Special Snowflake Stories

[Elphaba]

I know it was a few pages back, but I have to say how happy I am that there are other people who have problems with the layouts at Panera! The one closest to me is so strangely and poorly laid out that I avoid going at busy times otherwise I get so anxious/stressed about where I'm supposed to stand, if I'm in someone's way, that someone's clearly in MY way (but they probably don't realize it due to the poor layout) that I can't handle it!

In "my" Panera, it's impossible to walk through the store to/from the restoom, to/from the trash cans or to/from the line for the registers without walking directly through the area where you get sodas or cream and sugar for coffee which is only wide enough for a person to stand there getting their drink so no one can pass. Added to the cross traffic is the pre-reported problems with their being no real line for the registers so everyone gets all confused.

I think I'm going to have to start calling it "Storm Conditions" because it's the perfect atmosphere to create (even unintentional) Special Snowflakes who just have no idea what's going on!

[Elphaba]

I wouldn't have any problem going to a strictly secular event that happened to be held in a house of worship.  We've gone to several in Unitarian churches and synagogues.   

After all, RPI installed one of their course labs in a deconsecrated church.  If you think about it, the reuse of the space was oddly appropriate.

There are people whose religion forbids this though, I wonder what they are expected to do.

Why would any religion forbid someone from entering a deconsecrated  church.  It's no longer a house of worship and is no longer dedicated to religious purposes at this point it is no different than going to another classroom building on campus or another theater. This is common practice in some cities these days.  And if your religion forbids it still you should have done your research better and figured that out before hand.  The rest of the community does not havve your restrictions and should not have to work around them for you. If this is the building that is now used this is the  building used.
  If the and if they object to merely sitting in a building to get information they can make arrangements to get the info in another way. Have a friend or administrator record it or something.

I have to agree. Just the other day my BFF and I were strolling downtown together. She pointed out a very old looking church and said that recently, another friend of ours had been to a party there. Apparently it was no longer a church and had been converted into a private residence. The owner had kept a few of the "church-y" features (stained glass with religious themes, etc) but it was mostly a house now. As a hostess in that situation I would try to be very understanding of a guest who had to decline an invitation because my house was "a church" I might be a little put out and confused.

[deadbody]

I wouldn't have any problem going to a strictly secular event that happened to be held in a house of worship.  We've gone to several in Unitarian churches and synagogues.   

After all, RPI installed one of their course labs in a deconsecrated church.  If you think about it, the reuse of the space was oddly appropriate.

There are people whose religion forbids this though, I wonder what they are expected to do.

Why would any religion forbid someone from entering a deconsecrated  church.  It's no longer a house of worship and is no longer dedicated to religious purposes at this point it is no different than going to another classroom building on campus or another theater. This is common practice in some cities these days.  And if your religion forbids it still you should have done your research better and figured that out before hand.  The rest of the community does not havve your restrictions and should not have to work around them for you. If this is the building that is now used this is the  building used.
  If the and if they object to merely sitting in a building to get information they can make arrangements to get the info in another way. Have a friend or administrator record it or something.

I have to agree. Just the other day my BFF and I were strolling downtown together. She pointed out a very old looking church and said that recently, another friend of ours had been to a party there. Apparently it was no longer a church and had been converted into a private residence. The owner had kept a few of the "church-y" features (stained glass with religious themes, etc) but it was mostly a house now. As a hostess in that situation I would try to be very understanding of a guest who had to decline an invitation because my house was "a church" I might be a little put out and confused.

I believe there is a difference between deconsecrated places and still active houses of worship.

I know this is an issue for Jehovah's Witnesses as a carpet installer who worked for my company would not install carpet at a catholic church, even not in the sanctuary because it violated his religion to enter the church.  Ditto a friend who was a JW and married a woman who was not, they couldn't get married in her church because his family would not have attended.

[mbbored]

I live in a townhouse with my dog who has been really stressed lately, showing some extreme reactions to people walking by my house or ringing my doorbell. I've ended up hiring a behaviorist to deal with this, spending almost $400 so far.

Further background, there's a 2 bedroom unit in my building with 8 people living there, which is against housing codes. I figure the economy is terrible and they're mostly nice, except for one woman who has a baby and a preschooler. She thought it was really cute to hold the baby up to MY doorbell and let him ring it nonstop. I spoke to her about it twice and both time she seemed really surprised that it bothered me. "But he's having so much fun!" So let him do it to your house. "But the preschooler is napping!" So was I! Not my problem! The second time she finally said "You really mean the baby can't ring your bell?!?" Yes! Fortunately, it hasn't happened again, or so I thought.

Today I decided to work from home. This afternoon, my doorbell starts ringing nonstop. My dog is freaking out, and I whip open the front door to find the same woman with her baby.

