posted on September 1, 2000 09:19:49 AM
I agree with the Sarge on this one. I don't see a major criminal offense here except for the squirt, which is a borderline simple assault. It is possible the neighbor could file a private criminal complaint and succeed in having you arrested and taken to court. The explanation you've already given for your actions would likely result in an acquittal. The accidental squirting excuse would work best, but it wouldn't really be the truth.
I'm assuming from the information you've provided that the guy is not old. I think this incident does merit your keeping a closer watch on his activities insofar as they relate to you and your family. If his peeping was a one time thing it does not amount to much criminally. If he does it regularly, though, a case for harassmment could be nade with the local District Attorney.
In my experience, a peeping tom can be dangerous. Most sex offenders usually stick to their own specific quirk and rarely escalate their crimes to the next level. A flasher, for example, does not typically graduate to assault or rape. Peepers, OTOH, often become more bold in their actions.
Your neighbor may indeed be just a harmless eccentric. Of course, you've now given him cause to focus his attention on you. It may be prudent to make some discreet inquiries around town to determine his past history.
I'd strongly suggest that you ensure your future privacy by repairing the existing fence or building a new one.
It may also be a good idea to try to mend your relationship with the neighbor. Situations do tend to deteriorate in the absence of communication. You could apologize for the squirting and let him know that you were alarmed by his actions. I would personally want to know this guy well if he lived next door to me.
posted on September 1, 2000 09:24:13 AM
Dearest Miss (or would it be Mrs.?) Doggy,
I am the epitome of Southern culture less tailgate parties. I know Eudora Welty and BB King. I allege that you are stealing and distorting my turnip green material.
If thou art really in love...why don't you get in the limo that travels the wide road to the place of your perfect destiny? I have offered you a free ticket dear. I might be persuaded to share fried dill pickles, mint julips, and glossy 4-color brochures with you along way. Bring your fan. It's rather warm and I am glowy.
With deepest heartfelt hospitality,
T
Edited to properly address and sign my post.
Oops, and that should be artdoggy, not doggie. Artdoggie is a folk art jewelry making guy named Joe in Michigan.
[ edited by jt on Sep 1, 2000 09:32 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 10:23:54 AM
Jt, why I am so impressed with you writing style, you have been holding back, or possibly you have found no one who could fully appreciate your talent. I too, LOVE Eudora Welty. Have you ever seen her book of photographs, they are wonderful, compelling..a Diane Arbus of the south. I love fried pickles, fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, homemade ice-cream, biscuits, and corn-bread. I too love cock of the walk. I can pass on a tailgate party, not my style. But I did get drunk as a skunk at the Bama Blast. I sold shots of vodka out of the pocket of my fur coat. It was the last year Bear Bryant was alive. Jerry Lee Lewis played piano until I thought he was going to either drop dead or combust from all the alcohol he had injested. I a shot rock with a sling shot at the Homecoming queen. She was my nemisis and should not have won.
[ edited by artdoggy on Sep 1, 2000 10:26 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 10:43:21 AM"I'm betting this guy did purposely erect a previously non-elevated device"does not count if you cannot prove it. Even if he has one but it is used for legitimate means, you may have a problem.
Whoosh.
That's the sound of a phallic joke going right over sgtmike's head, LOL.
posted on September 1, 2000 11:02:50 AM
I said I liked all that stuff, but I can't eat it too much. I liked the part about the size of my slip. I forgot to mention MOONPIES. Ever had one of those? Its two weird cakes covered in chocalate with marshmellow filling. In New Orleans the Krewes throw beads off the floats. In Mobile Alabama, the tradition for the Krewes, is to throw Moonpies - well, I forgot they also come in vanilla. Oh yes we sure do eat down south. Only place I know where french food is just as common as a hamburger anywhere else. I had stuffed shrimp for dinner last night with a fabulous remoulade sauce! C'est bien! ya'll
[ edited by artdoggy on Sep 1, 2000 11:05 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 11:16:14 AM
Tailgate Partys - a regional cultural gathering among southern sports enthusiast. Football games are usually the sport of choice for these events, however, softball, baseball and mardi-gras parades will also do. One must first own a pick-up truck. You invite your friends and family members, pack all the food & beer you can haul, and if you are really experienced you will have a charcoal grill of some type. Bring plenty of lawn chairs. Park the truck in the closest legal area to the event. Pop open the tailgate and start partying your ASP off. Usally tail gates end in a complete drunken haze. I know of only one death that occurred recently, butane tank blew-up in the cab and killed the passenger but not the driver. If you really want to see somthing weird, check out the nuetral ground in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Families go out an buy entire couches at the thrift store and put the on the streets to watch the parade. The bring grills, food, easy chairs and even rig up TV's. After Fat Tuesday the entire St. Charles Avenue is littered in couches. I rode ZULU and got to see it all first hand. When you ride Zulu you have to paint your face black and your lips red. You have to carry a spear and throw coconuts at people. I enjoyed it. Its the only krewe that allows women - as long as they are in black face.
