Drivers As I have previously argued, when you are behind the
sheet metal of a one or more tonne car, you judge what is safe, according
to what is safe for you. Of course in a car, a pedestrian poses no threat,
in the event that you collide with it. This will unfortunately lead you to
be pretty flip with your judgements. You will judge it safe (for you) to
accelerate towards a pedestrian, and barely miss them. If you do hit them,
the worst you will get is the incovenience. They will be the one bearing
all the damage. This accounts for why drivers will roar at and by
pedestrians.
Unfortunately the law does little to address this fact of human nature.
The law states that the car has right of way on a straight road, and must
only give way to pedestrians if it is turning across their path. And even
then, they are only required to 'miss' them. As long as they don't force
the pedestrian to 'jump out of their way', they can legally terrify them
and lightly risk death and major injury, not to mention terrible pain and
suffering. This of course encourage drivers to pay less attention to
pedestrians, and bully them to wait until there is no traffic.
Of course in built up areas it is impossible to find a long enough
break in the traffic, one at which a car travelling 50km and hour would
cover the ground approaching you in much less time than it will take you
to cross the road at around 7km and hour, if you are fast, and much longer
if you are old, or have childrent etc with you. At a roundabout you will
have traffic approaching entering from four sides. It will accelerate
towards you, as you wait for a gap in the traffic that won't come. You
either have to risk being run over, or wait there until someone with
compassion for you slows down, to give you time to cross as they approach.
I have of course even had cars scream through pedestrian crossings,
right in front or behind me. That is of course legal, but reflects the
general culture. 50km an hour streets eventually bring drivers to drive
50km an hour, or slower. In a 60km an hour street where limits are not
actively enforced, drivers will drive up to 80km and hour as a matter of
course. The enforcement of 50km an hour speed limits forces them to take
the speed limit seriously, and they see no profit in driving just a bit
over it, what difference is 55 or 50. But when the limit is 60, and rarely
enforced, there is every incentive to just tip it up by 10km. In fact a
survey showed previously that it was common for people to assume the
police would not charge them for doing 70km/h, and it was the culture to
drive at least 70km/h in a 60 km/h zone. But risking a fine for a mere
60km/hr isn't so enticing, so people actually do drive 50.
So if you want people to respect the danger they pose for pedestrians,
you will have to make it a danger for them to hit one. Instead of
demanding that they simply 'miss' them, which means they feel free to
drive as close and fast at and just past them as they judge they can,
without hitting them, a minimum distance must be imposed, and in the event
that a person is on the road, and it could be assumed that any driver
taking their responsibility seriously, and is therefore paying attention,
the driver should be fully culpable. Some may speciously argue that this
would encourage people to just walk out in front of cars. Only drivers
would think like that. Pedestrians feel immediately how vulnerable they
are, and would not risk an impact just to bully a car into stopping for
them.
The same laws were introduced for pushbikes. The large number of
incidents where pushbikes were hit or run off the road by cars lead the
government first to impose a 1 meter distance for cars passing bikes. Of
course most drivers took this pretty flippantly, and many accidents still
occured. In order to make drivers take cyclists seriously, their status
was upgraded. In fact they now have a right to a whole lane. Of course
some cyclists contribute to road rage by taking up the whole lane, and
driving in the middle of it. They probably are aware that if they drive on
the side of the road, that car and truck drivers will behave as before. It
would be better if they felt more comfortable and drove to the side, to
allow them to be overtaken easier. Unfortuantely this would probably lead
to drivers behaving as they previously did. So it is hard to criticise
them, even if, as a car driver, I feel they should let me pass easier, and
do feel frustrated. Of course having been a long term cyclist, on busy
main roads, I appreciate their position more than most car drivers. To the
car driver, they can't 'understand' why the cyclist is unhappy with them
driving close, accelerating at them at intersections, and just braking in
time.
The sheer vulernability of the cyclist and pedestrian means that what
feels safe to the invulnerable car driver, is seen as a totally
unnecessary and unreasonable risk to the cyclist and pedestrian.
A car driver does not feel safe when a truck screams at them, barely
passing in front or back. They would be terrified at a vehicle that could
crush them travelling at at least 8 times their speed. If we used a truck
weight and speed that roughly corresponds to the difference between a
pedestrian, and a normal family car, then the truck would be at least 12
tonnes, and be travelling at 400km/hr. We would see how safe the car
driver would feel then, and how quickly they would demand that truck
drivers be forced to approach at a reasonable speed, and not be allowed,
in fact therefore encouraged to, 'just miss them'. The risk of impact, and
the damage that would be anticipated between the 12 tonne truck at 400km
would pretty much correspond to the damage an average family car would
have travelling 50km into a pedestrian.
Car drivers should be compelled to pay attention, and take no risks, by
laws that state that they would be criminally negligent and culpable in
the event that they hit or even frighten a pedestrian that is crossing the
road in front of them. They would then not accerlate out of roundabouts or
intersections, 'judging' that their is no risk to them of impact, merely
'missing' the pedestrians. At present, if a pedestrian should stumble,
stop, or for some reason turn back, the car driver that simply assumed
they would maintain the same speed and direction, and therefore
unecessarily accelerated towards them, expecting to barely miss them,
would drive straight into them, their foot on the accelerator, and
travelling way to fast to stop or evade them. Remember they 'planned' on
'just missing them, which is all they are legally required to do, and left
no room or speed 'just in case'.
I would propose an analogy, for those of you who don't walk or ride on
our streets, and see no personal vested interest in having your driving
regulated. I am a very good shot with a rifle, and would enjoy shooting
targets. I promise you I am a very good judge of distance etc. It would be
perfectly safe for me to fire my rifle off at targets right next to you. I
would miss you, no worries. You are perfectly safe. Of course if I hit you
and blow half your head off, I would accept the legal responsibility for
the 'unfortunate and unforseeable 'accident'. I would expect to be
reprimanded, and like most drivers who 'accidentally' hit cyclists or
pedestrians that they saw coming, as they were in the middle of the road
crossing, but you weren't paying close attention (you are only human after
all, we all have bad days), terribly damage or even kill them, and get a
slap on the wrist, and told in future to pay closer attention. At the
advice of my lawyer I will appear suitably upset at what I have done, and
feel terrible that such an 'accident' could happen to me. I would,
however, feel no moral culpability, as it was an 'accident'.
So all you shooters out there. No need to be deprived of your fun. And
no real personal vested interest in taking real care. If you
'accidentally' hit anyone, they will understand! Accidents do happen. You
can't bind the world in cotton wool and make it safe for everyone. If
'they' start by 'regulating' hunting in the main streets, and built up
areas, where will they end? Will they jail you if the coffee you serve
your guests is too hot? Will they require you to put your killer pitbull
on a line everytime you go out to the park, just in case it savagely mauls
a small child? Now really, how often do pitbulls kill children? Hardly
ever! How often to cars kill pedestrians? Well o.k, a lot more often, but
hey, they should take that risk into account when they consider getting
out on the streets without a tonne of sheetmetal to protect them! And the
bastards don't even pay to walk the footpaths!
More experiences in Australia: added Feb 2007 maybe already here?
I was paying most of the rent (without rent assistance as they misinformed me that it wouldn't be paid in my
circumstances!) of a couple who had gone home for the holidays, and wanted someone to take over until they returned,
or as long as possible. It was o.k, apart from being basically lied to about rent assistance by the couple I took
the place from, and the fact that they left the the cupboards full of all of their stuff, and their stuff all over
the place. Basically I was paying their rent so they could leave most of their junk there and just take off!
Anyway, it was stinking hot, almost as bad as Korea. I intended staying there as long as possible, for their sake
(I hadn't realised yet they had lied to me about rent assistance etc), and turned down some good offers of
alternative accomodations. I had been there about 2 months, having turned down better offers, when I got a phone
call implying one of them would be back very soon, so I took the next best offer I got of accomodation, expecting
that otherwise I would be homeless. It was with a neary 50 year old lady. She said no-one would smoke in the house
(or only very rarely and not when I was there or so), and that I should use the fans and evaporative air
conditioning as I pleased, that I should use it whenever it was hot, which it invariably was. In Wagga the
temperature hovered around and sometimes over 40 Degrees Celsius.
When I arrived, she had not made any effort to move any of the old junk cluttering my room. I moved it myself.
The room had a double bed and sofa and cupboards and drawers. Within a few days I had been awoken well after
midnight, by very loud T.V. She was watching T.V in the loungeroom opening onto my room, even though she had a t.v
in her own room. I didn't let myself be provoked. I merely commented the next morning that it was very loud etc.
She pretty much attacked me as if I had just told her off. I had not in any way. I had merely, before even having
my ritual coffee, been confronted with the woman at my door (she had knocked for some reason) and had mentioned the
last few nights noise. She 'explained' that she had to watch t.v at 2 a.m in the loungeroom, and extremely loudly,
because her hearing was not too good, and she had to do some ironing. (she apparently is not aware of the concept
'non-sequitur'!)
Later she would smoke in the loungeroom, with all the windows and doors shut. I was forced to endure the smell
which came through the air ducts. On many occasions I was forced to endure an extremely dense cloud of cigerette
smoke on the occasions I was forced to venture into the kitchen to make coffee etc. The source of the smoke was her
friend or sister. She did ask her to smoke somewhere away from me, but here friend / sister would not. What could
she do then? She couldn't 'force' her friend to stop forcing me to consume her ciggerettes, could she? The sister
apparently woke me up on several occasions with loud merry making. I was told that that was just how she was, and
she wouldn't change for no-one.
The girl who moved into the room next to mine proved a right pain. She invited 'friends' over, either strangers
from the pub or aquaintances from University. She would come home at 4am and start talking to them in bed. Once
she locked me out of the house after I went out to the toilet, and later denied it, as if such a thing could be
denied. There was no other way the door could lock without someone locking it. She even complained the next day
that I had disturbed her and her 'friend for the night' by knocking on the door to get let back in!
