There is an old bit of wisdom that goes "no good deed goes unpunished". It implies that no matter how hard you try, the world is going to find a way to screw you over. It seems today that is more true than it has ever been. Now more than ever the victim mentality is front and center. Everyone feels they have been wronged in some way, and everyone also feels like all their problems are someone else's fault.
On the flip side, there is also a saying accredited to P.T. Barnum that says "there is a sucker born every minute"
Accidents happen, and while we wish there was some kind of answer or explanation for why, they just do. The sooner you can accept that and move on with your life, the happier you will be. On the other hand, there are those who simply draw misfortune to themselves. More often than not through their bad decisions. Which reminds me of another quote I heard one time:
"You aren't unlucky, you just make bad decisions"
This past weekend, amidst the national dumpster fire that has been proliferating the news, I heard a local story, that is so crazy, you wouldn't believe it is true.
In a small town in Michigan, kind of out in the country, not really near any big towns, there was a lady who lived in a house. I'm guessing she owned the house or at the very least had a mortgage, they don't quite say, but just know that this lady was living in this house.
Apparently, she made friends (or something) with some vagabond type folks that were living in an old school bus. They asked the lady if they could park the bus in her driveway for a bit, and out of he goodness of her heart (or pure stupidity) she agreed.
Fast forward several months later, the people are still living in the bus on her property, she wants them gone, but the bus is broke down and they can't move it. Meanwhile, the people were having mail delivered to the bus, so now according to the police they have established some form of residency, so they can't just forcefully remove them from the property.
To add insult to injury, the people got tired of the lady bugging them to get off her property, so they filed a restraining order and according to the lady, she can't even be in her own house now because it is too close to the bus and therefore a violation of the restraining order.
They did an interview with the local police department, and as you would expect, their logic was about as inept as can be.
Given the backwoods nature of this town, I'm actually surprised one of the local guys with a tractor hasn't hooked up to the bus and removed it from the property for the lady out of the goodness of their heart.
Make no mistake, I am sure there is probably a lot more to this story than any of us will ever know. It's pretty crazy though how people are able to work the system to make life miserable for someone just trying do the right thing. It has become far too common these days squatters basically taking over properties without the owner even knowing it due to some misguided attempts to be fair. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for taking care of those who are less advantaged, but there is a point where people know they are gaming the system.
It's easy to think things like this are just a big city problem. I've heard quite a few stories down in the Detroit area of people being basically run out of their houses in situations like this or similar.
There's a song that goes "Try that in a small town", but the sad thing is, this is happening in a small town. I'm actually kind of interested to see what happens with it now that the local news has covered it and public outcry will likely be at a fever pitch.
Of course, there will likely be those who support the people in the bus and paint them as the victim.
No good deed.... right?
My Sports Account - @bozz.sports
Come hang out in The Pub
I agree there’s probably more to the situation than what’s in the news, but on the surface it does look like the system can be manipulated if someone understands the loopholes.
I did a little reading and there is a bit more, but it's still nothing that the local authorities shouldn't have just taken care of.
Crazy world we live in!!
As an elderly homeowner/mortgage holder, I am acutely aware and paranoid of having people, even (or especially) family come to stay with me. And yet I feel guilt because I have 3 bedrooms, only one of which is being used. (by me)
Where do you go? What's the answer?
I could really use help around the house and yard, but it galls me to have to pay someone to come help me with stuff.
Great post @bozz
Yeah, I can't imagine that is an easy position to be in. It's crazy the lengths people will go to these days just to take advantage of someone.
You are right. Hear about stuff like this all the time. Why I will never let someone stay with us for extended periods of time. Except my kids and father-in-law, I would think in a midwest country town, someone would have ran them off by gun point by now.
I would have thought so too. Maybe people just didn't know all the details. It will be interesting to see what happens now that the news has covered it.
Wtf!!! How could they get a restraining order, the world has gone truly mad!!! I hope someone from the town will help the lady out
Yeah, I about fell off the couch when I heard that part!
Oh, wow. What a horrible blog (the blog is good: the news really, really bad). I am surprised someone in that town hasn't taken a hand in this. Some middle of the night justice. She was stupid, but should punishment be so harsh for stupidity?
There is a line in your blog:
I am heartsick over this. Hard to think of anything else. Everything is so insignificant by comparison. I've finally returned to Muskland (Twitter) to vent, but that does no good. Or does it? I don't know.
I've got some other stuff going on personally that has been on my mind a lot more than the current global stuff, but it's always present on the periphery.
Yes, you have to be very careful when you own something in America. If people know you have something they will try to sue you for it to take at least a piece of it...
That's completely nuts! But it's a good reminder to be on your guard and not let the kindness of your heart make you naive.
Yeah, no kidding!
That's insane! There are a few similar stories around here of homeless encampments and thugs where homeowners have been run out of their own homes because local authorities fail to deal with the crime and intimidation. The criminals seem to have more protection that the victims these days. I'm afraid this will eventually cause people to become even more isolated and too scared to connect with strangers.
Yes, I think that is right. It's mind blowing how ridiculous the authorities are being about this in the town. If they are an elected position I'd be worried about still having my job.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:u37t33dyaufvrqujwmvm54ln/post/3mg37ylol4k2y
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:u37t33dyaufvrqujwmvm54ln/post/3mg37ylol4k2y
The rewards earned on this comment will go to the author of the blog post.
You received an upvote of 100% from Precious the Silver Mermaid!
Please remember to contribute great content to the #SilverGoldStackers tag to create another Precious Gem.
This is bullshit. Just because you have mail delivered to a certain address, does not give you right to the property and the lady, regardless if it's her property of it's leased to her, is still the "owner" and has the right to kick them out and call the police on the for trespassing or call it whatever you like. You really live in a twisted country, no offense.
Not me, they are living there abusively.
It's a pretty crazy situation. It turns out it's her daughters friends and she was just trying to be nice. They showed an interview with the people living in the bus and they seriously had a ring camera on the outside of their bus...
We really live in a crazy world.
People will be people….
!pimp
Who knows what the truth is, but I am sticking by the lady on this one because the bus needs to be moved and what ever the story is the bus must go. You would think a local would get the job done or possibly there is a bus fire or some mishap required.
The whole world seems to have gone nuts right now. I'm shocked that the local police gave the bus dwellers that order against her! I hope she prevails.