posted on September 1, 2000 11:16:38 AM
Back on topic:
I agree with sgtmike's assessment of the situation, that since the neighbor didn't take any extraordinary means to view the skinnydippers, and since he did it entirely from his own property, he was within his rights.
The burden of establishing and maintaining a totally private bathing area falls upon mybidness. The fact that the fence has been allowed to fall into disrepair suggests that mybiddness isn't very concerned with maintaining her privacy.
I also think the suggestion that mybiddness could be cited for indecent exposure shouldn't be scoffed at. In fact, I think the neighbor could probably build a stronger and more convincing case that you were subjecting him to a skin show by skinnydipping with full knowledge that the fence didn't offer 100% concealment.
As for Pareau's observations about folks with spy devices, don't laugh. Just look at the night vision binocular/goggle auctions on eBay. At present there are six pages of them.
A tailgate party is a pre-football game communion picnic, so-named because the refreshment are set out on the tailgate of a stationwagon or truck.
On the boards, however, it's a festive opening of the posting floodgates so that the communicants can chew on someone's a$$ until either everyone gets lockjaw or the gates are temporary closed again.
Didn't see that it had been previously answered in more detail.
[ edited by Antiquary on Sep 1, 2000 11:25 AM ]
Wrong similie
[ edited by Antiquary on Sep 1, 2000 11:28 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 11:39:26 AM
For your information SPAZ those are the rules of ZUlU and ZUlU is the oldest AFRICAN AMERICAN KREWE IN NEW ORLEANS. The king of Rex (White) and the King of Zulu (black) Ride across the Mississppi river the meet on Lundi Gras and shake hands. ZUlU allows not only african americans, males of any racial background and women as long as you are in Black Face with either big white or red lips.
posted on September 1, 2000 11:43:40 AM
pareau: I remember the 'news' show you spoke of before. There have been several such stories done.
The problem seems to be that most of the tapes made in the fashion you describe do not include audio. The laws differ from state to state reguarding notification of taping (usually a phone call). In some states both parties have to be aware of the taping, in others only one party has to be aware of the taping.
Either way, there are very few states that have laws against video taping someone. So, if a person video taped someone (in their home or a dressing room, for example), but there was no audio then there was no law broken (of course, this assumes that the person doing the taping was not traspassing). However, if there was audio THEN they could nail the smarmy sucker.
posted on September 1, 2000 11:49:38 AM
I am on the floor rolling with laughter. Oh, GOd this is hilarious! We have gone from a kooky old neighbor and a watergun to assault charges and surveillance devices! I hope he does it all wearing the full nuclear gear! Maybe he will come to court like dressed like that, or show up at the police station to press charges! Oh my GODDDDDDD! This is so hilarioius! Have we now gone so low that water gun spirts are assault! Well, I gues we will have to arrest all the toddlers in the baby pool! HAHAH HAHAHHEHEHEHEHAHAHHAH NUTS! What you should do is sell the whole situation to Saturday Night Live! It reminds me of the movie Mouse Trap when the guys spend 2million dollars to kill a mouse, that eludes them to bankruptcy. Oh please go own, this is great!