The woman turned the fan-evaporative airconditioning off a few times after I had turned them on. The evaporative
air-conditioning cost about 10c an hour to run, and made it barely bareable in the heat. She claimed she was
'cold'! Meanwhile the girl comes home at 4a.m when it is nice and cool and turns it on, and she doesn't mention it!
In fact one night the whole ceiling flooded after she turned it on around 4a.m. Of course as the two were good
friends (even though they bitched a little about each other behind their backs, even denying that they were such
good friends) etc. In fact the girl often took her granddaughter to McDonalds, or picked up people from the airport
for her etc. I thought they got on really well, when in fact she had already told her she was planning to move out
even before I 'decided' to move out. I was in fact asked when I was leaving, a few days after things got silly,
when the woman and girl both turned off the exhaust fan after I came out and turned it on (they were frying meat),
and I got pissed off and asked if she wanted me to leave. In fact the girl would often fail to turn the exhaust fan
on even when the whole house was literally full of thick smoke from burning toast etc. The girl even came in and
turned it off just after I had turned it on, and was actually standing there. Sometimes she did it behind my back.
So silly. What is it with people and exhaust fans and consideration for others. They cost about a minute an hour
to run, and clear the air of smoke, oil, and smells.
Click here to continue this bit, or scroll to bottom of page.
I moved to flinders lane. Two chinese students and one malaysian lived there with one young Australian. The two
chinese were very friendly. They were a pair. The male showed me how to make hover effects with CSS, which I have
used on my web-page to make links turn orange when the mouse rolls over them. The young Australian guy wore his
Army reserve gear around the house, using his army towels as well. He used them as bath mats, and left them
variously draped all over the bathroom. They were wet and dirty, and unpleasant. He threw all his rubbish straight
onto the floor in the t.v room. He left days of dishes etc filling up the sink, making it impossible to use. He
threw rubbish next to or on top of a full bin. He draped his clothing, which he washed without washing powder, all
over the clothesline, leaving little room for anyone willing to hang their clean washing next to his. I pointed out
a few things to him over and over again, and he made no effort. I suggested he live with people like him, as then
it would be fair on everyone living with him. Things came to a head and I asked the chinese to make a decision
either to tell him to get his act together, or accept that I would have to leave. They agreed that his behaviour
was terrible, but didn't feel they could make any ultimatum to him. So as usual, the better part of a household had
to leave, while those who didn't deserve anywhere decent to live got to stay. The chinese, I must add, left the
stove in a deplorable condition, thick with oil and grease. I wouldn't be surprised if it all caught fire one day
and burnt the house down. The Malaysian was hardly there, but had his heater on, with the window open, and high
ceiling vents open, when he was, including overnight. I discovered this once while locking his window, which I felt
compelled to do as he had left it open, and we lived on a corner block, the windows literally a foot from the
footpath, and across from schools, TAFE, and playing fields.The Chinese lease holders were at least reasonable in
not demanding that I subsidise their gas heating or the malaysians heating.
So I left. I had almost sold my car, which was in A1 condition, but the boy and father who were interested
wanted yet another inspection, after having test driven it for half an hour, taken it to a mechanic themselves, and
having had me take it yet again to the same mechanic. The mechanic had my car all morning, had used it to go
shopping (when I returned it had new mops, buckets, and cleaning items in the front seat), but had not checked what
he wished to. They actually expected me to waste another day and take the car back for another inspection. The
mechanic had found the car to be in excellent condition, but claimed he felt it 'missing' when he started it. He
wasn't sure if it needed a new lead or had a cracked head, he said. The car had ran without any trouble for the
last 7 months, and continued to provide me with trouble free motoring up until I sold it. It passed the rego
inspection without any mechanical problems, and I sold it in Hobart.
Anyway, I decided that based on what I had been told, I would have no problems getting accomodation in Bathurst,
and as I intended to travel to sydney for an IRC hearing, and my supervisor for my honours program was in Bathurst,
I decided to head there. When I arrived I called all the numbers on the notices placed at the University. One
person who called me back arranged to see me at the University first, and there he explained that I should come over
that night, when my prospective co-tenant would get home. He was a 16 year old. His grandmother and he were there
when I arrived. We decided to give it a try, and I moved in immediately. I had a tiny room with a foam mattrass.
He was at one level seemingly mature, and on others still a scared kid. He was proud to state that he had not
had any psychotic episiodes for a long time i.e he had not attacked anyone for a long time! This volunteered
information was did not have the confidence inducing effect he may have intended? But I am always open minded, and
was desperate for somewhere to stay in any case. I cleaned the place up, as usual. I had stated this intention to
him and his grandmother. I asked him to move a few of his personal things to his room. His computer etc were in
the living room, and he claimed he intended moving them to his generously large room before he went to hospital. He
had suffered a large and deep cut to his leg, which required an operation. He had told me he would be in hospital
for at least 3 days. It turned out that he would be in overnight at the longest.
His grandmother made me feel like a criminal for trying to get the place clean and orderly. I told him that I
would be happier if his computer was in his room. He had a huge room. Eventually he started moving his computer
table etc. He did so in a fit or tantrum, claiming that he was doing it to stop me whingeing etc. He was quite
agressive. I calmly stated that if he didn't want to move the things, that if it made him angry, and he was doing
it against his own wishes, that he should leave it there. I didn't want him to harbour ill feelings against me. I
did this in a neutral way that left him responsible for the situation, with no grounds for anger against me. I
asked him if his comments were meant as insults. On this he calmed down. He saw that I was apparently not going to
be threatened or coerced by his tantrums, and he decided to behave much better. I helped him move the stuff. Later
his grandmother told me off more or less, implying that my behaviour was reprehensible...how dare I try to achieve
some cleanliness and orderliness, and assert my right to have some say in how the place looked. I was paying more
than half the rent for a tiny room barely big enough for the single foam mattrass. The teenager had a huge room,
and treated the rest of the house as if it was his bedroom as well.
His 'friends' would come over at all times during the day and night. They would just let themselves in if the
door was not locked. they would sleep over. They always went to his room to smoke cones. I was very accomodating.
However it got on my nerves. One night several just barged in through the back sliding door (They knocked first,
they exclaimed!) and with barely vieled threats forced the teenager to let them stay, even though he was meant to go
to hospital early the next morning. I spoke to the one I knew, friendly but firmly, that he shouldn't be treating
the younger 16 year old like that. He had clearly and with deliberate intention threatened him, abusing him that he
wasn't a good friend, with great malice and threat. The other 3 were strangers. They had modelled their dress and
demeaner on American 'homeboys'. I asked them about an hour later if they could not stay too long. Still later I
overheard the one who had threatened the 16 year old, an 18 year old of great charm and apparent potential, tell the
others that he should 'bash' me, and some comment related to my car. I had no choice but to refer to this comment
when he came out of the room. He was pretty agressive. I felt that I and my car were in an untenaable situation.
I started packing.
I moved my car half into the garage, so I could load it, and keep an eye on it while I was doing so. The others
left as I was completing my loading. The 16 year old kept asking me if I was leaving, very agressively, as if I had
no right to or was doing the wrong thing. I told him I was getting ready to leave in case it looked like it would
be necessary. He got more and more agressive, asking me for the few days rent I had offered him on several
occasions. He had stated that I was never to give him money directly, but to give it to his grandmother. He got
really aggressive, and more or less threatened me physically, standing menacingly right up to my face and
challenging me to a fight.
I didn't show any fear, but stood my ground assertively and calmly, impressing upon him the need to calm down.
He left wearing just thongs...it was the middle of a very cold Bathurst winter. I told him that I needed to speak
with his grandmother or some other adult about our situation. He kept saying his grandmother lived too far awar,
and criticising me for inconveniencing her by asking her to come. The situation was barely under control, and
seemed quite likely to 'blow up' at any moment. He left in a tantrum, throwing down the phone he had given me to
talk to his grandmother. She insisted that she couldn't come. I insisted that things were out of control, and that
some adult had to come to the house, so that we could resolve things calmly etc.
A little later his mother and step-mother arrived. She praised me for having managed to live with her son for so
long. She stated clearly that the grandmother had not lasted as long as me, and had left after feeling threatened
by his 'friends'. She was very supportive and positive towards me. The step father iterated everything I said to
him about the lad. He had had his car stolen by him and his 'mate'. He had long ago had enough of the lads
behaviour, and had given up on him. He iterated that the lad had in fact attacked him sevferal times. I wondered
why they had allowed someone to move in without explaining everything to them beforehand. He hiself had the same
expeirence and opinion of the grandmother, that she was doing more damage than good by pandering to the lad. It
appeared that the lad was the only person with whom the grandmother had any relationship, and so she was in fact
being very selfish in pandering to him, to avoid alienating him, but with her own interests in mind, and not the
lads. She was literally 'spoiling' him. She made allowances for anything he did, and treated anyone who criticised
him in any way as a criminal. She was paying half the rent with the step-father. Previously he had had bunk beds in
the spare room, and had rented out the beds as a sort of backpackers to his 'mates'. All his 'mates' were drug
users, unemployed, school drop-outs. They were a very bad influence on him. Robbie, the 18 year old who had
threatened him, revealed his true nature that night. I had come to like him, when in fact he was a nasty character.
It is unfortunate that his situation had lead him to need to use his charm for negative purposes.
So, I left in the middle of the night, with nowhere to go. It was freezing cold. I decided, or let the highway
decide, to head back towards Wagga Wagga, and possibly Hobart. I drove through Wagga Wagga and eventually, with the
help of a few people re: directions, found myself at the ferry terminal for The Spirit of Tasmania. I slept in the
beautiful new bay suburb in my car two nights. I felt at home in this new community of manicured social /
architectural engineering. The view of the sunset and small lighthouse were lovely. I felt at home in the modern,
well thought out and impeccably groomed bayside 'cove'. But it was not my lot to live there. My car was my home
for now.
