Dealing with the Neighbors...

[Mysty61]

Sheath - way to go! I hope you get the bitch fired and her boss learns to be more selective, and do more supervision. I would also like to see you wipe out the HOA bank account in the process, but in the long run they would raise the dues and you would have to give some back. Keep fighting them, I think you are going to win this one, but I the price to you is not too high. It is great to see someone fight for what is right.

 

[curiouswtchr]

Sheath......
I think it was spenser that made the comment about the HOA and trees when he was in FL. This incident in no way compares to what you went through....but maybe you will get a laugh...
My husband, our three children and I lived in this cute little subdivision....yeah right! When we first moved in, we were like the 4th family in there, things were ok and our three kids were in middle school, 3 in 8th and 1 in 7th grade. We like the area, not as much space between houses as I like, but it was nice. As the years went by the subdivision started to fill up. The kids, all A and B students, good enough to earn FL merit scholarships were normal kids....friends band rotc football weight lifting, community involvement, the whole nine yards. Things started to turn bad when my boys discovered they liked to skateboard. "THE HEATHENS, as a neighbor called them, of all things build a small ramp to use in front of MY house. Mind you they never left it out always put it in the garage. Just because our house was where all their friends came to hang out, there had to be something going on. And then the unthinkable happened, they all got jobs before their 16th birthdays, and were being good citizens, paying taxes and all that stuff, then it happened all three had a drivers licenses....OMG!! We got them their first cars...not to pretty, but they were reliable and got them to their school activies, and to work. I was so grateful, beign a working mom, I was running all over the place untill they learned to drive. Then the "HOA" started sending me "nasty grams" saying I had too many cars and that I had to get rid of all but two....That just put my "panties in a wadded up bunch", I read that HOA agreement and no where did it say anything about number of cars. Politely told them of their misunderstanding of the policy, and i was told that I still need to get rid of the cars....smiling sweetly I informed them if they persued this that I would get the media involved, that shut them up. But from that time forward our house was known as the "party" house. Ah well, I was hoping that however was having the parties, were having a good time because we were never home. To make a long story short....yeah right....it was one little creepy neighbor that kept stirring things up so..........
when oldest son was going into the service, we had a party, invited all the neighbors had my son's friends band set up in the living room...pool was open and WE HAD A PARTY! All the neighbors, except the creep were out on their lawns enjoying, I had ALL the keys and about 175 ppl in my house and back yard.
Creepy guy was not even at home and dont ya know, he heard about the party and called the cops and said that he had a fishing pole stolen.......hence the cops came, said that if there was any underage drinking going on I was going to jail and that could he come in and look for the fishing pole........looked around, talked to the other neighbors and told us to have a good night.
Thank goodness we received orders not to long after that and we GLADLY left........so hon......have the party!
and am glad to hear that you are taking NO prisoners!

 

[curiouswtchr]

and i need to check my posts for errors before i hit that submit button but got a bit worked up just recalling thoes memories.
pardon my ditzziness (is that even a word?) i need to calm down.

 

[Felt Tip]

Just checking in with the thread.

Seems like things are coming along well for you now.
About time, by the sounds of things

 

[curious2c]

My neighbors just painted their house titty pink...with nipple brown trim...I shit you not.



There was once a time...I was the neighbor that everyone didn't like...it builds character for sure.


Sheath...you will find that in the long run the new friends you make at home will be far better than the fake ones next door. Some people have no taste or sense...looks like this neighbor has neither...together.

I would be proud and happy to have you as a neighbor. Any day, any time...any where.

 

[midwestyankee]

My neighbors just painted their house titty pink...with nipple brown trim...I shit you not.



There was once a time...I was the neighbor that everyone didn't like...it builds character for sure.


Sheath...you will find that in the long run the new friends you make at home will be far better than the fake ones next door. Some people have no taste or sense...looks like this neighbor has neither...together.

I would be proud and happy to have you as a neighbor. Any day, any time...any where.

C2C, I wish I could shake your hand. Not so much for this post or any one in particular, but because of the accumulated goodness in your many posts that I've read over the last few months.

You're a good man.

And besides, no one else in all of Lit uses one of my favorite expressions. We may have been separated at birth. So, along with Hooch, that would make us triplets.

I shit you not.

 

[curious2c]

C2C, I wish I could shake your hand. Not so much for this post or any one in particular, but because of the accumulated goodness in your many posts that I've read over the last few months.

You're a good man.

And besides, no one else in all of Lit uses one of my favorite expressions. We may have been separated at birth. So, along with Hooch, that would make us triplets.

I shit you not.

Brother... I always knew I was adopted...

 

[midwestyankee]

Brother... I always knew I was adopted...

Somebody go call Hooch. It's time to party!

And with all due respect to Sheath and the fine purveyors of ice cream in her neighborhood, I don't have an ice cream social in mind.