[ edited by artdoggy on Sep 1, 2000 11:51 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 11:58:05 AM
Well Spaz, those are the rules and it really does not matter if you don't agree with them. It is you who is trying to open a door. I just stated a fact about living in New Orleans. You are the one who wants to make it into somthing. Stevie Wonder was the grand marshall of Zulu, louis Armstrong, not including many of the leading dr.s and business men in the african-creole community. Those are their rules and they like them. Its called humor, satire, poking fun...somthing that seems to be difficult for some people to understand since everything they think has to be either politically correct or completely literal.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:02:12 PM
Okay, artdoggy. Since it's all so innocent and I've misunderstood, I'll go back and edit my comments and let you have at it. You say it's about humor, satire, poking fun ... Fair enough. But what exactly is the satire? That part's a little lost on me.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:08:40 PM
Well, now I know what a tailgate party is. I seem to have missed that little bit of Americana in my education here. Thanks for clarifying, Antiquary and Artdoggy. I'm sorry I did cause the conversation to take this turn though.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:09:34 PM
Okay Spaz, this is how it works. Zulu was a mighty african tribe. Eventhough Al Jolson was known most for popularizing black face among the whites, it has a real origin in Africa. Zulu warriors painted their faces black and outlined them with white before going into battles. The black face is considered a look of power. It was adopted as the look for Zulu way before jolson, it was probably Zulu that AL got his idea from. Anyway, when popular culture got their hands on it, it evolved into some sort of racial slur. It has never been the case with Zulu-as far as satire is concerned the joke is me. I pay them 400.00 to ride one day on a crowded float packed with people, based on the stipulation I have to paint my face black--I'm sucker enough to do it. Because everyone knows Zulu is the BEST of all parades. People fight like dogs for the coconuts. I also like carrying a spear.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:15:17 PM
Uh-huh. Okay, artdoggy, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one, but only because you mentioned the strong warrior tradition of the Zulu people. I assume you're familiar with the battle of Rourke's Drift?
posted on September 1, 2000 12:21:09 PM
Spaz, you have obviously never been to New Orleans if you are giving me the benefit of the doubt. I think you should come down here and get your mind blown. No I don't know anything about the battle, they didn't mention that in the brochure. I just know the fun part. I can give you the direct phone number to the ZULU social club if you need more info on the subject. I promise you, its worth the money. One day of riding down st. charles avenue, in black face, a grass skirt and a spear, hurling coconuts at strangers, all to a live marching band, and constant screaming,gives one a great new perspective.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:33:48 PM
Taken as a whole, artdoggy, I think that I have encountered your philosophy before. To say the least, it is unique.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:38:28 PM
Well, i guess I will take that as a compliment Antiquary...especially since you have had the power in the past to unlock me then lock me back up again.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:49:21 PM
So anyway, I spent my husbands birthday check from his haggy sister. I spent it on a pedicure and now she is so mad she in convincing his mother to put his heritance into a trust so I can't get at it. I am so upset. She is just jealous of me and she always has been. She is old enough to be my mother and looks like an LL bean model, that ain't saying much. What shall I do?
posted on September 1, 2000 12:56:50 PM"I'm betting this guy did purposely erect a previously non-elevated device" does not count if you cannot prove it. Even if he has one but it is used for legitimate means, you may have a problem.
Spaz, I had my husband read this thread and (after laughing his head off and telling me, "I thought you said this is the place you discuss AUCTIONS) he thought SgtMike was the only one who DID get "it". I admit that I didn't get it until my husband "explained" it to me.
At any rate, he pretty much said the same thing as SgtMike, because mybidness didn't have a "reasonable" expectation of privacy due to the condition of her fence and the "peeping" didn't take place on her property. He said he couldn't cite the neighbor, unless a case could be made of the same repetitive behavior constituting harrassment, and wouldn't cite mybiddness's husband due to the ration of ***t he would get from the DA who got the paperwork. This from the land of "fruits and nuts", California.
posted on September 1, 2000 01:02:40 PMHave you ever seen her (Eudora's) book of photographs?
Yes. I love the little black girl holding the white doll the best. It speaks so many words. People who live outside of the South do not understand the racial dynamics here. Some assume that all Southerners are racist. WAY different. Willie Morris said, "That's why there are so many great Southern writers, because it's takes so many to explain it (racial dynamics)". I also love Eudora's Windsor Ruins photos. It's something you have to stand amidst to appreciate I think.
Yes I know moonpie. I explained a moonpie to James before...grin at James. I want to mail him a box when the weather cools down. Sorry I missed covering tailgate parties.
Windsor Ruins: http://www.nps.gov/vick/vcmpgn/windsor.htm
T