Bad neighbor: Oh, you're home!
Me: What are you doing? I've told you repeatedly to leave my doorbell alone. You are driving my dog crazy!
BN: Oh, I don't mind the barking!
Me: I mind the $400 I've spent trying to deal with the anxiety problem you've apparently created in my dog.
BN: But the baby loves it!
Me: I don't care.

Right now I'm so furious at her that I'm somewhat tempted to call her landlord and let him know about his extra tenants, but I don't want to do something out of revenge.

[snowdragon]

I live in a townhouse with my dog who has been really stressed lately, showing some extreme reactions to people walking by my house or ringing my doorbell. I've ended up hiring a behaviorist to deal with this, spending almost $400 so far.

Further background, there's a 2 bedroom unit in my building with 8 people living there, which is against housing codes. I figure the economy is terrible and they're mostly nice, except for one woman who has a baby and a preschooler. She thought it was really cute to hold the baby up to MY doorbell and let him ring it nonstop. I spoke to her about it twice and both time she seemed really surprised that it bothered me. "But he's having so much fun!" So let him do it to your house. "But the preschooler is napping!" So was I! Not my problem! The second time she finally said "You really mean the baby can't ring your bell?!?" Yes! Fortunately, it hasn't happened again, or so I thought.

Today I decided to work from home. This afternoon, my doorbell starts ringing nonstop. My dog is freaking out, and I whip open the front door to find the same woman with her baby.

Bad neighbor: Oh, you're home!
Me: What are you doing? I've told you repeatedly to leave my doorbell alone. You are driving my dog crazy!
BN: Oh, I don't mind the barking!
Me: I mind the $400 I've spent trying to deal with the anxiety problem you've apparently created in my dog.
BN: But the baby loves it!
Me: I don't care.

Right now I'm so furious at her that I'm somewhat tempted to call her landlord and let him know about his extra tenants, but I don't want to do something out of revenge.

you just explained why your dog hates the doorbell lately.
She's abusing your dog. do anything and everything to protect your dog from her and her nastiness.

[blue2000]

I live in a townhouse with my dog who has been really stressed lately, showing some extreme reactions to people walking by my house or ringing my doorbell. I've ended up hiring a behaviorist to deal with this, spending almost $400 so far.

Further background, there's a 2 bedroom unit in my building with 8 people living there, which is against housing codes. I figure the economy is terrible and they're mostly nice, except for one woman who has a baby and a preschooler. She thought it was really cute to hold the baby up to MY doorbell and let him ring it nonstop. I spoke to her about it twice and both time she seemed really surprised that it bothered me. "But he's having so much fun!" So let him do it to your house. "But the preschooler is napping!" So was I! Not my problem! The second time she finally said "You really mean the baby can't ring your bell?!?" Yes! Fortunately, it hasn't happened again, or so I thought.

Today I decided to work from home. This afternoon, my doorbell starts ringing nonstop. My dog is freaking out, and I whip open the front door to find the same woman with her baby.

Bad neighbor: Oh, you're home!
Me: What are you doing? I've told you repeatedly to leave my doorbell alone. You are driving my dog crazy!
BN: Oh, I don't mind the barking!
Me: I mind the $400 I've spent trying to deal with the anxiety problem you've apparently created in my dog.
BN: But the baby loves it!
Me: I don't care.

Right now I'm so furious at her that I'm somewhat tempted to call her landlord and let him know about his extra tenants, but I don't want to do something out of revenge.

you just explained why your dog hates the doorbell lately.
She's abusing your dog. do anything and everything to protect your dog from her and her nastiness.

I would agree.

Your poor dog has likely been through this scenario a lot lately. I'd be more than a little freaked out as well if someone was randomly ringing my doorbell.

[Carotte]

You could always "threaten" her, even if you never act on your words. An icy cold " ( If this keep up I'm going to have to notify your landlord and ) for someone who is already violating housing codes you might want to keep a low profile".
You can expect to not have any kind of good relationship with those people after that but at least your dog will be better and they will still live there.
It might not be polite, or you could even sugar coat it as a 'friendly advise' but at least it should be effective and there's no need to involve landlord or police.

[Redsoil]

Disconnect the doorbell for a while?

[kherbert05]

Disconnect the doorbell for a while?

If possible I would do this until you take care of the problem another way. That way she can't torment your dog anymore. 

[geekette]

Disconnect the doorbell for a while?

Better than my automatic solution. Evil Geekette wanted to set up the doorbell so a minor electrical current went through it every time it was pushed.

[BarensMom]

H-e-double toothpicks, I wouldn't waste time on warning this idiot.  She is tormenting your dog and being a nuisance.  Rat her out to the landlord ASAP and give your poor dog some peace.

