Really Happened How Would You Respond?

[The Night Rider]

Before I say anything else let me say that I am completely aware that had I minded my own business this never would have happened.

New neighbors moving in today. I went to take the trash out and I noticed that they left some rain boots on the front porch.

When I was coming back from taking the trash they were coming out of the building and I mentioned that in our neighborhood they were likely to lose their boots leaving them out.

Guy 1 acknowledged what I said and told me he was familiar with the neighborhood. Essentially he told me to mind my own business. He wasn't wrong.

Guy 2 put his hand on his hip and moved his shirt a little and exposed an IWB holster but he never exposed the gun or made any indication that he was reaching for it.

I can't even say he was trying to intimidate me because the only reason I knew what I was seeing was because I knew what I was seeing. I don't think most people would have.

I apologized for interfering in their lives and went back to my apartment.

IMO Calling the police would have been counterproductive no matter what.

1. The police show up and I'm wrong (or I'm right but they dumped the gun) and I just started a "war" with my next door neighbors.

2. (Most likely) CSPD is 300 officers short and they are doing everything they can to duck calls unless someone is actually dieing. And I wasted my time

Going forward I fully intend to ignore these people as long as they live here and never start another conversation with them again.

What could I have done better (Besides mind my own business in the first place)?

 

[upptick]

People reflect the vibe you give off. Introducing a negative concept as the first thing out of your mouth produced the likely result, seems to me.

 

[The Glockodile]

Before I say anything else let me say that I am completely aware that had I minded my own business this never would have happened.

New neighbors moving in today. I went to take the trash out and I noticed that they left some rain boots on the front porch.

When I was coming back from taking the trash they were coming out of the building and I mentioned that in our neighborhood they were likely to lose their boots leaving them out.

Guy 1 acknowledged what I said and told me he was familiar with the neighborhood. Essentially he told me to mind my own business. He wasn't wrong.

Guy 2 put his hand on his hip and moved his shirt a little and exposed an IWB holster but he never exposed the gun or made any indication that he was reaching for it.

I can't even say he was trying to intimidate me because the only reason I knew what I was seeing was because I knew what I was seeing. I don't think most people would have.

I apologized for interfering in their lives and went back to my apartment.

Lots of reasons...

Wording?

Clothing / demeanor / overall appearance?

Are you of a skin color or accent they're bigoted against?

No encounter is often a good encounter..,

 

[bdickens]

People reflect the vibe you give off. Introducing a negative concept as the first thing out of your mouth produced the likely result, seems to me.

What a load of crap. Any decent human being would have responded to the comment according to the spirit in which it was intended.

I probably would have handled it much like the OP did and then Richard Cranium there could just lose his damn Boots the next time.

 

[JO JO]

I keep to myself more than I used to , seems nowadays folks are angry , stressed out , and just plain unfriendly

 

[The Night Rider]

Lots of reasons...

Wording?

I said "Excuse me, I know this isn't my business but. In this neighborhood someone might swipe your shoes if you leave them out like that."

Clothing / demeanor / overall appearance?

Them? Jeans and T-shirts. They weren't too happy with me approaching them.

Me Late 50s Gym shorts and T-shirt

Are you of a skin color or accent they're bigoted against?

All three of us are white

 

[The Glockodile]

Perhaps they’re just of the hypersituationally aware pseudosheepdoggy quasiwarriormindset bubbakerseyvigilante types.

Lots of “have gun, will alfa male” nowadays.

Don’t really mean it in a tongue - in - cheek fashion, we‘re not exactly the Swiss.

 

[LocoGringo]

I wasn't there obviously, but could the guy who moved his shirt to suggest/expose concealed carry have been suggesting that they were prepared for lawbreakers by concealed carrying? The gesture wasn't necessarily against you, just showing you they were prepared?

 

[The Night Rider]

I wasn't there obviously, but could the guy who moved his shirt to suggest/expose concealed carry have been suggesting that they were prepared for lawbreakers by concealed carrying? The gesture wasn't necessarily against you, just showing you they were prepared?

Possibly.