I had intended staying in Launceston, but could not find any reasonably priced backpackers accomodation, and
would have to pay hourly for parking in any case. I parked in the penny royal grounds, walked up and along the
tourist walk through the canyon, and above it. I decided it would be cheaper to drive to Hobart, and sleep in the
car on the way. In this way I ended up in Hobart, and after checking out a few alternatives, at Narrara
Backpackers. After two nights in the bunkroom being deprived of sleep by the strange antics of a few men sent there
from the Salvation Army, the manager of Narrara let me stay in a small room by myself. It was there that one of the
men told me that I would have a room to myself at Hollydene lodge, with a heater. So I spoke to the manager at
Hollydene who agreed she could let me stay in a room by myself.
I was staying at Hollydene lodge backpackers. I had been offered a room to myself for $117 a week during winter
while things were slow. After 2 days the manager told me that I would have to share my tiny attic room with another
person. My room was full of my possessions and barely big enough to get dressed etc in. Dissappointed with the
managers lack of integrity and honesty, I was determined to sleep in my car rather than allow her to reneg on our
deal. It was not necessary to place another person in my room, as the lodge was mostly empty. I had moved to
Hollydene from Nararra backpackers based on the managers explicit statement that I would be able to have a room to
myself. It was the smallest room in the entire lodge, on the top floor in the attic. I had spent hours carrying
all of my gear up to the room. There was absolutely no room for another person, nor necessity for the manager to
break her word.
I went to the University notice board, where lots of ads for share accomodation had been placed. I called all of
the numbers that were not mobiles. I found one room near the top of Mount Nelson, in TUU accomodation. I called
Peter at the TUU and explained that I was a student of Charles Sturt University, but intended enrolling in UTAS. He
explained that it was not necessary for tenants to be UTAS students, and that many non-UTAS students lived in TUU
accomodation. He was only concerned that I was not too young, as he explained that the TUU had had a bit of trouble
with younger, non-UTAS students in the past.
For the record, the TUU housing scheme policies for 2004 state at 2.3.6 that non-students are permitted to lease
rooms not required by UTAS students. In fact by taking a room not needed by UTAS students non-students ensure the
financial viability of the TUU housing scheme, by increasing occupancy rates and management fees. It appears the
TUU receives around 15% for each property it manages.
Modern accomodation, great views, peace and quiet...as usual some bastard will come along
and ruin everything
I signed a lease for room 1 of villa 5, of 328 Nelson Rd, Mount Nelson. The malaysian students whom I had taken
the room from were kind enough to allow me to leave my things in the villa, and to sleep on a foam mattrass on the
floor for a few nights. Seeing as they had been this kind, and that I would have to clean up the villa anyway,
given the filthy state of it, I began cleaning when no-one was home. I pulled out the fridge and oven, where large
amounts of food waste, grease and oil had accumulated. I cleaned all the floors and benches and bathroom. Once
everyone had moved out, I cleaned up the cupboards, and put whatever looked like rubbish in the rubbish. A few
inches of slime stuck to the bottom of the inside garbage bin. I soaked it and scrubbed it clean. The recycling
bin had been placed in the loungeroom. It left a large stain on the carpet. An assortment of milk containers had
been cut and filled with dirt and half-dead spring onion plants. They were on the wooden skirting boards and
carpet, leaking, and untidy. I moved them to the balcony so I could clean up the mess they had left. They belonged
to no-one who was there. The only tenant who was not there had not been seen for many days. I had been informed
that he was rarely home, as he lived with his girlfriend. That tenant had left their window open. I was told that
he had broken in through his window recently by a tenant of the next villa. I asked everyone to be sure to lock
their windows and the villa doors when they left. In fact the tenant of room 3 had broken into room 4 the night
before his lease actually began. TUU had taken the keys to the room as per protocol. They had allowed me to keep
the keys to my room and move in the night before my lease officially began.
I attended a party, having been invited by the previous tenant of room 3, (EQ) at the next villa. I had found a
key in one of the plants, and it appeared to open the front door. EQ had given his keys up to TUU, so I gave him
that key, so we could lock up the villa during the party. Later he claimed that the key did not open the villa
front door.
Other tenants left their soap covered in thick long black pubic hair on the shower recess.
idiots-leave pubic hair covered soap right at head height in shower-tea towel totally filthy-purpose? will someone else clean? wipe floor etc with filthy cloth, and hand on oven handle i.e move filth around house-spread vs clean...mum did it? never noticed how? they pay
cleaner? blame others as dirty?
I found some small
plastic containers perfect for putting soap in, so I put all of our soap in these containers. They had been left
scattered all over the various kitchen cupboards which I had cleaned out. Later I was told by the new tenant of
room 3 that EQ had left everything to him, and that the containers had been EQ's.
I asked the new tenants if they could use the exhaust fan when cooking. Jason, the tenant of room 2, had no
problem with this, and the tenant of room 3 ( a south Korean ) didn't express any problem either. We discussed the
electricity card, and agreed that none of us would use heaters, and thereby we would keep our costs down. In
secret, the south Korean took the heater EQ had left out from the cupboard where we had put it and had begun using
it. In other words he had broken our agreement, and was taking the piss, getting us to subsidise his heating bills.
Later I discovered that he had told Peter at TUU that I had told them that they could not use heaters. We had in
fact all agreed that if anyone used a heater, they should pay for what they used.
The TUU people arrived to clean the carpets of the rooms being vacated. The TUU person noticed a key on the
dining table, and asked me if I knew what it was for. At first I thought it might be the front door key I had given
EQ, but it looked totally different. He tried the key on every door. It opened Li An's room. He locked Li-An's
door and took the key down to the TUU.
p>The tenant of room 4, Li An, who had been away so long, and who had left his window open the entire time, returned
one afternoon with his girlfriend. He appeared agitated and upset. His girlfriend later explained that Li An
claimed to have had $600 stolen from his room. Apparently he had left his room key in the spring onion plants that
I had moved outside. I explained that I had found a front door key and had given it to EQ.
Li An became extremely hostile and agressive towards me. He kept telling others that I had taken his money. He
was unwilling to call the police. I called the police. Not only had Li An been threatening, but the South Korean
had become extremely hostile, threatening, and agressive. He kept telling me that I was impolite, as if he was
saying that I had killed his mother. He appeared to be using the situation to vent some hatred he had of me. He
claimed he was angry because I had used the little plastic containers. I apologised, was very polite etc, and he
seemed to be happy once more. In hindsight he was probably happy because I was apologising etc as if I had done
something wrong, and he liked to demean me or whatever.
The police came, asked lots of questions, made notes, and stated that Li An was not willing to make a formal
report.
Later I got a phone call from Peter at TUU asking me to come down to the TUU. He did not state the agenda, which
in hindsight was a little sinister. At the meeting he read out some really silly accusations against me....that I
was curt, that I talked too fast, that I said that others could not use their heaters etc. I explained the
situation to Peter. He suggested I look at alternative accomodation. I came back later that day, after having
wasted my morning and day already, and looked at two properties. Neither was acceptable or comparable in any way to
my room in villa 5 on Mount Nelson. I had made a real effort, and had been willing to do the easiest thing for TUU
in the situation. However neither of the properties was either affordable, or acceptable. I stated that I didn't
see any problem with everyone getting along at villa 5. I also stated that I felt that TUU had made the situation
worse by pandering to the other tenants, who had been agressive, threatening, and hostile towards me. TUU had
emboldened the tenants with confidence that whatever they did, TUU would back them up.
I cleaned the house several times. The amount of thick, long, black pubic hair that I mopped up was quite
disgusting. No-one but me made any effort to clean the house. Everything in the kitchen became covered in a layer
of oil. The south korean did not want to use the exhaust fan. He did in fact turn it off several times after I
turned it on. He told me I should leave. He told me to shut up, and that he knew that that was a very rude thing
to say. The hypocrite, having denied me the use of the pots left by others for us all, actually stole the mattrass
left in my room, which I had left outside for anyone to use for guests, and put his own in his cupboard. When I
asked about my mattrass he brought his one out, and made no guesture of apology etc. This guy, and Jason, were
supremely arrogant. They also left rubbish all over the back porch, and made no move to clean it up.
Li An claimed that every pot left in the villa was his. This was a lie. In fact the three other previous
tenants had clearly identified which things were Li An's, and which were common property i.e having been inherited
by the villa from previous tenants. The other tenants hid the pots in their cupboards. Li An became violently
agressive and hostile, banging the fridge and sink when I politely disagreed with him and told him what the previous
tenants had told me. I decided it was better to let him have the pots than to experience his temper tantrums. He
behaved very childishly at times, sticking his fingers in his ears and his tongue out at me when I tried to talk to
him. Even his girlfriend referred to him as a 'crazy idiot'.
The south korean, with the double faced assistance of Jason, the Chinese tenant, constantly thought up ways to
provoke me and annoy me. They would bang pots and doors at midnight. They would place large amounts of their
thick, long, black, pubic hair all over the shower cubicle, including draping them on the taps, the door, the walls,
and floor. I cannot imagine how the pubic hair could have ended up where it did without deliberate actions to place
it there. They went through my cupboards and moved my things as they saw fit. They failed to flush the toilet.
They left faeces and urine and pubic hair on the toilet seat. They used the toilet (which couldn't be flushed)
after the TUU put a sign on it saying it was not to be used. They held long and loud conversations well after
midnight. They watched t.v loudly, and when I sought to ask them to turn the volume down, they simply played with
me, and claimed they didn't understand, even when I used clear body language and was very patient.
Li An was rarely there. Luckily. Whenever the south korean saw me he went and knocked on Li An's door, hoping
they could gang up on me again. Li An eventually moved out. The only cleaning he had ever done (apart from wiping
the hotplates after himself now and then) was to vacuum for a few minutes on the day of his room inspection. He was
no longer a tenant, but remained in the villa. I did not challenge this, stating to his girlfriend that he had
allowed me to stay before too, even letting me use his foam mattrass to sleep on, so I had no problem with him as
long as he didn't bother me. He was to appear in the villa on many occasions after that. I would find him cooking
in the kitchen with the others and with his friends on several different occassions, and he was present at a party
the others had thrown (without warning me) the last night I saw him. The others appeared to be making fun of me to
the others when I came out during their party.