 

[Metal_Monkey]

"Well, you know someone who writes that kind of thing shouldn't have children in the first place. There is no way she could possibly be a fit mother."

When he reminded her that was the worst kind of discrimination, she hung up on him.

Sheath, I'm soooooo glad she said that. Not because it's true, but because she made your job a heck of a lot easier.

And it's on tape, too.

 

[Noor]

You know, even if Stephen King was going around slashing people, and even if you were having sex with everything that had a face, there's still a difference in that slashing is illegal and private relations are not.

When I hear about people like this, I think of something I read onetime that went, "It's hard to believe that, out of a million sperm, that one won."

I always liked "It's too bad birth control isn't retroactive"

 

[someplace]

When I first heard of this drama, the VERY first thing out of my mouth was "She should have her attorney do all of the talking and not waste another word to those people."

I'm so glad you have friends in all the right places, Sheath. And, I'm so sorry you have had to deal with this crap. Thank God for all your supportive friends here and elsewhere. You know what to do...Keep on being the best YOU you can...just like you're doing. It will all work out. You're balancing quite nicely on that roller coaster. Smoother days are just up ahead.

 

[sheath]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

My Journalist Friend seems to think that once the Director has time to think about what she said and the pickle she has maneuvered herself into, things will stop cold. But in the meantime, he plans to run a 'public interest' article at the very least, highlighting a few interesting things.

Okay...a debate Mr. Journalist and I got into tonight...wondering about something I was told by an ACLU representative...

According to the ACLU rep: Did you know there is NOT a law against discrimination based on a person's profession? It doesn't fall under any category. Technically, if someone discriminates against me due to the fact that I write erotica, there is no legal recourse to deal with that. There are loopholes, of course, but among the list of 'cardinal sins' so far as discriminatory rights are concerned, apparently 'discrimination based on profession' does not apply.

I'm sure one of you legal types can give more information on this...that is just based on the latest contact I had with the ACLU, and I haven't researched it thoroughly yet...but from what I have found, he's absolutely right.

It doesn't really matter, since my attorney will find whatever loophole is there, I'm sure...but I was just amazed by that. Any thoughts?

S.

 

[Lovin_to_death]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

My Journalist Friend seems to think that once the Director has time to think about what she said and the pickle she has maneuvered herself into, things will stop cold. But in the meantime, he plans to run a 'public interest' article at the very least, highlighting a few interesting things.

Okay...a debate Mr. Journalist and I got into tonight...wondering about something I was told by an ACLU representative...

According to the ACLU rep: Did you know there is NOT a law against discrimination based on a person's profession? It doesn't fall under any category. Technically, if someone discriminates against me due to the fact that I write erotica, there is no legal recourse to deal with that. There are loopholes, of course, but among the list of 'cardinal sins' so far as discriminatory rights are concerned, apparently 'discrimination based on profession' does not apply.

I'm sure one of you legal types can give more information on this...that is just based on the latest contact I had with the ACLU, and I haven't researched it thoroughly yet...but from what I have found, he's absolutely right.

It doesn't really matter, since my attorney will find whatever loophole is there, I'm sure...but I was just amazed by that. Any thoughts?

S.

Well from what Ive read you lawyer might not file it as profession but along the lines of slander because there saying that the fact you write erotica is the rweason your a bad parent or maby the fact that there what was it granola Christians and are discriminating against you because you dont practice there specific religion just my thoughts on it im not familiar with the technical legal stuff but I hope your lawyer find all the loopholes and makes em pay big time a rose for your troubles

 

[cecelia]

There may not be a law that prohibits discrimination based on one's profession, but what about harrassment and the fact that your children have been threatened?
Even if using slander as the basis for a case is weak, couldn't the fact that you've been treated unfairly and with prejudice by the HOA carry enough weight to bring a civil case?
It may be difficult to file a suit against 'Debbie' personally, I don't know, but mistreatment by the Association seems pretty clear cut.
And, who knows? Your situation may be the basis for a new type of legislation. There was a time when discimination against people of color, women and the disabled were perfectly legal, too.

 

[Metal_Monkey]

It seems to me that "discrimintation" comes up most often in the arena of employment, so it makes sense that discrimination based on employment hasn't been addressed by the law. As for slander, I think one of the conditions is that the slanderous comments be untrue. So, sneering at you based on your profession isn't slander. The implication that you are a woman of unwholesome character - that does constitute slander. The possibilities are interesting. You may create a footnote in legal history where a true statement lead to slander. Creating a new category of discrimination based on profession probably won't happen unless you are refused employment on the basis of your writings. If you haven't already reached these conclusions, bring it up with the ACLU and ask them what they think.

