the police department and find out just waht is okay and make sure you know your rights.

I said all that and I guess it is hard to imagine. So, if it was me. I would first try to keep from fanning any flames and see if they go away. If they do not, I would not mess around with them and any sort of action towards them. I would talk to the police and get their advice. I would talk to a lawyer and see what they say and I would just take the hig h and direct road. You may be able to get a restraining order and that would shut up a lot right away. They would face jail for being within X feet of your or calling you or coming to your door.

As I have had to explain to fire marshals at tiki bars, if you want to see if my thatch is fire retardant, here is the table cloth and the picture on the wall and the napkins and the bar stools... It is no more an issue than wallpaper or anything else you decorate with. Most things burn. That is not a reason to say it can't be on your property.

I am rambling here, but Chip and Andy are very right here. Know your rights and know the people in the office that enforce them. Politeness is a valuable weapon with authorities.