I timed all of my presence in the common areas to avoid the other two tenants. I only came out to get things
from the fridge. I got up earlier every morning just so I could heat up some water for coffee before they got up
and monopolised the kitchen. Every morning I had to turn on the hotplates and exhaust fan as they left them covered
in oil, which stunk when the hotplate heated up. Often the only hotplate that was covered in oil was the one I
used. It appeared to have been deliberately covered in oil, and food scraps. I had started using my own garbage
bags after having taken out the garbage many times in a row. The last time I left it empty, so that someone else
could line it with a bag...instead they just threw their rubbish on top of the empty shopping bags I had arranged in
the bin for rubbish. So I simply started doing my own rubbish. I got sick of constantly cleaning up everything
before being able to use it, so I restricted myself to using the sink. I only prepared food when no-one else was
home. I was always stressed out at villa 5, dreading the arrival of the others, and what they might have planned
for me. The south korean made a real point of menacingly walking past me and moving things etc. One afternoon
after I asked him again to use the exhaust fan, he said to me, with great venom and as agressively and hostile as
anyone could be "do you want to die?" "do you want to fight me?". I notified TUU in writing, but did not report
the incident to the police, as I thought it would not help. My agenda had alwayse been to be conciliatory and seek
to produce a situation in which all tenants of villa 5 could live in harmony and with consideration for one another.
I could see no reason for all the hostility and games. It became clear in hindsight that they had always had the
agenda of getting me to move out.
In fact they managed to get me evicted. First I got a letter offering me an exemption from the normal
administrative costs of moving, and help with my move. I responded stating that it was inappropriate to reward the
other tenants for their malicious behaviour, but that I would accept comparable accomodation if it was the same
price as my current accomodation. I could not afford more. There was no reason why I should be punished for the
vindictive and pernicious behaviour of the other tenants.
A conciliation meeting had been arranged, to which Peter, Judy Munday (the manager) and myself turned up. Judy
stated that she had double booked herself and had to go. The others were not chastised for not attending. When I
politely asked Jason why he had not attended, he looked caught out, and then with total disingenuity he claimed that
he had thought that the appointment was for Saturday. Later when the police were asking for his name etc he kept
trying to pretend he didn't understand, and trying to avoid giving them his details.
The 'manager' Judy Munday had claimed that their was a problem with the 'dynamic' of the group at villa 5. She
would not chastise the foreign students in any way. She pandered to them and emboldened them to ever greater
self-righteousness and confidence that they could treat me as they liked, as Judy would support them. Judy wrote me
claiming that the same letter / offer had been made to all tenants...only I got to the mail first, and there was
only one letter from TUU. She appeared to be consistent at least in victimising me and pandering to the foreign
students.
TUU records will clearly show that I was the only one who had reported any maintenance or repairs needed for
villa 5 for a long time. The toilet was running, doors were hanging off their railings and being damaged further,
the bathroom sink was leaking resulting in further damage (rotting and warping) of the sink cupboard, all the taps
were running / leaking / dripping, both hot and cold. Knobs were missing or broken on the oven and washing machine.
The back door handle was hanging loosely (I screwed it back on myself). TUU records show that I was the only one
to attend the scheduled conciliation meeting, and that the others had no reasonable excuse or explanation for not
attending. Witnesses can verify that Li An had at least once broken into his own room through the window, and that
he had left it open the entire week while he was away, at least 10 cm wide. He himself stated he left his room key
in the common areas. He would not call the police, let alone report the 'theft'. He would not make any insurance
claim, even though each room is insured for up to $10,000. I cannot understand why anyone would leave large amounts
of cash in their (apparently according to his girlfriend) table drawer. All in all it appears to me that Li An had
maliciously invented the whole scenario, that he lied about having had money stolen, simply to attack me. At very
least he may have intended a false insurance claim, and then changed his mind. In any case, if his story is true,
many many people had the opportunity and perhaps knowledge. I asked that all the locks be randomly re-distributed
amongst the villas. I was told they had no time to do this. They did, however, provide Li An, the tenant who left
his window open days on end, and left his room key in the common areas (according to his own statements), with a new
lock. This struck me as totally unfair. I have been told by Peter that each room is insured for up to $10,000,
however the lease / tenancy agreements state clearly that there is no insurance for personal contents!
During the months I was at villa 5, the only cleaning done by anyone but myself was the 2 or 3 times that the
kitchen floor was roughly swept. I had wet and dry cleaned all the floors at least 4 times. The south korean
angrily denied that he hadn't cleaned anything. It became clear that he thought that taking out his own garbage
occasionally constituted cleaning the house. I joked to myself that he probably thought cleaning his own bum
constituted cleaning the bathroom!
So, I came home one evening to find an envelope with my name, and no sender details, taped to the front door of
the villa. I didn't open it for a long time, considering how rude it was of the sender not to put their details on
it, and the potential dangers in this age of terrorism etc. The next morning, not having been able to sleep, I
opened it to discover that it was in fact an eviction notice. The grounds for the eviction were as general as could
be, merely quoting a general clause from the lease / tenancy agreement stating that anyone might be evicted for
being a nuisance, annoyance, or danger to other tenants or management. The only ones who had behaved in such a way
were the other tenants. I went straight to the TUU office.
I spoke with a lady there for about an hour, and put in a written request for an appointment to see the general
manager. Once it was revealed that I was not a current UTAS student, the lady stated simply that she could not talk
to me any more. She further stated unequivocably that the General manager Jonathon Jones would definitely not
speak to me at all, as I was not a current UTAS student.
I read the copy of the TUU protocols given to me on request to see that all tenants had the right to a
conciliation hearing when disputes arose. I had been denied this right. I had never done anything wrong. I had
done all the right and commendable things. I had reported all the damage and repairs needed, avoiding further
damage. I had cleaned the entire house many times and attempted to bring order and cleanliness to the villa, which
had, up until my arrival, been severely neglected.
The villa of course failed the inspection. I had thoroughly cleaned and defrosted the fridge and freezer, and
stated in writing that I was prepared to make any further reasonable contribution. The other tenants did not
respond at all, and did not lift a finger to clean anything in the house for the inspection at all. The oven in
particular was disgusting, covered in grease and food remnants, and an oily film. Nothing in the house apart from
the fridge and shower - bathroom, which I had cleaned, had been cleaned.
I got the distinct impression that the other tenants had been told by their friends to ignore the inspection
reports, and that nothing would happen as a result of failing the inspections. This impression has subsequently
been complemented by TUU staff comments and comments of other TUU tenants.
Peter came to the where I was speaking with the lady, and stated that the manager, Judy Munday, had agreed to let
me have a bedsit for the same cost as my current room. I had a look with Peter. I would never have chosen to live
in the bedsit under any other circumstances. It was a real dump, but the best alternative I appeared to have, so I
accepted to offer as being the best I was likely to be made. I was fully stressed out with the behaviours of the
other tenants of villa 5 in any case.
I came 'home' to villa 5, did all the washing I needed (my new place had no washing machine), this time using
hot water, and turned the heater on to dry as much as I could. I managed to get almost everything washed and dried
on my last night at villa 5. I had paid electricity 2 weeks in advance. No-one was going to reimburse me. The
electricity I used using the heater was no more than what I had already paid, and which I would not be repaid.
There was no ethical dilemma. I had every right to use the electricity, to use the heater to dry off my clothing.
I had filled the washing machine, was about to dissolve washing powder in it, and make some hot chocolate (I turned
the hotplates on as usual to burn off any oil left on them), when the other tenants returned. I was pissed off with
them, and did not want to have to confront them, or have them laugh at me for having gotten me evicted, so I forgot
about the hot chocolate and washing and went to my room. I planned to finish off my washing and make a drink once
they had gone to bed. However as soon as they got in, the south korean went 'apeshit', screaming and running around
in rage, yelling out threats in english and korean (or so it sounded to me), and screaming at my closed door. I
called the police. I got dressed, and got ready to jump out the window if need be. I called out to the villa next
to my window to get their attention. The police arrived not too long after, and the south korean admitted that he
"wanted to fight me", and that he had threatened me. Jason was very unwilling to give the police his personal
details, pretending he didn't understand the policeman who was asking him for his name. The police warned the south
korean, and took all their details. The police stated that the house would be placed on the police priority list,
and that if they were called they would come immediately. They stated that a patrol car would be in the area and be
able to respond quickly. I apologised for having had to call them out again.
I was terribly sick the next morning. I barely managed to load the TUU van with my gear. I threw up all over
the door on the way to my new place. I was too sick to do anything when we arrived. The TUU person (I have to get
his name) very generously unloaded all my stuff. He put the mattrass in first, and told me just to get to it and
lie down. He was great about the whole thing. As ususal the staff make up for the shortcoming of management. Of
course the concession the manager made was to allow me to live in a bedsit that they couldn't rent out to anyone
else (they had been trying for many months apparently) for the same cost as my then current room. I would never
have voluntarily taken the room. I much prefer my villa room on mount Nelson. However I am grateful to all the TUU
staff who helped me, especially the man who helped me move.
Judy Munday, the manager who failed to do anything about the other tenants behaviour, never made any attempt to
explain why she evicted me. I can only assume that she has no interest in ethical or moral considerations and
merely evicted me as the simplest way for herself to deal with the conflict. Perhaps the fees paid by foreign
students are more important to TUU management than fairness and justice. Judy never had any just grounds for
evicting me. She had every reason to evict the south korean. Perhaps he had read my story about my experiences in
south korea, and was angry with me for that reason? His behaviour was in all ways that of a spoilt and petulant
child. He claimed he was 30. If anyone was annoying, disturbing, or anti-social, it was him. I made and sought to
make a great positive contribution to the conditions at villa 5.
