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U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

reuters.com

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Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#201

Post by s1artibartfast »

phil21 wrote: post #189
Gordonjcp wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would anyone do that, then?

Because in many areas these are almost the only homes available in certain price ranges and sizes. If you want new construction and are not independently wealthy, you would be extremely challenged to find a house not under a HoA. It's eye opening when looking in some areas how hundreds of square miles of developments are 100% HoA controlled. I would never buy such a place, but I do understand why some folks would fee…

People like HOAs. The HOAs can vote to disband, but people don't care enough to do so. Many people feel they protect property value, and they are probably right.

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#202

Post by nemo44x »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #108
nemo44x wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great, please do stay away from the rest of us. You’re happy being alone and we’re happy to not have to be around you. Everyone wins here.

True about the first part. You actually have no idea what it's like being around me. So I have one up on the rest of you there.

> You actually have no idea what it's like being around me.

That's great. I'm grateful we live in a country where people that are compelled to always put themselves first and not have to consider other people can remove themselves from society and choose to live an isolated life away from society. I'm even more grateful for the people that recognize this about themselves and make the move.

Living socially involves sacrifices and considering those around you. They do the same and we live harmoniously together. There's some people that can't or won't do this and if they try and live socially they end up frustrated as they are rejected by their community. In some cases it results in violence and in others just miserable people that can't seem to get along with anyone and they have a constant chip on their shoulder. Removing themselves from society and going to the country is the best route here.

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#203

Post by woodruffw »

ufmace wrote: post #167
giantg2 wrote: post #145

I think this might be a poor article and there could be more to the story. I don't see them fighting for the right to hang laundry. No action has been taken against the woman, and the man was fined by an association (I don't like associations, but they have tons of restrictions that he voluntarily entered into). If you look at that picture, it seems the woman is hanging her laundry in the front yard. It seems the art…

I agree - it reads like propaganda paid for by this "Project Laundry List" organization, in the pattern of PG's Submarine article. Since when does this need to be a national issue anyways - "U.S. residents fight..."

The article establishes the national relevancy directly:

> His principal opponents are the housing associations such as condominiums and townhouse communities that are home to an estimated 60 million Americans, or about 20 percent of the population. About half of those organizations have ‘no hanging’ rules, Lee said, and enforce them with fines.

Millions of Americans live under covenants that prevent them from doing their laundry outside, lest their neighbors see. That should strike you as at least a little ridiculous. It also goes beyond the normal “just live somewhere else” mantra: you can’t relocate 60 million Americans.

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#204

Post by phil21 »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #56
nemo44x wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The town has a standard where you don’t hang laundry though. She’s the odd person out here and should appeal to the people of the town. Otherwise she’s just doing as she pleases and that’s antisocial behavior. As to who it “would hurt” - it could very well hurt everyone’s property values and certainly hurts everyone’s eyes to have to see a car parked on the front lawn. Again, it’s antisocial behavior and inconsiderat…

Exactly why I live in the country. No neighbors, who almost by definition exist to constrain my life. By making up laughable things like "hurts everyone's eyes to have to see a car parked on the front lawn".

You'd think this. I've been Looking for some land to build some interesting projects (larger than usual personal-use solar farm with mechanical outbuildings, small wind turbines, various experimentation with hoop houses, etc.) lends me to believe the NIMBYs have made it to most of the country.

You have to truly be in the absolutely middle of nowhere with an amazingly huge amount of land to actually be able to "do what you want" in a reasonable manner without someone telling you no.

And I'm talking about stuff that couldn't be seen from off your property line. So many county regulations and such these days - some places 100+ miles from the nearest international airport had county building restrictions nearly as bad as the suburban development I lived in.

It's been a very eye opening and incredibly sad process for me. Land of the free indeed. It seems there is increasingly nowhere left to run away from petty authoritarians.

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#206

Post by [deleted] »

Gordonjcp wrote: post #149
ejb999 wrote: post #77

Stupid people who don't read the HOA agreement they signed, and then whine after the fact that some things aren't allowed - I have no sympathy for them (and for the record, would never live anyplace that had an HOA). That said, if its not in the agreement you signed, or you live someplace without an HOA, I support peoples right do hang their laundry out to dry - shouldn't even be a question of being allowed or not.

I don't understand how "HOAs" are legal.

[deleted]

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#207

Post by chrisseaton »

Gordonjcp wrote: post #177
s1artibartfast wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You agree to the contract. As simple as that.

Why would anyone do that, then?

Presumably the majority of the people living there like the rules, otherwise they wouldn't have been voted into the rule book. Democracy in action.

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#208

Post by nemo44x »

torstenvl wrote: post #34
nemo44x wrote: post #17

Although I get her point I think she’s antisocial and being a bad neighbor. Especially by insisting to hang it in the front yard. To live peacefully in a society you have to compromise and you can’t just do as you please. Communities have certain standards and by-laws that should be respected. If you’re compelled then bring it up at the next town meeting and rally support for your cause. What if someone decides they…

Living peacefully in society is fundamentally at odds with the position you're advocating for, which is enforced slavery to a particular technological innovation. People can survive without a couch on their lawn, and there are alternatives to couches on lawns that don't require the use of a particular technology. But people need dry clothes, and the only alternative to air drying is to use a particular kind of machin…

Yeah people should be able to have bon fires on their front lawn to cook the animal carcass they have hanging in the front yard tree because they shouldn't be enslaved by fridges and stoves.

They should be able to bath themselves in the front yard by pouring water from they collected from a nearby creek over themselves because showers are slavery.

It's ok for people to tan animal hides in their front yard because the clothing store requires transportation which is just slavery.

I'm going to have torches inside and out because light bulbs enslave me.

I'm thinking about joining an Amish community because the machines I own have ended up owning me.

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#209

Post by [deleted] »

lloydatkinson wrote: post #59

I can’t imagine such a freedom limiting law in any European country or here in the UK. Utterly absurd a country that prioritises freedom so much also dictates how people are allowed to dry their laundry. I’m sure if the wind could be taxed they’d not restrict it though…

[deleted]

Re: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry (2009)

#210

Post by nemo44x »

gambiting wrote: post #128
nemo44x wrote: post #17

Although I get her point I think she’s antisocial and being a bad neighbor. Especially by insisting to hang it in the front yard. To live peacefully in a society you have to compromise and you can’t just do as you please. Communities have certain standards and by-laws that should be respected. If you’re compelled then bring it up at the next town meeting and rally support for your cause. What if someone decides they…

>>What if someone decides they should park their car on the front lawn since the boat and camper take up the driveway? Or just set a couch up on the front lawn because I like to have a nap there? Wait, isn't America meant to be land of the free? Is it their front lawn, or is it not? I live in a much less "free" country according to any American, and yet neither thing would be a problem. It's your front lawn, want to…

I should be able to build a giant ferris wheel on my front lawn because it's my property after all!
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