Community Chat

[madcity411]

Maybe if those too lazy to comply with the law got a hefty fine, that would do the trick.

[guatmum]

On 2/7/2014 Shorty2U said:

You are right people don't care anymore, they are self centered. Where we live (In a country development) neighbors shovel but I see the city on the news and the pavements are terrible. There are LAWS to clean the snow in the city and here where we live, within 24 hours. BUT they rarely enforce those laws. On the topic of shoveling, our snow blower broke 4 snowstorms ago. So my husband is hand shoveling a pavement, driveway, and at our mailbox (or we wont get mail). And my husband has severe asthma (and I have a bad back so I am of no help) BUT if he can do it others can too. (and it has snowed here every other day and sometimes every day this winter so far). I think people should be fined for not shoveling and also sued if someone falls.

Though I think it is important for EVERYONE, men AND women (ladies, go out and help your husbands and neighbors too!), to shovel if able, I don't know how you can make the judgment that they are self-centered if their walks are not shoveled. You yourself said you can't do it because of your bad back but then you go on to say that, if your husband can shovel, so can others. Aren't YOU part of "others?"

I am careful about judging when it comes to something like snow. A usually able-bodied person may be ill with the flu or have an injury that prevents them from doing it quickly or at all that storm or that season. And being a woman is not an injury/illness. Amazing how many posters talk about how terrible people are for not shoveling and then go on to talk about their husbands doing it. If you are not out there yourself, you can't judge others, imo. Usually, unless we're GOOD friends with someone, we don't know what is going on with them. Most houses that people are complaining about are probably not even acquaintances. Ease up, have some compassion, if you can help others then do, otherwise be thankful that you can get done at your own home what you feel should be done.

[Grade1Teach]

My husband and I were just talking about this the other day.

There are so many people on our street who don't bother shoveling their sidewalks. We thought it was a liability if someone were to fall. Either way, if possible, it should be done for the safety of others.

There are some people who are unable to get out there and do it themselves, and that's understandable. However, most of the people on my block are quite capable of snow blowing or shoveling the sidewalk. If anything, it should be done for the poor mailman!

[mistriTsquirrel]

On 2/8/2014 guatmum said:

On 2/7/2014 Shorty2U said:

You are right people don't care anymore, they are self centered. Where we live (In a country development) neighbors shovel but I see the city on the news and the pavements are terrible. There are LAWS to clean the snow in the city and here where we live, within 24 hours. BUT they rarely enforce those laws. On the topic of shoveling, our snow blower broke 4 snowstorms ago. So my husband is hand shoveling a pavement, driveway, and at our mailbox (or we wont get mail). And my husband has severe asthma (and I have a bad back so I am of no help) BUT if he can do it others can too. (and it has snowed here every other day and sometimes every day this winter so far). I think people should be fined for not shoveling and also sued if someone falls.

Though I think it is important for EVERYONE, men AND women (ladies, go out and help your husbands and neighbors too!), to shovel if able, I don't know how you can make the judgment that they are self-centered if their walks are not shoveled. You yourself said you can't do it because of your bad back but then you go on to say that, if your husband can shovel, so can others. Aren't YOU part of "others?"

I am careful about judging when it comes to something like snow. A usually able-bodied person may be ill with the flu or have an injury that prevents them from doing it quickly or at all that storm or that season. And being a woman is not an injury/illness. Amazing how many posters talk about how terrible people are for not shoveling and then go on to talk about their husbands doing it. If you are not out there yourself, you can't judge others, imo. Usually, unless we're GOOD friends with someone, we don't know what is going on with them. Most houses that people are complaining about are probably not even acquaintances. Ease up, have some compassion, if you can help others then do, otherwise be thankful that you can get done at your own home what you feel should be done.

Yeah, it's hard to know sometimes what's going on with people.

My dad's chemo regimen makes him sensitive to the cold. He cannot go out into the cold for 5-6 day stretches at a time. If my mom is having a diverticulitis flare-up at the time (or recovering from a bone graft, or some other problem), and I am at work...that leaves no one to clear the walk until I'm off or my mom is able. As far as I know, only one of their neighbors even knows that my dad has cancer, and I don't know that any of them are aware he's terminally ill. I'm also positive that none of my neighbors know what is on my shoulders right now. I don't always get right to the business of shoveling my driveway, but sometimes I'm needed elsewhere, and I just can't get to it right away.

[ennui1]

On 2/8/2014 Grade1Teach said:

There are some people who are unable to get out there and do it themselves, and that's understandable.

Once upon a time, the young and healthy would pick up the slack for the elderly and infirm. That doesn't happen anymore.

[guatmum]

On 2/8/2014 ennui1 said:

On 2/8/2014 Grade1Teach said:

There are some people who are unable to get out there and do it themselves, and that's understandable.

Once upon a time, the young and healthy would pick up the slack for the elderly and infirm. That doesn't happen anymore.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that many people don't actually know their neighbors. I've lived in my house for over 20 years and only know 3 neighbors. People all work, aren't outside much, kids are all so scheduled into activities, that no one is really "in the neighborhood" to get to know each other. All you see are cars coming and going. Many times people don't know there is someone who is elderly or sick living near them. I think it may be less of a function of self-centeredness and more just a sign of the times we are living in. Neighborhoods don't function like they did "back in the day."

[twinny70]

In our town, you have 24 hours to clean up the sidewalk or the city will do it and charge you $100.00. We have seen that done in our neighborhood too. Just plain lazy.

[terrier3]

On 2/9/2014 guatmum said:

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that many people don't actually know their neighbors. I've lived in my house for over 20 years and only know 3 neighbors. People all work, aren't outside much, kids are all so scheduled into activities, that no one is really "in the neighborhood" to get to know each other. All you see are cars coming and going. Many times people don't know there is someone who is elderly or sick living near them. I think it may be less of a function of self-centeredness and more just a sign of the times we are living in. Neighborhoods don't function like they did "back in the day."

We were finding that too, so we revived a neighborhood association group. We have a summer picnic, several spring clean ups, a newsletter and regular e-mails.

I'm not going to say it was easy - my city neighborhood has everything from multi- million dollar mansions (our Catholic bishop lives in one!), to condos, to old homes and townhouses, even a large 75 unit mid priced apartment building. We have everything from "ramen noodle" eating students to judges and surgeons...seniors to new families.

We have had to make it happen...and not every event has been a success...but it has brought us together and it shows when we had our blizzard this winter. Some neighbors went door to door, asking if people needed anything from the store or pharmacy before they went on their own errands. I went with a group of guys, shoveling out everyone who doesn't have a service.

Here's a tip for how we started - our city has an annual gardening event. Spotters go around in July and tag homes with nice front lawns and gardens with "Buffalo in Bloom" signs. A neighbor is a Master Gardener - he got the city to donate trees to replace ones we lost in a storm and everyone volunteered to plant them and care for them. We then started getting together to plan out our front gardens...unifying them.

It's been a fun project and we have won awards, plus many new friends and a stronger neighborhood.