How do you respond to people who think it's OK to break into

[Target_For_Exterm]

your house and take everything you own because you're on SSDI?

Sad to say, a lot of people here in Utah think just that. Unfortunately, I've talked to more than one person who's told me that.

I thought people here were crazy when they told me PTSD wasn't real and people who have PTSD are faking it because they want to get out of work.

But I can't figure out how they bend their mind around the idea that it's OK to break into someone's house and steal their stuff because they're on Social Security.

This is a DIRECT RESULT of the Republican hate rhetoric against the poor and disabled. I have to admit that I'm so frustrated by the sick attitude and beliefs of people around here that I don't even want to talk to them anymore.

They stupidly believe that if you get any money from the government (including Social Security, which you pay for), then what you have belongs to them because you spent their tax money.

Beyond my horror, I'm at a loss as to how to reply in a way that could actually get through their extremist whacko thinking.

Do you have any suggestions?

[madmusic]

1. Buy a gun, and when they try to take it...

Shoot them.

[Target_For_Exterm]

2. That's exactly what I did.

I've never owned a gun before, but after talking to some of the people around here, I bought one.

[LeftyMom]

3. You don't.

Some people aren't worth reasoning with, because they're beyond rational thought. If you want to encounter less of them, moving out of Utah might be a good start, though I know on a SSDI budget it's near impossible.

[blogslut]

4. Your home was broken into?

Did you call the police?

[Target_For_Exterm]

6. They haven't broken into my house, but I've been threatened.

The police around here are totally useless. Calling them wouldn't do much good.

[uppityperson]

5. Is there a background story to this?

Not sure if I missed some news, or are you saying that John Q. Public feels he can just waltz in and take whatever he wants? Thanks.

[Target_For_Exterm]

8. People here in Utah pretty much hate the disabled.

I've been told by people I talked to here who know I'm on SSDI that it would be OK for them to break into my house and take my stuff because I'm on SSDI.

They scared me enough that I bought a gun for protection.

[uppityperson]

11. Thanks, now how to respond. Robbery is illegal. Period.

Breaking and entering is also illegal, as is trespassing. Print up a list of lawyers and hand it out in case they want to check for themselves.

[Target_For_Exterm]

16. I did point that out. The most recent conversation went something

along the lines of "you can tell everyone you know that if they try to break into my house, it will be the last decision they make because I bought a gun."

Them: "Do I need to call the police?"

Me: "Why would you call the police?"

Them: "Because you're brandishing a gun."

The conversation occurred with me inside my house, and them outside because I refused to open the door to them.

AAAAEEEEYYYYYAAAA!!! :mad: :grr:

[madeline_con]

25. True story...

the first person who calls 911 is usually the one the cops believe.

You should have called the law during that exchange, told them a freak was in your yard threatening you. At least there would be a record and documentation of escalating problems.

What exactly is wrong with this person? Are they mentally ill? Why do they threaten to victimize you?

[Target_For_Exterm]

28. It's the local Republican lunacy.

These people are off their rocker as a direct result of Republican rhetoric. It's like they take what's said, bend it all out of recognition to suit themselves, then act accordingly.

Ironically, they come to my house to "help" me because I'm disabled.

:mad: :grr:

[librechik]

30. say don't bother, I already did, they'll be here in a minute!

and watch their tails!

[Target_For_Exterm]

32. That's a good idea. I think I really might start calling the cops

on them. As a homeowner, I should have some right to say who I do or don't want on my property. Especially if they're threatening me.

I just wish I had more confidence in the local police. It's probably some brother's cousin's cousin of the person threatening me. (sigh)

[MindPilot]

15. You know if you hadn't sinned so much, you wouldn't BE disabled

now get up off your lazy ass and get a job! It shouldn't be necessary but :sarcasm:

I went through a similar thing when I was receiving worker's comp recovering from a work-related injury. People seem to think that it's just free money and that there is a lot of it. I got that from people who ought to know better--like my in-laws.

