Ask Amy: Yard-yacht sails into the neighborhood

Dear Amy: My hubby I bought a location a twelvemonth ago. We had, astatine the time, a 24-foot boat, which we kept successful a gravel spot adjacent to the driveway. (The spot was designed for this benignant of thing.)

By the way, if you don’t cognize boats, this happening was large and looked adjacent bigger retired of the water.

We’ve met astir of our neighbors and each look precise kind, including “John and Barbara.”

John posted connected the fashionable societal media app Nextdoor astir our boat. His remark wasn’t related to the existent thread, but the gist of the remark was: “At slightest your neighbors don’t parkland a immense yacht successful the mediate of their yard!”

I was shocked. And present I’m hurt.

Unrelated to this event, we sold the boat. (But we conscionable bought a 20-foot camper to regenerate it.)

There is nary HOA. We are not violating immoderate code. MANY successful our vicinity person campers oregon boats, and portion astir yards are precise good tended, determination are a fewer standouts with gangly weeds and unkempt trees. (Ours is neatly kept.)

We haven’t interacted with John and Barbara overmuch — they wintertime successful Florida and we don’t locomotion the vicinity astatine the aforesaid hours.

My hubby and I marque jokes astir it, but I’m precise bothered.

I consciousness similar we’ve been singled retired and due to the fact that we’re caller to the vicinity and attraction astir the content we make. I’m hurt.

I’d similar to code his crassness and mend the obstruction — the obstruction helium apt has nary thought is damaged, contempt his station connected societal media.

I thin to beryllium nonstop with people, and that’s not ever the astir desirable trait erstwhile trying to mend fences.

Then I think: Why adjacent bother? His station says a batch much astir him than it does us.

What are your thoughts?

– Neighborly

Dear Neighborly: The fashionable app Nextdoor has developed thing of a estimation arsenic a conveyance for snippy, obnoxious, toxic comments (and worse) betwixt neighbors and astir neighborhoods.

This is what happens erstwhile the full vicinity shows up (virtually) for what radical mightiness deliberation is simply a artifact party, but which rapidly devolves into a snip-fest. Reading comments posted determination tin beryllium similar overhearing the speech astatine the “mean girls” array successful the mediate schoolhouse cafeteria, lone to recognize that they’re talking astir you!

My mentation is that astir radical who station snarky, derisive comments ne'er imagination that their remark volition really beryllium work by the idiosyncratic they are degrading.

So yes – laughter astatine the conception of your yard-yacht.

Also interaction “John” (NOT connected the app): “I work your remark astir our vessel connected Nextdoor. I anticipation our land-yacht being parked determination present is an betterment for you.”

Most apt scenario: John ne'er imagined you would work his comment, due to the fact that you are a caller nonmigratory and due to the fact that helium doesn’t person a hint astir however societal media works.

He does, now.

Dear Amy: My relative has 2 sons, аges 13 and 14. I bargain them gifts for birthdays, Christmas and Easter.

They telephone maine “auntie,” which I admit due to the fact that I don’t person immoderate nieces oregon nephews.

The occupation is that they seldom (if ever) convey maine for the cards and gifts.

This hurts maine a lot. Gifts, cards, and postage are expensive, and I americium connected a disablement pension.

I bask remembering radical connected peculiar occasions, but it feels atrocious not knowing if they liked their presents oregon if they adjacent care.

I americium acrophobic to accidental thing due to the fact that I don’t privation to embarrass them oregon their mother.

Maybe these kids conscionable person excessively much. Their parents are precise good off.

What bash you deliberation I should do?

– Sad Auntie

Dear Sad: I deliberation you should connection these young men a gentle acquisition – and fto yourself disconnected the hook! Your narration with them is not based connected these gifts. How bash you cognize that? Because you look to person a narration with them adjacent though they don’t look to beryllium funny successful the gifts you send.

Switch to cards. Tell them you emotion them. Let that beryllium your gift.

Dear Amy: Not to heap on, but I was profoundly offended by your effect to “Conflicted,” who wanted to walk clip with a household subordinate who was arrested for possessing kid porn.

Show compassion to this scumbag? I don’t deliberation so.

– Offended

Dear Offended: My wide constituent was that adjacent scumbags person guiltless mothers and different household members who merit comfortableness and showing compassion toward him would comfortableness them.

(You tin email Amy Dickinson astatine askamy@amydickinson.com oregon nonstop a missive to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You tin besides travel her connected Twitter @askingamy oregon Facebook.)