Worst Roommate Ever • Hacker News Board

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#151

Post by HenryBemis » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:38 PM UTC

rowyourboat wrote: post #79

comboy wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I support him. If you want "tenant rights" you can sign appropriate lease contract that allows you to stay longer in case you are in some trouble. Perhaps you could also buy some insurance for that. But why owner of the property would have to keep it in hands of somebody who is not paying? Because tenant is in some bad life situation? I think in most cases if that really would be the case, property owner would help,…

> you can sign appropriate lease contract Well, the thing is, by coming to an agreement, you automatically enter a contract. There is not need for a signed piece of paper; a written, explicit contract is just for both parties to be clear on the terms, to deviate from default terms set by law, and to make possible litigation easier. You do not need to sign a contract if you buy a piece of gum from a vending machine, y…

I don't know where do you live, but I'm happy that "you over there" do things with a handshake. Over "here" without a contract only a court of law can determine who is at fault when two sides (owner - tenant) have a fall-out. And a (proper) piece of paper protects both sides by stating the rights and obligations.

Verbal contracts do exist. But hey, a piece of paper with signatures looks sooooooo much better in a court of law :)

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#152

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:42 PM UTC

tty7 wrote: post #13

mtgex wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely disagree. I think our "gut" is infinitely biased. No one is immune. If you believe you do not have racial, ethnic, and gender biases you are wrong. And, if you read the article, everyone's gut reaction was that this man was an unassuming, down to earth, great guy, and they got along with him very well at first. The article makes clear that their gut reaction failed them.

> If you believe you do not have racial, ethnic, and gender biases you are wrong. When does trusting your gut mean you don't know you are biased? Everyone is biased, get over it. If you are living with someone - yes please trust your gut, live with who you want to live with. as per the article the move in happened quickly and they were seemingly desperate to get someone in to cover the rent.

[deleted]

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#153

Post by nem000 » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:42 PM UTC

mrunkel wrote: post #65

Huh, as I started reading I was thinking "I've had some pretty bad roommates, I wonder if this is worse." About a quarter of the way through I realized this is way worse. About three quarters of the way through I was filled with dread as I was pretty sure it wasn't going to end well. Excellent writing..

That was also exactly what I thought and my experiences didn't even came close. Come to think about it I only had decent roommates after all..

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#154

Post by philliphaydon » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:43 PM UTC

Chris2048 wrote: post #101

philliphaydon wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve never had problems like this. I had a policy with flat mates which was. If you put food in the fridge, expect me to eat it, if I put food in the fridge, I expect you to eat it, I’m not going to argue about fridge space or who bought what. It’s not worth the time and effort.

> or who bought what Why? Why aren't people entitled to the things they buy? It just rewards people with peculiar tastes or low budgets.

There’s more to life than arguing over fridge space.

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#155

Post by youdontknowtho » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:45 PM UTC

This is one of those extreme pieces that illustrate a libertarian trope about property rights.

"Due to some crazy librul laws about renting apartments this psycho stabbed me and ate my cat..."

Landlord laws are there to protect people from property owners that are often unfair and discriminatory. It is the VAST-99.999%-almost-always-few-exceptions-case that landlords are unfair to tenants rather than psycho's like this or other scenarios.

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#156

Post by subroutine » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:46 PM UTC

ejstronge wrote: post #143

dannylandau wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great find! So, not exactly consistent with the NYT piece.

> Great find! So, not exactly consistent with the NYT piece. First, this is not a NYT article. What do you think is inconsistent? The article tries to highlight the idea that ‘beheading’ was said rhetorically.

Maybe not 'inconsistent' so much as neglected to include the key details necessary to understand why Vidrine was acquitted (or, 'not indicted'). I mean, it's presented as a heinous murder. But yeah, you are right, after a second read there isn't major inconsistencies.

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#157

Post by Chris2048 » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:52 PM UTC

philliphaydon wrote: post #154

Chris2048 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> or who bought what Why? Why aren't people entitled to the things they buy? It just rewards people with peculiar tastes or low budgets.

There’s more to life than arguing over fridge space.

There more to life than paying the bills, but your be in a lot of trouble if you didn't..

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#158

Post by rweba » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:53 PM UTC

dannylandau wrote: post #50

What an incredible riveting story! One of the best I've read in the NYT magazine.

This is New York Magazine not the New York Times magazine (which I think still appears in print every Sunday).

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#159

Post by jessriedel » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:53 PM UTC

chrischen wrote: post #58

whack wrote: post #53

The kind of tenancy laws I read in articles like these, sound absolutely idiotic. If you let someone into your home, and they aren't on the lease, you should be able to kick them out anytime they overstay their welcome. If you do sign a lease with someone, and they haven't paid their rent, you should be able to throw their stuff out and change the locks as soon as their security deposit has run itself out. As a forme…

SF has pretty lenient tenancy laws but even then, if someone stops paying rent, you can evict them.

Evicting someone takes many months, often more than a year. And durign that time, they have no incentive to take care of the property. It can be an economic disaster.

Re: Worst Roommate Ever

#160

Post by chmod775 » Fri, Feb 23, 2018, 2:56 PM UTC

ejstronge wrote: post #143

dannylandau wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great find! So, not exactly consistent with the NYT piece.

> Great find! So, not exactly consistent with the NYT piece. First, this is not a NYT article. What do you think is inconsistent? The article tries to highlight the idea that ‘beheading’ was said rhetorically.

"Suddenly, a man had appeared with a knife and slashed Gutzeit’s throat."

According to the older news article Gutzeit grabbed the other Student, then got stabbed.