Please note: according to www.taswa.org “It is illegal for any owner to evict a tenant without a court
order-Penalty $4000". I contacted TUU Housing, leaving a message for the General Manager of the TUU housing scheme
with the secretary, asking that he call me concerning my apparent illegal eviction. Remember that previously I had
been told that he would not speak to me at all, as I was not a student of UTAS. The person who told me this also
stated that she could not talk to me herself as I was not a UTAS student. I will seek to have the lease changed to
reflect the legal position of tenants, so that in future no other tenants can be evicted illegally without a court
order. The two week notice clause in the TUU housing scheme lease appears, as I thought at the time, to be
not-legal. The lady I spoke to stated clearly that the lease had been drawn up in consultation with the Tasmanian
tenants union (in Barrack St), and must be legally binding. I will follow up on this.
Commendations of TUU staff, and some recommendations for making their lives a little
easier
I believe that the administration of inspections is placing an unnecessarily great burden on TUU staff, in terms
of time, energy, and frustration. The inspections could easily be streamlined to free the energies of TUU staff for
their apparently extremely demanding tasks and service provision. The staff have an amazingly positive attitude and
strong work ethic considering what they have to put up with. Many tenants do "take the piss", by failing to
maintain their properties in a reasonable level of cleanliness, and then failing to respond to 'failed inspection'
reports.
The administrative process should be streamlined. Pictures should be provided showing what level of cleanliness
is expected, thereby leaving no room for 'language' difficulties, or cultural differences. Tips should be given on
how to achieve the same level of cleanliness. The inspectors should not be required to make detailed reports,
rather they should be able to fail the property based on their quick impressions. The tenants either clean the
property fully to the expected standard (re:pictures and tips on cleaning) or they don't. The tenants are mostly
university students who make a claim to being tomorrows future managers. They can demonstrate this by managing to
clean up after themselves! They can compare a picture to their own kitchen, lounge, bathroom, bedroom, windows etc
for themselves.
Should the property fail, cleaners should be automatically sent to the property and the tenants accounts debited.
This should be a part of the lease agreement, and clearly stated. There is no excuse for not cleaning four times a
year! Tenants should not be pandered to. They should not be allowed to 'take the piss' and produce a great burden
of paperwork and stress on TUU staff. The cleaners should be paid a set flat rate for the entire property,
independant of what they need to do. There is no excuse for not cleaning the property.
Alternatively, once a property or group of tenants have failed any inspection, the TUU should allocate cleaning
tasks to each tenant, and hold them individually accountable for their area. Tasks can be allocated after each
inspection, so that each tenant rotates to each area once a year. In this way only those tenants who don't do their
allocated cleaning duties will have to pay for a cleaner to do it for them. Any tenants who move out between
inspections can then be held accountable for the particular task they were assigned at the last inspection. If they
fail to meet the standards expected, the cleaning costs can be taken out of their bonds.
The moves recommended here might produce a little extra work initially, for management and staff, but would pay
off in the medium and long run handsomely in reduced stress, frustration, and administrative burden for TUU staff
responsible for inspections. The condition of all TUU managed properties would improve. This would be an advantage
to the TUU, and to all tenants. Remember many tenants are currently forced to endure dirty, unhygienic, and
disorderly living conditions due to the tenants they share with.
Letter sent to TUU Management
TUU Housing
Judy Munday
Manager, Corporate Services
Jonathon Jones
Managing Director
August 19, 2004
Markus Rehbach
Flat 1, 75 Molle St. Mobile: 0403 829 447
I am compelled to write to you regarding the appalling treatment I received at the hands of Judy Munday recently.
Judy arranged a conciliation meeting and at a time for which she informed me she had committed herself to two other
meetings. The other parties did in any case not feel compelled to attend. They told me disingenuously that they
had thought that the meeting was scheduled for that Saturday. I am not aware that Judy chastised them for their
lack of attendance. I had submitted a note stating that I had been seriously threatened on a number of occasions.
In fact during my last night at Villa 5, 328 Nelson Rd, I was forced to involve the police for the second time, due
to similar threats and behaviour from Jae Giu, the tenant of room 3 at villa 5.
Not one person apart from myself had reported any repairs or damage. This was a breach of the lease terms. This
can be proven by looking at the records. Jae Giu in fact broke into his room through the window the night before
his lease officially began. Li An had on at least one previous occasion broken into his own room. I can produce
witnesses if needed. He was rewarded for leaving his window open for days on end and apparently leaving his keys
out for anyone to find and use, with a new lock for his door. He was pandered to after making false and malicious
allegations about me. Jae Giu and Jason had been pandered to from the beginning. They had been emboldened by Judy
Munday to treat me with contempt and derision.
The only person who made any positive contribution to Villa 5 was myself. This included cleaning the entire
house on many occasions, and finally meeting my obligations for the inspection. The other tenants were rewarded for
never reporting repairs or damage, for never cleaning, for threatening me, and for provoking, annoying, and
disturbing me with the intent to get me to move, with my eviction. The only people who behaved in ways deserving of
eviction were Jae Giu, Jason, and Li An. The villa of course failed the inspection, at least twice up to the time I
was evicted. In fact Jae Giu and Jason actually left garbage strewn all over the back porch over the days leading
up to, and after, the inspection, demonstrating contempt and derision for the inspection process, and for TUU staff
carrying out inspections. There is no need to allow tenants to frustrate, stress-out, and over-burden TUU staff.
I have not yet been given any legitimate or compelling reason as to why Judy Munday evicted me. I demand to
know on what grounds I was evicted. As there are no legitimate grounds, I demand an apology from Judy Munday in
writing.
Please note: according to www.taswa.org “It is illegal for any owner to evict a tenant without a court
order-Penalty $4000.
As a consequence of Judy Munday’s victimisation, and apparently illegal eviction,I have been forced to incur
additional expenses, and was extremely ill. I suffered considerably as a result of Ms Munday’s victimisation. The
only concession Judy Munday appears to have made was to provide alternative accommodation at the same cost as the
previous one. However I in no way wanted to move from Mt. Nelson, nor would I chose my current accommodation over
Mt. Nelson. I moved to Molle St. as the only alternative offered to me, and because the TUU staff were so helpful
and understanding. I once more wish to commend the TUU staff, and seek that you, as management, take steps to
reduce their unnecessary work frustration, stress, and burdens, by streamlining the inspections procedure as I
recommended in the previous document. I believe you are responsible for allowing many tenants to ‘take the piss’
re: inspections.
Further, I have not received any reply to my complaints concerning the earlier behaviour of the tenants of Flat 4
, 75 Molle St. After a full week of 10pm to 4am noise disturbances I approached them myself, and was lucky to find
them positive and friendly people who understood my complaints and responded appropriately. This was a risk
however. I had been told to go through the TUU. The TUU did not intervene as far as I know. After being
victimised in the past for attempting to get some co-operation from co-tenants, I was postponed and confrontation as
long as I could endure.
It is very disturbing that I was told that Jonathon Jones, the General Manager, would not even talk to me, as I
was not a TUU student. My tenancy and lease were independent of my status as student of Charles Sturt University.
I was an ideal tenant, and still am. I have always done the right thing. Why have I been punished? Why do I not
have the same rights as students of UTAS? The TUU is independent of UTAS, isn’t it? Why does the TUU apparently
pander to overseas students? Why was TUU protocol not followed with respect to conciliation hearings? Why did Judy
feel confident at dismissing my grievances and TUU protocol in evicting me? What possible moral or ethical
principal could she have been following in acting so unjust?
For the record I have made considerable input into the cleanliness and general state of 75 Molle St. I have
removed large amounts of rotting/slimey/decomposing rubbish from the grounds and laundry at 75 Molle St. I arranged
to have the dumped car and washing machine recycled. I have left the laundry in a state which it has probably not
been in for many years i.e clean as a whistle. I have made this unsolicited contribution as a gesture to the hard
working staff of TUU housing, and to ensure that my living environment is safe and clean and a positive reflection
on myself. I have also put some work into realising the gardening visions of a previous gardener here.
I need to know that if any conflicts should arise in future, that protocols will be followed, and that all
parties will be treated equally and fairly. I am living in a constant state of fear of being evicted again at the
slightest whim of Judy. I need to know whether I was misinformed re: whether the General Manager would speak to me
about my grievances, and if not, what possible justification could there be for denying me access to the same
resources and remedies as other tenants.
If it is the case that non UTAS students or persons will be victimised and not treated fairly in any dispute with
UTAS students, and are not allowed access to the same resources and remedies, then this must be stated clearly on
the lease, and made known to all parties. Perhaps the newspapers would be the best media to disseminate this
information, should you consider it inappropriate to inform non-UTAS students yourselves. Many other real estate
property managers would be happy to take over properties that TUU Housing are currently managing, I am sure. I am
certain that the overworked / understaffed TUU maintenance and administration staff would also not complain should
they in future find themselves responsible for fewer properties. Non UTAS students should clearly seek
accommodation outside of the TUU housing scheme if it is a fact that they are ‘second class’ tenants in the eyes of
TUU Housing management.
Where UTAS students do not require particular properties, the leasing of them by other persons helps maintain the
financial viability of the TUU Housing scheme. Increased occupancy rates of TUU accommodation, and of management
fees paid by private owners to TUU Housing to manage their properties, all contribute to the successful operation of
the TUU housing scheme.
I will put together a brief for any journalist who might be interested in covering such a story from whatever
angle they chose. At present I prefer an apology and explanation. Failing this, I will be forced to contact the
Tenants Union in Barrack St. and the newspapers. I will of course keep any discussions with them limited to the
bare bones of what can be proven and demonstrated and documented.
You have a responsibility to me, to your staff, and to yourselves, to ensure a speedy, fair, and constructive
response to this letter.