 

[sheath]

Thank you for the input. I am definitely going to sit down with both attorneys and ask a lot of questions. I talked with a friend of mine who happens to be a stripper...and she told me that if someone discriminates against her when she tries to buy a home, it is illegal so far as the lender goes, for it violates fair housing practices...but in other cases...for instance, if she is asked to leave an establishment and the reason given is, "Because you are a stripper", she could sue them in civil court...but technically, there is no law against it.

She told me that is why most often, those involved in the porn industry in any capacity lie about what they do. She lies about being a stripper just so she can be treated like everybody else out there and not be judged for her profession.

I suppose my profession falls into a grey area...I can tell someone I'm a writer, and I automatically get a ton of respect. I tell them I write erotica and suddenly that respect turns to disgust. It makes the prejudices very clear, doesn't it?

I have a whole LIST of questions to ask, come Monday.

S.

 

[Mrs Peel]

If the HOA can somehow be shown to be a part of the government (are they regulated or licensed or something?) you may be able to argue that you have an equal protection violation.

HOWEVER, as far as I can tell you have no enforceable right to make a living writing, or writing erotica, nor do you have an enforceable right not to be discriminated against for making your living in that way.

In fact, it seems that if the TN legislature wanted to pass a law making it illegal for writers of erotica to live in housing subdivisions, they could do so. Then, they would have to convince the TN Sup Ct that doing so was rationally related to a legitimate state interest. Would that work? You know TN far better than I.

These are definitely good questions to ask the team, though. It's actually quite an interesting point of law.

Please let me know what happens. And DEFINITELY let me know when you want to start shooting the documentary!

 

[midwestyankee]

Please let me know what happens. And DEFINITELY let me know when you want to start shooting the documentary!

I realize that documentaries aren't supposed to work this way, but if you choose to do a "based-on-a-true-story" kind of thing, I would give my eye teeth to read for the part of a deranged minister - and surely if one has not appeared yet, one will.

 

[sheath]

I realize that documentaries aren't supposed to work this way, but if you choose to do a "based-on-a-true-story" kind of thing, I would give my eye teeth to read for the part of a deranged minister - and surely if one has not appeared yet, one will.

Just seeing you play the part of a deranged minister makes me think a documentary would be most worthwhile.

S.

 

[sheath]

HOWEVER, as far as I can tell you have no enforceable right to make a living writing, or writing erotica, nor do you have an enforceable right not to be discriminated against for making your living in that way.

In fact, it seems that if the TN legislature wanted to pass a law making it illegal for writers of erotica to live in housing subdivisions, they could do so. Then, they would have to convince the TN Sup Ct that doing so was rationally related to a legitimate state interest. Would that work? You know TN far better than I.

Would it work? Not in a million years. Tennessee is very protective of its entertainment industry, and anything that could have far-reaching effects to other areas, such as recording artists, would not even be a consideration. For example, if they attacked THIS erotica writer, they would also be attacking a songwriter...grey areas they do NOT want to venture into, for the law could become a nightmare.

Kinda like the "car title lenders" that Tennessee is dealing with now...they made it legal a few years ago for them to operate, but now that they are virtually unregulated, the lawmakers regret putting the law into action. You know how it works...they never expected things to go as far as they did. I can see a legality against erotica writers or others who work in the 'adult entertainment industry' as becoming the same wide-reaching problem when actually implemented.

I am certainly going to look into the whole situation. I'm suddenly wondering how in the world the 'hard core porn' industry handles all this. If I am getting this kind of flack for writing WORDS, imagine what they deal with for creating films?

S.

 

[curious2c]

Sheath, I have kept this problem of yours in my thoughts and meditations. I am certain that this too shall pass, as is said by several writings...

 

[Monazwx]

I haven't read the entire thread as yet, but I can literally feel the pain that you and your kids are going through at this time. How cruel people can be sometimes. I am so sorry that you all are going this because of the short-sightedness of others. The fact that one person can stir up the neighbourhood against someone in such a negative way is very disheartening.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[JRaven]

I would give my eye teeth to read for the part of a deranged minister - and surely if one has not appeared yet, one will.

I volunteer to play the part of Debbie. NOT that I have any sympathy for her! I just want to make sure she's portrayed as the snivelling bitch that she is. I'd even where a butt plug to make sure I have the walk right!

(will anyone volunteer to be a wardrobe specialist to make sure it's in right?)

 

[sheath]

I volunteer to play the part of Debbie. NOT that I have any sympathy for her! I just want to make sure she's portrayed as the snivelling bitch that she is. I'd even where a butt plug to make sure I have the walk right!

(will anyone volunteer to be a wardrobe specialist to make sure it's in right?)

You know, she always does have a certain look about her. She grits her teeth. A LOT.

Wonder why that is?

S.

 

[someplace]

I'm SOOOOOO glad I swallowed before I read that last post!