Random Rants ΠΕ': You're standing on my neck.

[aimeeandbeatles]

Two words?

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Having a meaningful exchange in which each contribution is a single word is art, not spam.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Are you saying that spam can't be art? I've seen some...rather creative spam emails.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Having a meaningful exchange in which each contribution is a single word is art, not spam.

Rant: I tried that. Failed.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Rant: I tried that. Failed.

It is challenging.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

How challenging?

 

[Birdjaguar]

I think that including the word "rant" is important.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Rant: I forgot to include the word 'rant.'

 

[Timsup2nothin]

How challenging?

Challenging enough that Birdjaguar failed, and I have great respect for his abilities.

 

[Synobun]

Challenging enough that Birdjaguar failed, and I have great respect for his abilities.

Respect? For old(er) people? I thought that wasn't allowed anymore.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Ever try to write a story in 100 words? It's very difficult.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Respect? For old(er) people? I thought that wasn't allowed anymore.

Technically, I did say for his abilities. However, that should not be taken as denial of direct respect for him.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

You are paying for services you are not receiving. A reduction in rent is justified and something you should pursue. Real estate is not an industry which is hurting, you are not morally obligated to support them in a time of crisis.

Seconded. I had a situation last year when I basically froze for a month and a half here because there was no insulation under my floor (my apartment is directly over part of the outdoor parkade, and it's a wind tunnel down there - cold even in July, and freezing in winter). The other tenants along this side of the building on the first floor were in the same situation, and while the manager and maintenance guys did as much as they could - even driving around to other buildings owned by the company, looking for space heaters for us - we had to share and swap as there weren't enough to go around. When I finally did get one to use, that meant my electricity bill went sky-high. The manager talked his boss into reducing it somewhat that first month, but she wouldn't budge the next month ("People are allowed to run whatever appliances they want to," she said in a prissy-snarky tone).

Well, the manager wasn't happy about that, but he didn't have the authority to override her. Fast-forward to this winter and while they'd fixed the floor insulation during the summer, I was still freezing... and they discovered I don't have much insulation in the walls, either. That is yet to be fixed and they're not sure how - inject the insulation in from outside or move me to one of the vacant suites, rip the walls apart, and fix it that way. This would mean moving AGAIN, and having to go through the same hassles as last time, but without a helpful neighbor who helped me to pack and move (when I had to move from my old suite to where I am now, due to mold).

Anyway, along came the 90-day reminder they send out to tenants whose leases are coming up for renewal, and I decided to put my foot down about rent increases and electricity (we pay the property company for that). However, the first thing the leasing agent said was, "I want to offer you (almost) free electricity for the coming year, because of what you went through last year."

Well, that was a good start. And they said that if I have to move, the transfer fee would be waived ($250 to transfer from suite to suite) and they would help with the issue of my safety equipment (unlike before when they expected me to abandon it even though they would have to gut the place anyway). That part isn't in writing, but I will insist on it if it's decided that I have to move. There are enough vacancies here that they won't want to lose a good tenant, and who knows what's going to happen after the dust settles with this virus...

So, @hobbsyoyo, be firm but polite, have a list ready of everything they did, or want to do that was either illegal or unethical, and point out that it's beneficial to have satisfied tenants who will give them positive word of mouth advertising. Have an idea of what you think is fair compensation and be prepared to negotiate.

Of course that's assuming your landlord is reasonable, so good luck with that...

If nothing else, could you work this idea into a filk?

Guys and Dolls is a musical already, so unless I had a reason to change the lyrics a bit to make it more relevant to Voyager, I would be using the source material. Of course that is an idea to write something original, and I'll think about it. I haven't actually decided on why they'd be in a musical anyway, although the person from fanfiction.net gave me a couple of suggestions (another possible musical to use for source material would be My Fair Lady - rather obvious as the Doctor would be Henry Higgins and Seven would be Eliza Doolittle).

I wonder if we can get this thread to 2000 posts before Valka gets back.

Valka had a home care appointment to keep.

I've decided on the title for the new thread and will put it up shortly.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Of course that's assuming your landlord is reasonable, so good luck with that...

Somehow I doubt that's the case.

 

[Takhisis]

All right.

How 'bout 3-worders?

 

[choxorn]

The word you're looking for is 'shipping (short for worshiping).

It thought it was short for relationshipping, like "these people should be in a relationship"

 

[Synobun]

So, @hobbsyoyo, be firm but polite, have a list ready of everything they did, or want to do that was either illegal or unethical, and point out that it's beneficial to have satisfied tenants who will give them positive word of mouth advertising. Have an idea of what you think is fair compensation and be prepared to negotiate.

Hobbs is in California, and in a fairly affluent part of it to boot. His landlord likely has dozens of applications per suite available. This highlights a pretty clear issue with low vacancy rates: Bad landlords are still successful because they have their choice of tenants, while this isn't true the other way around. A tenant who is difficult can be replaced in the blink of an eye, but how easily can a home be replaced?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Short story by Hemingway: For sale; baby shoes; never worn.

 

[Takhisis]

It thought it was short for relationshipping, like "these people should be in a relationship"

TVTropes:

The term "Shipping" — which ostensibly derives from "Relationship" (though it might as well be "Worship"; in some fandoms, it's Serious Business) — was originally coined by fans of The X-Files, who were divided between "relationshippers" pushing for romance and "noromos" who would rather have No Hugging and No Kissing.​

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Rant: I burned my dinner. I also set off the smoke detector.