Sincerely
Markus Rehbach
p.s this document has been formatted for inclusion on my web-site. You can view this document at
http://geocities.com/eden_protocols/tuu.html
Note to co-tenant of 75 Molle St
Friday, August 20, 2004
It's about courtesy
Each of us has one parking spot, allocated according to our flat number. These numbers are painted on the parking
spot. We unfortunately have been allocated the worst parking spots, one and four. Unfortunately the driveway is
smaller than the parking spaces, and it is very difficult to drive into my parking spot, number one. Yours, number
four, is also awkward, really requiring reverse parking. For this reason I understand that you chose to park in
parking spot 3. However your co-tenant or friend also parks every night in parking spot 2. This in itself is no
annoyance. However I chose to remind you of the fact that you are using up at least 2 parking spots, so that you
might be see my request as more reasonable as you otherwise might be inclined to, and validly so.
What I have formally requested in polite written and spoken interactions with you, is that the car parked in
parking space 2 be parked so that it is possible for me and my visitors to park in my allocated parking spot. As
you are aware, the driveway falls far short of my parking spot, so it is only possible to use it, the driveway, when
the car parked in spot two takes due care and consideration, and courtesy, by parking as far right as possible.
What this note is about is courtesy. Courtesy relates to how we behave in relation to others. Courtesy is about
anticipating the needs of others in advance, and considering their interests. In relation to the carparking
situation, courtesy is about taking care when parking. This requires merely taking a moments deliberate
consideration of how we are parking our car right now. It means being careful rather than haphazard, with
consideration for the incovenience our actions might impose on others. Instead of just cruising into the available
space as casually as we like, we have to pause, consider others, and park more deliberately and carefully. It is
really really really simple. All it requires is the positive intention. It is about courtesy.
I can anticipate that you and others may consider that matter trivial. However when seen as a question of mutual
respect, consideration, and 'courtesy', the matter is far from trivial. Human history is full of examples where a
lack of mutual courtesy, respect, and consideration has lead to great suffering and devastation. Whether we are
talking about nations or individuals, the principles are the same. Whether we are talking about war or road rage
the principle is the same. Whether we are talking about the destruction of war, or the collateral damage of road
rage i.e scratches, dents, flat tyres etc etc, we are in principal talking about the same thing. A lack of courtesy
produces costs to us all.
Please take this note in the positive way it was intended. However please also take this note seriously, in the
very serious way it was intended. Obviously the issue must be important enough to me to go to the lengths of
writing this note, and the risk of alientating or offending you. I do not want to offend you. I want us all
(humanity) to live in the harmony of mutual respect, consideration, and courtesy.
Please Please Please simply park to the right of the garbage bin, and close to the wall, so that I, and my
visitors, can use my parking space. I went to the effort to have the dumped car removed from your parking spot.
Please recognise that by making the effort to park with consideration in future. Please. A lack of consideration
and respect etc can really piss people off, as you probably know. When people are pissed off they are much more
likely to behave rash and unproductively.
I have made a real effort to clean and tidy up our common areas and gardens. I hope it is of some value to you.
Thankyou very much for your consideration and courtesy concerning the noise, and garbage. It is much
appreciated.
I do understand that the parking is a little difficult and complicated, and that most of the time I don't use my
parking spot. However I should not have to ask someone to move their car everytime I or my visitors wish to park.
All I ask for is a little consideration and courtesy.
Thankyou for your consideration.
Markus
Please note that I have formatted this document for inclusion on my web site. I am trying to transcend my
troubles and frustrations and produce some constructive and productive outcomes for the world in general. It will
be posted at http://geocities.com/eden_protocols/tuu.html
Note to co-tenant at 75 Molle St
I have gone to the effort of writing this with good intentions. I hope you can appreciate this and interact
positively with it and me.
I don't feel that you feel that the incident with the plants was resolved adequately or to your satisfaction. So
please consider the following. I do recognise your feeling that it was wrong of me, arrogant or self-righteous, to
move the plants after you or Abby had placed them in the garden bed. I can validate some element of these feelings
at some level. I hope that after considering the following you feel that at the very least, any interactions we
have in future will not be contaminated by ill feelings.
Please explain to me if I'm wrong, and why/how
The 'plants' in question were 1. cuttings of an aloe vera that had not taken root at all, and seemed doomed to
die, and 2.a that plant was quite pale, dessicated, and probably not long for this world. It was not in any way
particularly attractive. You placed both plants on the wall, where they were an eyesore for me, and a potential
threat to the PVC roof of the building below. I didn't complain to you about the scraggly, unnatractive plants.
The plants were placed where they would get virtually no sunlight. This was virtual 'herbicide'. Further, you left
the dirt covered containers on the laundry shelf-perhaps someone else might like to have somethings you didn't? I
had just cleaned the laundry of all of the sorts of things other people had left there, with the same ideas in mind.
You did not ask anyone if they had anything against you placing the plants either on the wall or in the plant
bed. You placed the plants directly next to the English Box shrubs, without any sensitivity to the layout of the
plant bed, or the sought after effect of the gardener who had gone to considerable effort in planting it. Had your
plants actually overcome all the odds and thrived, they would have ruined the harmony, symmetry, and pleasing effect
that the original gardener had invested so much energy into. They would also have been in competition with the
established plants in the bed.
I moved the plants to a prepared bed where they would get morning sunlight. I watered them, and continue to
water them, regularly. I took great care in the transplanting of them. Should they actually survive, they could
later be moved to somewhere more appropriate. I explained to you what I considered to be the overall effect that
the original gardener had been 'going for'. I explained that I could realise this effect by moving some other
plants from where they had overgrown to the corner where you had put your plants. I carefully transplanted them to
where they are now. If they survive and generate new bulbs like their 'parents' did, the overall effect intended by
the gardener will be approached, if not attained perfectly.
Take a look at how the garden is now, and imagine how it might be once the transplanted plants thrive, and
compare that with how it looked after you placed your plants where you did. Which is preferrable aescetically?
Which pays due respect to the hard work and intentions of the original gardener?
I put a lot of effort into cleaning up the common areas and laundry. I never asked for help. I never asked for
thanks. The common areas are much more attractive and comfortable now. You have made no positive contribution to
the appearance or state of the common areas or laundry. Surely the person who is willing to make the greatest
positive contribution, to put in the hard and dirty and unpleasant work, and go out of their way to make the place a
better place, has a greater moral right to decision making concerning the same place. In any case, you failed to
consider other tenants wishes, and failed to show the courtesy of consulting any tenants about your gardening plans.
What you do with the garden directly in front of your flat is perhaps your business, more or less. However the
plant bed in question was on my side of the flats, along my wall, and in the same spirit, perhaps more my business
than yours.
I would never have considered moving any plants in 'your' garden bed, let alone adding any. I would not have
moved any healthy looking plants without first consulting you, had you planted any substantial, healthy etc plants
where you did. You had no right to plant them there without consulting other tenants . Had your planting not been
so ugly, and interfered so with the beauty of the current bed and potential realisation of the gardener's vision, I
would not have felt compelled to move them anywhere. Had the plants had any chance of survival where and how you
had planted them, I would have been much more cautious, and would have been compelled to find out who had planted
them there and why, and discussed alternatives with them.
I would not have been compelled to do something if not in response to your original lack of consultation, and
independant decision making concerning common property. Yes, you started it, in fact. You cannot have any valid
moral claims to be in a position to somewhat condescendingly, inappropriately, perhaps arrogantly and smugly, not
to mention officiously and chastise me about what happened. I did no evil. I corrected an aesthetic and
moral (if you consider the interests of plants, and the value of beauty and respect for people's efforts and
intentions) wrong. While ideally I would have consulted everyone first, a criticism I accept as valid, the
situation in total did not compel me to. I did nothing more than move the plants to a better position vis a vis
their survival chances, aesthetics, and respect for the previous gardeners real efforts and intentions.
I apologise for any 'slight' I have done you and/or Abby, in moving the plants without consulting you. This
apology is sincere and appropriate.
However a more appropriate response from yourself would have been to accept my apology, and then recognise my
good intentions and compelling reasons for having moved the plants. Your manner was quite annoying and disturbing.
It was far from satisfactory. I will accept that you were upset, focussed on the 'slight' inadvertantly done to you
and/or Abby, and not dwell on it. I have myself behaved in ways that were less than ideal when I had felt slighted,
and do not expect others to be better than myself.
I'm not asking for an apology etc, just for understanding. I do not wish that the incident should have any
negative impact on any future interactions.
I took the time and effort to write this note as the incident had disturbed me considerably. Harmony is very
important to me. I hope you can appreciate this, and take this note in the positive and constructive way it was
offered.
If you feel I am wrong in anything I have written here, I will of course be open to your correction.
The world is how we behave, more or less. I hope my interactions produce a net benefit. It is unfortunate that
you felt 'slighted', and I apologise for any responsibility I have for that. I did not intend to do so. I hope you
can forgive me for being no more perfect than yourself. I hope the garden thrives, and does justice to the efforts
and intentions of all of those who have contributed to it's existence, and provide pleasure for many generations of
tenants after us. I hope the plants you planted also survive and thrive. I will continue to water them, and the
rest of the garden.
This note has been formatted for my website at http://geocities.com/eden_protocols/tuu.html
I wrote it in
an attempt to transcend my troubles and frustrations in a constructive way, providing potential insights for others
Another incident at Molle St. flats:On Tuesday morning Tenant was smoking in common area. I was sick. The smoke made me feel ill. I remindend tenant that smoking was not allowed in the common area or flats, and asked tenant to cease breaching the tenanacy agreement. Tenant did not cease. I came out with container of water and stated that I would put the offending cigarette out myself if tenant wouldn't. Tenant appeared to put cigarette out.
There was silence. Tenant then proceeded to yell abuse and threats. Tenant said that I was a "scared little $#@&!!", that I was "scared shitless of a confident woman", that I was "fucked now", that she would "kick your(my) head in myself(herself), or get someone else to". I stated that I would report the threats to the police that afternoon."You're a fuckwit". Tenant said the police would laugh at me. Tenant warned me to stay out of tenants life. This is ironic as tenant wouldn't respect my privacy and acoustically invaded my home regularly at all hours. I stated that in my opinion no-one had ever made tenant responsible for her actions, that tenant was an indulged brat, that tenant had no respect for tenant or anyone else, that tenants parents never let her experience consequences of tenants behaviour, that everyone made excuses for tenant, that tenant wouldn't take responsibility for tenants actions, and that tenant was obviously intelligent, knowing exactly what to say to manipulate people and situations, and that it was sad that tenatn would never realise tenants potential if tenant didn't change. Tenant stormed off stating "I don't have to sit around here and take compliments from you".