Here's what you say--stops 'em dead in their tracks every time "if being on welfare/SSI/Disability is such a good deal, why are YOU working?"

[Target_For_Exterm]

17. The truth is closer to if THEY hadn't sinned so much, I wouldn't

be disabled.

[uppityperson]

18. ?

[Target_For_Exterm]

19. I'm disabled because I'm a crime victim. I can't work anymore

because my last employer violated the ADA and it made my disability worse.

Thus, if they hadn't sinned so much, I wouldn't be disabled.

[uppityperson]

22. Got it, thanks. So they want to criminalize a crime victim?

Or would that be re-victimize? I know it would be only about you, but have you told them that you are a crime victim? Sometimes making these things personal can affect a change in people's overall attitudes.

[Target_For_Exterm]

29. Oh, yeah. Doesn't impact their insanity one bit.

[undeterred]

7. Its illegal, for starters.

Do they think its ok to steal from the elderly too?

[Target_For_Exterm]

9. Well, yeah.

I think they reserve particular ire for the disabled. Personally, I think they hate them.

I already told them I paid into Social Security for many years. They don't care, because they figure the money I'm getting now is what they're paying now.

A bunch of real loons.

[MindPilot]

10. How about "go fuck yourself you ignorant fucking asshole"?

Same clowns who think it's OK to do that to any homeowner because "insurance will pay for it"

[Target_For_Exterm]

12. That's pretty much my reaction. I don't use the language, but

I think the general thought gets across anyway.

I'm beyond appalled by these people.

[madeline_con]

26. How many would-be robbers are you talking about? n/t

[Target_For_Exterm]

31. Hard to say.

I guess it depends on whether they decide to attack alone, or gang up on me. But I've heard this lunacy from more than one person, and not in the same conversation. I think a certain segment of the local population thinks like this.

[madeline_con]

33. It's just unfathomable.

Most normal people would look out for someone BECAUSE they're on disability, and have little enough as it is. That's just fu*ked up.

[undeterred]

13. Its like when you're a child and you think its ok to take from the store

because the store has lots of money. Then you grow up.

[monktonman]

14. Suggestions....I dont want to pay for the roads.....

especially the one you drive to work on.
next thing you know I'll have to pay for repairs. I dont use that road.....you pay to fix it.
Also..... I dont want to pay for the military. I spent all that tax money so you guys can start a war and then turn around and lose it.....I want my money back.
How come I have to pay to subsidize your business??? If you cant make money on your own then perhaps we dont need your product.....Not to mention how you graze your cows on land owned by my government.
Whenever theres a natural disaster the republicans automatically turn to the rest of us and declare a state of emergency and expect the tax payers to come to the rescue? ( most of the time its Florida but now its Colorado) etc. etc.
I could go on..........
Oh dont forget about how the church (in this case mormons) dont pay a dime in taxes......etc. etc.....

[One_Life_To_Give]

20. Are they really that stupid?

or would they come up with any rationalization to seperate you from your stuff?

I wouldn't be surprised if they next go to some other victim and claim that they desrve their pay since it's really theirs anyway after the state takes taxes from it and gives it to them or some such nonsense.

And to think I thought Utah was full of Mormons who should know this would violate at least two commandments.

[Target_For_Exterm]

23. In short, yes, they are.

I think what's driving it is the bad economic situation and the lack of government assistance. People are becoming desperate, so they justify just about anything that will get them some resources, including crime against the hated disabled.

As I said, a direct result of the Republican hate rhetoric. They have the typical insane Republican adherence to Republican rhetoric no matter how inane, so they would never blame the Republicans for their plight. They have to make something up to make it someone else's fault, and therefore, that someone should pay and alieviate their suffering.