[Lady Snowdon]

I live in a townhouse with my dog who has been really stressed lately, showing some extreme reactions to people walking by my house or ringing my doorbell. I've ended up hiring a behaviorist to deal with this, spending almost $400 so far.

Further background, there's a 2 bedroom unit in my building with 8 people living there, which is against housing codes. I figure the economy is terrible and they're mostly nice, except for one woman who has a baby and a preschooler. She thought it was really cute to hold the baby up to MY doorbell and let him ring it nonstop. I spoke to her about it twice and both time she seemed really surprised that it bothered me. "But he's having so much fun!" So let him do it to your house. "But the preschooler is napping!" So was I! Not my problem! The second time she finally said "You really mean the baby can't ring your bell?!?" Yes! Fortunately, it hasn't happened again, or so I thought.

Today I decided to work from home. This afternoon, my doorbell starts ringing nonstop. My dog is freaking out, and I whip open the front door to find the same woman with her baby.

Bad neighbor: Oh, you're home!
Me: What are you doing? I've told you repeatedly to leave my doorbell alone. You are driving my dog crazy!
BN: Oh, I don't mind the barking!
Me: I mind the $400 I've spent trying to deal with the anxiety problem you've apparently created in my dog.
BN: But the baby loves it!
Me: I don't care.

Right now I'm so furious at her that I'm somewhat tempted to call her landlord and let him know about his extra tenants, but I don't want to do something out of revenge.

Rat her out to the landlord ASAP, and disconnect your doorbell until they've been evicted.  I'm not quite sure why this lady doesn't get that she get use your property for her child's amusement, but she obviously doesn't.  Don't be concerned about hurting her feelings or anything - she's terrorizing your dog and trespassing on your property to do it.

[Hmmmmm]

I live in a townhouse with my dog who has been really stressed lately, showing some extreme reactions to people walking by my house or ringing my doorbell. I've ended up hiring a behaviorist to deal with this, spending almost $400 so far.

Further background, there's a 2 bedroom unit in my building with 8 people living there, which is against housing codes. I figure the economy is terrible and they're mostly nice, except for one woman who has a baby and a preschooler. She thought it was really cute to hold the baby up to MY doorbell and let him ring it nonstop. I spoke to her about it twice and both time she seemed really surprised that it bothered me. "But he's having so much fun!" So let him do it to your house. "But the preschooler is napping!" So was I! Not my problem! The second time she finally said "You really mean the baby can't ring your bell?!?" Yes! Fortunately, it hasn't happened again, or so I thought.

Today I decided to work from home. This afternoon, my doorbell starts ringing nonstop. My dog is freaking out, and I whip open the front door to find the same woman with her baby.

Bad neighbor: Oh, you're home!
Me: What are you doing? I've told you repeatedly to leave my doorbell alone. You are driving my dog crazy!
BN: Oh, I don't mind the barking!
Me: I mind the $400 I've spent trying to deal with the anxiety problem you've apparently created in my dog.
BN: But the baby loves it!
Me: I don't care.

Right now I'm so furious at her that I'm somewhat tempted to call her landlord and let him know about his extra tenants, but I don't want to do something out of revenge.

Rat her out to the landlord ASAP, and disconnect your doorbell until they've been evicted.  I'm not quite sure why this lady doesn't get that she get use your property for her child's amusement, but she obviously doesn't.  Don't be concerned about hurting her feelings or anything - she's terrorizing your dog and trespassing on your property to do it.

POD. The baby is enjoying listening to your poor dog bark when it hits the doorbell.  The woman is cruel.  I'd get her away from me.

[siamesecat2965]

Once again, from my store's FB page.  We have "regular" stores as well as upscale outlet store, which have merchandise produced specifically for them, as many outlets do.  And our store's website every now and again will offer some of the outlet merchandise, at a discount.  Normally you have to actually go to an outlet store to purchase.  It's since been removed but someone was whining saying how disappointed they were that they saw merchandise on the online outlet sale that were "knockoffs" of items from the regular store last year, that they had purchased at a significantly higher price!

The store explained that sometimes, they re-make some of the more popular items, in different fabrics or with slight tweaks, at a lower price point for the outlet stores. Other weighed in about how they thought it was sneaky as well.  I have to say, I shop in both regular and outlet stores and that thought never crossed my mind. Yes, I've said oh wow, I bought something similar to this outlet item in the store, but I'd never whine about how its unfair to us customers they now offer a lower-priced version in the outlet. I guess some people are just never happy!

[MommyPenguin]

With the doorbell/baby/dog situation, my husband suggests just calling the police, and not worrying about bringing housing code into it.  Surely it's illegal to go up to somebody's house and ring the doorbell over and over and over... there must be some law against harassment, noise violation, something.  Or at least ask their advice about whether the woman is breaking any laws and what you should do.