I asked TUU to give her another copy of her key. I told TUU of the threats. I didn't report the incident. The next next morning at around 1am tenant turned t.v up loud, waking me, and constantly changing the volume from disturbing to quiet, and then audible, and then louder. This disturbed my sleep until well past 2am this morning.
More wagga wagga
N.B I haven't written this up properly yet. I just found it in some other notes.
The landlady leaves lights on, washes every day with few items, keeps two freezers full of ice (
used
when?) in a hot room…..but turns A/C off…said would leave to me, before
said no
worries, then wants me to pay more…6c and hour (later claims 12 c) but I
don’t
cook, wash once a week, short showers, no stereo, turn tv etc off vs
standby,
one light and small tv…ie. Use for EP internal pissed off dialogues
Agreed non-smoking house…in house and public areas, only allowed in own
room or occasionally with windows open …but does, leaving all windows
closed
even tho summer evening…so smoke stays hours in house…smoke o.k, but
terrified
of coffee stains on dishcloth…real big deal, confronts P over…and leaves
hot
water running for ages to rinse one cup, i.e leaves in sink with hot
water
flowing over, actually washes all items individually in fast running hot
water…and complains to P of energy bill when turns aircon on on hot
night…and
so P turns/leaves off, and they come in and turn it on, and leave on
until P
turns it off at 2 am when pretty cold…all stinks of really strong
eucalyptus
i.e burns eyes, sick to stomach etc…that o.k, to cover smoke fumes from
night
before, which could have avoided if opened windows i.e typical stupid
humans
try to cover up toxic fumes i.e stink tells us there is something bad,
and
instead of airing the place and getting rid of potential health risk
etc, they
close everything up and cover up smell, so that toxin remains, but our
‘senses’ are deprived of the information that it is there so it can harm
us….and other cheerful in morning as knows pisses me off, wants my room,
and
to irritate me, wants me to leave…leaves window totally open, when at
side
entrance to house, and at thigh height…hid wood I made so could ‘lock’ a
little open…prev. put detergent right next to cold tap, and when I moved
it to
use tap, she kept putting back, and eventually got ‘upset’ and had to
confront
me about why I was moving obstacle constantly, but finally agreed to put
next
to hot tap I don’t use…i.e her placement was ‘natural’ place to put it
i.e
where I would always have to bump into it everytime I used tap i.e
scratches,
and get crap on hand etc…she was upset enough about me moving it to have
to
talk to me about it…
Char rents rooms, old, and deliberately puts t.v on really loud up till
2am, (to force renter to interact with?) after explaining to P that
daughter
constantly told her off that t.v was always too loud etc ….next morning
“you’re pissed off at me for t.v last night” – aggressively and angrily
as if
being so was inappropriate..and first thing in morning before coffee or
even
woken up at all. P states “not fair’’ to talk about that right then…Char
neurotic like all, and P is not going to play their game…Char wants
interaction, he wants peace and quiet…even angry for own neurotic
reasons i.e
to loaded interaction…no need to explain what wrong with loud t.v at 2am
i.e
why have problem with that behaviour…”oh, I had t.v on cos I had to
crochet” P
said “that’s not the point” i.e char had t.v in own room, and had
obligation
in any case to turn volume as low as possible so as not to disturb
others
sleep…and this was for second day running i.e avoided confrontation over
first
night hoping it was exception that could be overlooked i.e
generously…claims
deaf…good excuse to get P to repeat himself constantly, to stretch out
interactions, when obviously stressful for P to continually repeat
self…like
own mother did, i.e not respect i.e didn’t bother listening when spoken
to….P
experienced such interactions as real abuse…if someone takes effort to
talk,
then other should listen…P was always mentally engaged in deep thoughts,
and
resented being forced to interact unproductively on stupid level…or
sought
relaxation i.e empty mind, i.e peace …sweated when forced to interact,
felt
like trapped animal….Char intimated that visitors would not leave him in
peace, would ask heaps of questions, and when P said would be in own
room
mostly char intimated that that was unacceptable i.e he had to interact
with
old lonely etc people one came to door, and tried to start up
conversation,
even came through door after told Char not home…and P terrified he
wouldn’t be
able to get rid of her ….luckily she just dropped off newspaper…P felt
rude,
but felt forced to be rude, as otherwise would not be left in peace…had
nothing against a few polite words, but when asked to repeat a few words
would
be dragged into conversation he obviously did not want to have, and felt
abused that others would abuse him so, and use him for interactions etc
old closes my door as I turn t.v up so can hear above hers in my own
room...but her rights more than mine so closes my door angrily, arguing
she is
deaf, but interestingly enough selectively ie can hear my tv but not her
own...but later consider may mean ability to distinguish vs that....
assume turned down as rachel wanted quieter? but r keeps on loud all
day,
had to ask after 11pm to turn down, and leaves on loud even when not
even in
house for hours, and pissed off if I turn down...and I played music loud
maybe
maximum 30 minutes in 2 months and she complains, and turns exhaust fan
off
after I come out cos her meat stinking my room out, and she turns off,
twice,
to piss me off, so I feel how she does when I lock her window for
security
when all gone? she actually turned my tv off at tv when I went to make
cup of
coffee...so I know how she feels when she goes out onto verandah for
hours
chatting and leaves t.v blaring...
olds logic...house not burguled in 6 years so can leave windows open
all
day when no-one home, but at night got to close all windows when
everyone
home, and stinking hot still...and goes out at night to daughters,
leaves
everything open, and stays for hours, I come home everything open...but,
when
all home must even lock back door and close blinds totally...slammed
window
shut and told me off...came home and one blind open...to circulate some
fresh
air in room and hot cupboard...junk everywhere, but can't leave thin
cupboard
door open as thats not attractive...oh, and bathroom window 'stinks',
but in 3
months I haven't smellt anything but her ciggerettes and horrible
incense
burner that burns my eyes and makes me nauseaous....I have to negotiate
everything endlessly and she does what she wants as if everyone else
wrong..always closes my door (can't close by self) or Rachel, but both
deny
it...i.e handle on wrong way so have to use handle to close door, only
wind
can open, not close, .... no-one will climb in thigh height windows in
daytime, but at night when all home too dangerous to leave anything open
at
all.
bitch turns exhaust fan off after so much explanation and pleading and even
shouting before I come out to do so...feels compelled to turn that off when it is so important to me, but leaves fucking everything else on all night and
day, without any concern...but the fucking exhaust fan after all I went
through about...just fucking drives me mad..and she was even smoking at the
time...why on fucking earth did she do that?
weeks on end, not particularly hot or quiet-front windows left open
all night-now rachel gone too noisy again, and I am countermanded as
if the last few weeks hadn't happened i.e I comment, "the last few
weeks you've left them open etc" bitch as usual tried to force me to
repeat self again and again, and I hadn't even had coffee, as usual
she just does what suits her without consideration others...selfish
bitch...so I just answer, 'I'll leave them closed then'...and later
told I had apparently left ceiling exhaust fan on...and she tried to
interrogate as to why I had turned it on in the first place i.e tone
and manner clearly stating she saw no reason to turn it on...probably
was terribly strong detergent-bleach she had left in kitchen...in fact
she cleaned kitchen and house over several days, with absolutely no
interest that there was no space for me to cook or prepare anything at
all, and left things all over the place
rachel had turned on aircon at 2a.m...no worries, and had flooded
whole house, no worries, but now I turn fan on when hot in my room
(always much hotter there) and she just turned it off, or right down
and then off...after saying she'd leave it on til I turned it off, and
herself often leaving it on until early morning, and I turned off cos
really cold even in my room...impossible bitch...and still leaves
lamps and lights and t.v on, inlcuding overnight on standby, all day
long but turns exhaust fan off as can't see reason for!!! after I have
yelled and shouted about how important etc is
extremely unnecessarily loud t.v...expects me to put up with all day,
and after 11pm have to come out and ask, and then only put down a
little, but whinges that the road noise, now rachel not here, disturbs
her sleep, and interrogates me about why I would open the windows
"hadn't she herself closed them?" how dare I open them, what mad ideas
would I have to justify doing that?
insult-turned fan off as 'not necessary' but everything
else-including t.v while in bath/at uni/asleep/outside etc is...told
me off after expressed it was rude to interupt but so important I did
to demonstrate importance...her comment "I would have found something
to whinge about even if no-one was home at all" i.e deep insult, lack
of respect, lack of validation of my experience i.e smoke, strong
smells, noise, lack of fresh air, heat...house full of junk, hardly
place in kitchen to use, leaves stuff everywhere, and no respect that
its all in the way...I leave 1 cup with something soaking in it, and
she has to empty cup etc i.e so fucking blinkered and her her her
fucking her selfish bitch...how dare a couple not want to spend
christmas with her! She hounded them!
said she wouldn't have read letter I put so much energy and worry etc
into
end wagga wagga
Security guard experience from notes
Target supervisor...focussed on 'flexibility' for her rostering...re: 3
hrs then split shift i.e 3 and 3...."easier for me"..."they don't have to
come in"...but of course have to take whatever work available so do have to
come in...n.b minimum shift now 3 hrs, $15 hr...add parking fees,
travelling costs and time, getting ready, uniforms, etc really full days
work, once working working...
offered security work, 3 patrol shifts and 2 days where had to work
2 hours in morning and one in afternoon ... but would mean getting up after
4 hours sleep i.e ruining pattern totally...and felt really bad i.e really
tortured self, agonised over decision...but employer had no problem simply
withdrawing all work cos it didn't suit him...and had complained couldn't
get anyone i.e to do patrol work...what meant couldn't get anyone desperate
enough to allow self to be totally exploited...