It's also entirely possible that it was just a Nervous Tic on his part and he didn't even realize he was doing it

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

They sound like D-bags. Hopefully they move on soon.

A group of inked-up cartelinos set up a suburban distribution center next door to me a few years ago. There was a lot or car traffic in and out of their driveway, but they kept the lawn mowed, never had any loud parties, and always gave me a friendly wave hello whenever we passed at the mailbox.
Man, I miss those guys. They were the best neighbors I ever had.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Take 'em a loaf of fresh-from-the-oven bread or a plate of cookies or some fudge, and say "I hope that I didn't come off like a horse's a$% the other day. Wasn't my intention. Welcome to the building/neighborhood/complex. If I can ever help you with anything I'm in apartment number 4. Happy New Year."

And then head home. Letting them decide how they want to respond.


How people respond to this kind of treatment tells me everything that I want to know about them. At least at first.

And it keeps them off-balance when trying to decide what kind of a person I might be.


I took this approach with a neighbor who moved in down the road from me here in the sticks (a couple of miles away). They didn't say "that's nice" or even "thank you". Not so much as a "kiss my a$%". So, it came as no surprise to me that a few months later these clowns were caught and convicted of burgling the property adjoining mine and destroying a gate by shooting the lock and running it over while drunk in the middle of the night.

 

[JeffG]

I would outwardly ignore them. Poor misunderstood whatevers. Jot down as many vehicle plates and person descriptions you can quietly manage. The cops will no doubt need them when the "event" happens. Flash a gun at me, I'm done.

 

[nettlle]

We live out in the country. Saying something about the how we take care of our property or any other things would not only be an insult to me but also to anyone else I may say this to. Especially if we don't know them.

It's called minding our own business. Sacred in the country.

 

[Ed]

In their minds you called them trash for littering up the place and said if they leave their junk out again you will take it.

Maybe….

 

[The Night Rider]

In their minds you called them trash for littering up the place and said if they leave their junk out again you will take it.

Maybe….

No

 

[The Night Rider]

A very important thing to note here.

I mentioned a few posts back that the second guy might not have even realized that he'd exposed his holster.

There was a lot of room there for a drastic overreaction on my part

 

[nettlle]

We moved to the country because we got tired of neighbors sticking their nose into our business (among other things) and wanted to be left a alone. We can take care of ourselves. I am sure you intentions were admirable and I respect you for that.

Kindness can be perceived as a weakness.

Almost everyone carries (including me) around here. Seeing a holstered gun would not be perceived as a threat. Rain boots are safe on the porch where I live. And perhaps where your new neighbors came from also.

 

[The Night Rider]

Take 'em a loaf of fresh-from-the-oven bread or a plate of cookies or some fudge, and say "I hope that I didn't come off like a horse's a$% the other day. Wasn't my intention. Welcome to the building/neighborhood/complex. If I can ever help you with anything I'm in apartment number 4. Happy New Year."

They made it very clear that they wished to be left alone. I fully intend to honor their wishes.

I know nothing about these folks and they may very well be the very last people on this planet that I want to trifle with.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Guy 1 acknowledged what I said and told me he was familiar with the neighborhood.

...does not equal...

They made it very clear that they wished to be left alone.

At least to this reader.

But, your story, your inference.

 

[The Night Rider]

Typo

 

[The Night Rider]

...does not equal...

Guy 1 acknowledged what I said and told me he was familiar with the neighborhood. Essentially he told me to mind my own business. He wasn't wrong.

Did you miss the Bold text in my original post ?

 

[The Night Rider]

One of the most important things that I want to communicate here is that when Guy 2 twitched his shirt and I saw the holster, I could have really overreacted and caused myself a hell of an unnecessary problem

 

[Blue Jays]

The new neighbor Guy# 2 had a distinct responsibility to keep his firearm and holster concealed in this scenario.

 

[The Night Rider]

The new neighbor Guy# 2 had a distinct responsibility to keep his firearm and holster concealed in this scenario.

I don't disagree but I'm not accountable for what he does I'm accountable for what I do

 

[HHollow]

Guy 2 was probably just scratching his balls.

And on private property why in the heck should it matter if he exposes himself (or his gat) in the process.