The Day the Facebook Lit Up Like a Fire

In our neighborhood. Well, on our neighborhood Facebook page. Holy Crap, I am NOT kidding. There are idiots spewing their ignorance and stupidity and they live less than a quarter of a mile from my house.

I don't know whether to be frightened or embarrassed. Probably both.

This whole thing started innocently enough when our civic club treasurer put out a reminder about our annual dues. Someone dropped theirs off with a rather nasty note referencing people who don't bother paying their dues and then, all hell broke lose.

And, for the most part, it was one couple in the neighborhood causing the ruckus and then claiming they did no such thing. Just so y'all don't have to read all of- because it's a ridiculous amount of commenting back and forth, let me just share the part that got to me.

From the Mrs.:

 I would be more than happy to come to a meeting, and I am sure everyone is good hearted individuals that are taking time out to make a safe and inviting neighbor hood! 

I thank you and I am not against the dues I just want and need proof on what the money goes too!

because if it is only $35 today in 2015, inflation takes place and over time I don't want my money going in someones pocket! 

Plus if I wanted to live in an HOA neighborhood I would move to one! We do not have a park, sidewalks, pool, or even a dog area to enjoy!

From the civic club officer: 

The dues have been $35 for many years. I can assure you that neither our treasurer nor myself are pocketing the dues. Feel free to contact her to get your proof. Wow.

From the Mrs. again:

Again, do the math if every one in this subdivision pays the dues of $35 the total for the year would =$8920. What would that money be used towards? 

Not trying to cause hate and discontent I am trying to understand where the money would be used for! 

If you are asking for money from people you need to provide the proof attorneys or not I am not giving my money to any person with out an invoice! !

And, from the Mr.: 

Never in any post we accuse or insulted anyone, that would be an assumption ma'am. Look over all the comments for that proof. Not to point the fact that if we did not question any of this, there would not be a flow of dues coming, so I think you civil conversation about the civic club work in the neighborhoods benefit. It's over and I am mailing the dues as I planned from the get go, let it go, end of coversation....

I am not opposed to people who want invoices in exchange for payment. Neither is our civic club. All records are public record and available upon request ANY TIME. We all know this. So, maybe this couple is new to the neighborhood? Nope. He's lived here for 17 years and is just now taking an interest in it. 

I've lived in this neighborhood for 27 1/2 years. I don't recall us ever having a different treasurer. We all know her. If I personally witnessed first hand her pocketing money I would swear she didn't do it. She's just not that kind of person. 

In response to that last comment from the Mr., our treasurer responded with:

Be assured,the flow of dues are not coming in because of you Mr. M. They are the same people who pay each year. Also, you should not be so presumptuous to think you can say when it is over or when the conversation ends. I have reviewed all of the conversations over the last few days and I want you and your wife to know that you have insulted a great many of the people in these posts and if you cannot see it, I am sorry for you. I know that as a community we will continue to prosper as we have done so well before. Thanks to all of my neighbors that have been on the board, fixed irrigation systems, planted flowers in the entrance,cut and trimmed palms and crepe myrtles, showed up on clean up days, put up holiday decorations, post the messages in the bulletin board, repaired the entrance way brick pillars that were knocked down three times. A shout out to Kalev who replaced all of our street signs and built our bulletin boards. You are the people that deserve all the credit. There are so many other things I have overlooked that volunteers have done in the absence of money to do it. Put your money where your mouth is and put on your working gloves and get out here and help us next time we need it. No, it is not over nor is it the end of the conversation for the residents of our neighborhood!

So, yeah, Facebook lit up like a star exploded or something.

This stuff continued all day long yesterday (over 100 comments) and every single person, whether civic club board or not, who responded were quite upset. Then there are those of us who didn't comment but have spoken with each other. I'm not going to post other comments because the level of stupidity just grew and grew from these two. Good grief. 

Yes, I stayed out of it. Yeah, I know, y'all don't believe me. But I didn't utter one word. Nor type one. Ha! But I will say this: the day Mr and Mrs get themselves on the board of our little civic club, I will no longer be a loyal due payer. Nope. Not going to happen.  

People who make comments and then claim they did not in order to play the role of innocent victim are, in my opinion, scary. I have never trusted people like this. I don't see that changing in the future. 

And, please, let this be a lesson in a couple of ways:

1. Learn to spell and check your grammar before you post on the internet. 

2. Do not show your stupidity on the internet. 

3. Do not be a cyberbully.

WooHoo! What's lighting up your world this weekend? LOL