relieved once offer withdrawn i.e time now own, no need to 'sell' self
so cheaply, be slave for bit of money...i.e sort of final i.e if took work
was from then on 'security guard' i.e no more hope or dreams...unemployment
meant that the future still appeared open i.e could become anything...i.e
could still dream...and could now sleep when wanted to i.e not have to be
up and about at particular time...any appointments were like slavery i.e
had to plan entire day around, sleep patterns, etc i.e stress of making
appointment, couldn't start anything that couldn't finish in time to make
appointment i.e couldn't just take advantage of energy or mood to exercise
or play guitar...work and appointments rule life...in same way hated idea
of going out...as might not feel in mood, but had to be dressed, make sure
didn't over indulge i.e bloated etc etc
2 hours then one made sense as rational i.e provided impression that
security was present, at times statistically most likely to have criminals
around etc i.e example of how extreme rationalisation of work can get i.e
only turn up to provide impression of security
I hated feeling obliged to pander to, support, agree with i.e
mislead people as to true beliefs etc and support their faulty reasoning,
unethical etc cos dependant on them for employment or some other resource
or grateful for them doing what they should automatically do...as same as
lieing, producing injustice and supporting invalid behaviours and beliefs
and behaviours...eg prev. employee should pay for the car accident they had at work, according to my 'boss'.
why? but felt needed to go along with i.e not hard to miss parked car etc
i.e support employers side of story, though in fact felt morally compelled
and logically compelled to support employee, and challenge employer as
unfair and unreasonable...but 'inappropriate' i.e social reality,
ignorance, lack of authenticity...though of course employer would claim had
no problem with employee arguing against him i.e 'australian way' in
reality would jeapardise employment and most people dependant on work to
support family etc etc
Didn't feel convincing as security guard...no props, guns, baton,
handcuffs etc...felt naked and exposed and ridiculous...people as first
cold to (some actually just bitches i.e brought back sun lounge, she
stupidly opens and closes legs of, makes no move to open and close actual
lounge which was problem and said easier for them to see for self than
explain what wrong, but kept idiotically opening and closing legs, leaving
lounge itself closed...really irritating, frustrating, imbicilic real
bitch)...i.e no response to,....and negative feedback loops i.e I showed no
friendliness, they didn't respond, I took their lack of friendliness as
being unfriendly, therefore no smile etc...i.e someone must begin positive
feedback i.e build up expectation that other friendly, will respond
friendly, is feeling positive and friendly towards...tripped over kid and
old woman i.e looking all over place vs in front of me...then few people
smiled genuinely in response to smile and natural warmth...but did that
lead to loss of authority? what was his position, what was expected etc?
employer state emphatically that "the kmart work is important to us",
well actually worth $40 a day? i.e they get money from, but worker none i.e
if really valueable then would employe someone on reasonable basis...at
least 3 hours straight i.e irony....always felt had back to someone i.e 50%
observation i.e funny hey!
Couldn't sleep, worried re: what should do and depressed at idea of
being exploited re: totally crap unnacceptable immoral work hours and how
stupid felt in security shirt..no idea, no power...felt like idiot
new trick...job centers won't tell you where job is and what is, until
you have applied i.e at interview, as will breach you if you don't take job
offer...i.e advertise as salesassistant job i.e general, so all in that
category must apply, and find out too late that it is a job they never
would have applied for, which is why they are tricked into applying for it
and forced to accept it...i.e unethical etc
wondered how others saw him...saw through him...any point pretending to
be security guard?
offered work, really crap i.e 2 plus 1 hours, unpaid 2 .5 hours break,
and three 11 hour night shifts...felt totally wrong, unfair, shouldn't be
asking to i.e how dare employer even offer...but felt obliged to do, to get
3 decent shifts...then realised would totally ruin sleep patterns....but
still felt guilty...how to tell couldn't do...after had spontaneously
agreed to without thinking, more thankful for work than rational i.e
emotional...he was so 'nice' etc even after people had been so evil to
him...really had to 'overcome' self i.e find way to 'justify' to self
1. mall management should treat security guards more humanely i.e not offer
ridiculously wrong hours...no union would ever have accepted...but
'workplace agreement' o.k? i.e vetted by appropriate people as acceptable?
.....the point was that it was immoral, but he couldn't risk offending
employer...but morally obliged to...luckily realised it would ruin sleep
patterns, so had 'reasonable' grounds to reject what had already accepted
off the cuff..n.b employer had never said how much would be getting paid,
and wanted to pay cash in hand.....how could he philosophise against the
whole world, stand up to victimisers at such great personal cost,and then
still feel bad about turning down really exploitative work should never
have been asked to do? i.e low self-esteem, desperation, inability to
stand up for self...felt obliged to employer as had offered work, and
desperate!!!...actually felt panic, as if had killed someone, i.e guilt at
planning to refuse those crappy hours...wanted to call asap to get it over
with, as if he was breaking some girls heart etc kicking someone out of
home...things that people had maliciously done to him several times, and
apparently felt no remorse etc...and here he was agonising over such a
right thing to do...didn't like stuffing anyone around...
End Security guard bit
More Molle St from notes
On Tuesday morning Tenant was smoking in common area. I was sick. The
smoke made me feel ill. I remindend tenant that smoking was not allowed in
the common area or flats, and asked tenant to cease breaching the tenanacy
agreement. Tenant did not cease. I came out with container of water and
stated that I would put the offending cigarette out myself if tenant
wouldn't. Tenant appeared to put cigarette out.
There was silence. Tenant then proceeded to yell abuse and threats.
Tenant said that I was a "scared little $#@&!!", that I was "scared
shitless of a confident woman", that I was "fucked now", that she would
"kick your head in myself, or get someone else to". I stated that I would
report the threats to the police that afternoon."You're a fuckwit". Tenant
said the police would laugh at me. Tenant warned me to stay out of tenants
life. This is ironic as tenant wouldn't respect my privacy and
acoustically invaded my home regularly at all hours. I stated that in my
opinion no-one had ever made tenant responsible for her actions, that
tenant was an indulged brat, that tenant had no respect for tenant or
anyone else, that tenants parents never let her experience consequences of
tenants behaviour, that everyone made excuses for tenant, that tenant
wouldn't take responsibility for tenants actions, and that tenant was
obviously intelligent, knowing exactly what to say to manipulate people and
situations, and that it was sad that tenatn would never realise tenants
potential if tenant didn't change. Tenant stormed off stating "I don't
have to sit around here and take compliments from you".
I asked TUU to give her another copy of her key. I told TUU of the
threats. I didn't report the incident. The next next morning at around
1am tenant turned t.v up loud, waking me, and constantly changing the
volume from disturbing to quiet, and then audible, and then louder. This
disturbed my sleep until well past 2am this morning.
End More Molle St.
More Molle St for people!
feels like prisoner-unit no privacy-young fat idiot keeps trying to
engage-feels lke can’t tell her to fuck off i.e feels guilty-but she
won’t take
subtle message-even written-and keeps singing, whistling, guitar playing
etc
loudly at all hours with door etc open as if this (in his head anyway)
might
appeal to him, be some common ground or whatever...really pissed him
off, her
lack of (shame? too hard a word...but she should have much more
modesty)
modesty i.e shouldn’t assume others want to hear, that her voice somehow
attractive etc i.e someone living in denial of own fatness, inaneness,
lack of
qualities that would make someone attractive even as talking
partner...and
talked and laughed like thick idiot, like tasteless inane idiot...she
won’t
take message, takes any chance to try to engage...he feels like has to
keep all
curtains drawn etc just so she won’t take the fact that curtain slightly
open
to be an invitation etc...feels a bit at fault as was so relieved to
find her
and boyfriend not such the threat they had appeared at first that talked
to
quite a bit first time met etc...but explained that under stress and
didn’t
want to take it out on anyone else i.e merely requested to be left
alone...n.b
earlier ‘threats’ i.e clothes just draped on line right outside window,
just
draped as if provoking interaction...and in shower guy stating over and
over
that he was going to bash him/someone...and some junky coughing guts up
all
night right outside his unit i.e when the person should have been meters
across
outside own unit...had felt so pissed off, even though threatened, that
took
down clothes and clothesline...and put in bag on bench next to
unit...which
they didn’t ever look in ... i.e as if wanting some excuse to provoke
confrontation...but he couldn’t put up with bullshit so had taken the
risk,
even though imagined the guy was big and aggressive, knew had to take
risk and
stand up for self...otherwise would never feel like a real man i.e
always
living in fear of idiots who would make life unbearable i.e force to
live dumb
ugly existence they did i.e flashbacks to bathurst...and it was sunny,
so was
in refreshingly positive mood, i.e things had turned out much better
than had
expected, and had talked more than should have i.e felt like he was
‘pulling
the plug’ i.e made false impression of level of interaction to be
expected of
him etc...as usual anyway she seemed reasonable and intelligent, but
really
inane, no sense of own inaneness, own tastlessness i.e like the woman
and her
singing in ‘keeping up appearances’.
silly fat girl whistling inanely, singing loudly all night, with no correct phrasing or pitch...should be self-conscious as crap...but full of inane self deluded confidence i.e had no right to be...typical toneless monotone female lilting...tortures songs ...
end more Molle St.
Re: St. Johns First Aid course
St. Johns first aid..no real assessment, too fast, no time to revise/make
notes, clarify in head etc i.e rushed on, and as usual most participants just
wanted certificate vs competency i.e there cos had to be for one reason or
other, not to learn first aid per se...should leave theory to homework with
assessments during or after course...and time at home to prepare with book etc
then can practise in head at home, at own speed, and then practise during
course...and all should practise every scenario i.e be able to do, vs have
notion of...so confident and capable in all scenarios...wouldn't let have book
before course as some would then get but not turn up or pay for book...in fact
haven't looked in book yet at all.
end St. Johns First aid course
Hobart backpackers
feud with landlord re:turns off heater, none in room, and leaves
door full open wide, letting in freezing wind...freezing cold...and psychos sent from salvation army etc i.e there's only one bible
end Hobart backpackers