[One_Life_To_Give]

34. You can't fix stupid

I would add to the Gun
1) A dog, preferably big
(or at least a rabbit with sharp pointy teeth! For all the Monty Python fans)
2) Post the lot

on edit
3) A video surveillance camera

[Target_For_Exterm]

35. I bought stuff for a fence and I intend to post a no tresspassing

sign on it. I'm just waiting for the snow to melt to put the fence up. I doubt it will keep them out, but at least notice will be posted so I'm in a better position if I have to call the cops.

[ashling]

21. What happened to get to this point

As far as I can tell, you don't tell us what specifically you are talking about - unless I missed something. If you are on SSDI, suffering from PTSD, then there should be some social service agency in your area that can assist you. If you are being threateded, you need to contact law enforcement.

you need to be more specific before you can get any real substantive answers.

[Target_For_Exterm]

27. Yes, I suffer from PTSD and I'm on SSDI.

I moved to this tiny rural town to get away from crime in the big city (what a joke) and get a quieter setting that doesn't set off my PTSD like busy streets and big city noise do.

Since this is a small town, word gets around without my assistance with regards to what my particular circumstances are.

Note, I have NEVER gone to anyone else's house to say anything. I almost never leave my own house, except for occassional trips to the store. They come to MY house with their threats and intimidation. I tell them to stay away, but they won't do it. Nothing sets them off more than my refusal to open my door and let them in. Then they rail away about everything.

I've been reluctant to report them to police because the police here are useless and I have to live here. But I think I'm going to start. At a minimum, I should be able to charge them with trespassing, assuming the police will actually do anything.

WRT asking for any help from the state for anything - no way! People here think if you're on social security and you get any help from the state, the state then has the right to attach your estate to recoup their money. That's not legal either, but it's what they think. I object to that just on the principle of the thing. I'm not handing over anything, while I'm alive or dead, to people who are off their freaking rocker.

[ashling]

36. No offense, but you still haven't given any specifics.

If you call the police with no more info. than you have given here, they are not going to be able to do anything. Perhaps you have your reasons for not wanting to post more about a specific instance, and for not allowinf access to your profile, but I am afraid the advice you get may just make the situation worse.

I hope you find an answer.

[Target_For_Exterm]

38. I don't enable my profile on DU because I'm a woman and it's not safe.

(PTSD - duh.) My profile will NEVER be enabled on DU for that reason.

What details do you need? Names and addresses? You think I'm going to post that on DU? (Yeah, right.)

YOU provide detail about what I've supposedly left out that doesn't include names and addresses!

[madeline_con]

24. I ditto the "get a gun" advice.

What a bunch of FREAKS live around you. Arm yourself, until you can move.

[Midlodemocrat]

37. I gotta say, this is among the weirdest threads I've ever seen.

People say that they can take your stuff because you are on SSDI? Sorry, not buying it.

[Target_For_Exterm]

40. I'll make a recording next time and post an mp3 on DU.

Take a little trip to Utah and start talking to the idiots around here.

I couldn't believe my ears, either. Believe what you want. It doesn't change what goes on around here.

[Target_For_Exterm]

41. Actually, now that I think about it, that's EXACTLY what I should do.

I have a tape recorder. I should keep it by the door and record any of these idiots who start spouting a bunch of crap.

Then, if I have to call the cops, I've got an irrefutable record of what they said.

[uppityperson]

43. That is a good idea, start recording them.

[Target_For_Exterm]

44. I have a little voice recorder I was going to give my brother for

Christmas, then decided not to because it was refurbished. It's small enough to fit in my pocket and not be seen, and has one button record. I'm going to start carrying it with me and catch these bozos in the act.

The police might not want to do anything, but if I have evidence, I can go over their heads if need be. I'm getting tired of having these whack jobs come to my house.

[slackmaster]

39. I'd be inclined to give them Excedrin Headache number .357

BLAM!

[mitchum]

42. You have the legal right to defend yourself

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

45. I'm going to lock this since

the OP is no longer a member.

best,
wakemeupwhenitsover
DU Moderator