Jett Croisant thought it would be funny to finally respond to his downstair neighbor’s MAGA window display last week.
The Trump 2020 flag and Trump-as-Rambo signage had been on the windows below his apartment on East Fourth Street for a few months before whoever put them there took them down during the George Floyd protest in downtown Cleveland a couple of weeks ago.
When they reappeared, Croisant decided to tape a sign up that simply read: “Venmo @Jet513 and I will tapdance at midnight.”
This was last Tuesday.
“I was just sick of the signs,” he told Scene, noting that he has never actually met his neighbor.
By last Wednesday, he realized his joke had taken on a life of its own as he watched his Venmo account slowly but steadily attract donations.
“It was nonstop that day,” Croisant said.
And it kept going as pics of the signs made their way around Facebook, Twitter and Reddit through the weekend.
Hundreds of dollars became thousands of dollars. Some lady asked for his shoe size and told him she’d send him tap shoes.
By Monday morning, Croisant told Scene the grand total had crossed $5,800, all of which and whatever else comes in he’ll be donating to the ACLU.
There’s still the matter of making good on his promise, of course.
Because “I need a place to live, and I hope I’m going to live here after this,” there will be a special one-night only performance, his first and probably last, at some point in the near future, and there will be video for posterity.
“Paris Hilton just regrammed it,” Croisant said as we talked. “So it’s probably going to keep going for a bit. It’s crazy.”
This article appears in Jun 10-16, 2020.
It will be interesting to see if the American Civil Liberties Union accepts the $10,000 dollar donation, which is being used to punish an American for exercising his right to engage in symbolic speech, which is a civil liberty and constitutional right.
If the ACLU does so, it will be proof that the ACLU doesn’t really support all civil liberties and doesn’t really want to protect all constitutional rights.
It would also means that a large amount of money and political dislike trumps freedom and principle for the ACLU.
Cleveland seems to have a much higher number of assholes per capita than most towns its size. Wonder why that is?
A plague…pun intended…on both their houses.
Shikaka Seven was vaccinated at birth with a phonograph needle.
So the open-minded, inclusive, diversity-loving, and tolerant liberal is going to harass his neighbor for silently exercising his right to express his opinion.
That sounds about right for the enlightened (and did I mention tolerant?) Left.
Bobby Sealedwithakiss, so do you support the upstairs neighbor’s plan to intentionally be a private nuisance to his downstairs’ neighbor, who he admits he has never met?
If you don’t like my writing style, or even my ideas, I’m o.k. with that.
I don’t expect everyone– or anyone for that matter– to agree with me.
However, I do expect others– and especially, my neighbors– to not infringe on my constitutional right to engage in free speech.
Im still looking for a counter point flag to fly on my boat next to the asshole at Edgewater yacht club everyone can see from the shoreway with the Trump flag hanging from his main halyard. Any ideas post em. I thought about a huge “Camacho 2020” but that might be to neuanced “I am not with stupid and an arrow” Flags dont exist.
My father was an abusive asshole, probably as bad as you are, Wingnut. He doesn’t think anything about me anymore, ebcause he’s been dead a long, long time. Good riddance. But I was raised right, because I was raised left, and I make no apologies. I am what I am.
And I know what you are. You are a sick, pathetic loser without a life.
Amen to that brother! The Media is totally responsible for where we’re headed. Just hope that Fox News will someday be held accountable for all the lies they’ve fed the American public.
I have a picture of myself, during the protest, flipping off this little snowflake of a man, while he was laughing and peaking out from the side of the flag.
Personally, had he been a man or proud of his president … I believe he’d actually stand outside with the flag.
Dear Scene,
You really need a comment moderator.
While I think our politicians can have an impact in reforming the police forces across the country, they can not and will not ever be able to cure the social and economic issues of the poor. The solution has been and always will be a change in the behaviors that cause poverty. But your politicians DON’T HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY WHAT NEED TO BE SAID. The only one that comes close is Trump. But he is so clumsy is his communication that it won’t be heard correctly.
I get it – so if you don’t like someone’s free speech you should provoke and antagonize them, correct? How very adult of this person…what is he like 5 years old or so (no disrespect to 5 year olds intended…)
Man, all these constitutional scholars in the comments with a complete misunderstanding of the first amendment. Freedom of speech protects you from government interference, not the free expression of other citizens in response to what you say.
Ben, I’m not arguing that the other guy has the same right of free speech – only that what he has opted to say in response is juvenile and intended to escalate the situation. He could instead just have a sign supporting his own candidate. Or a sign stating facts he doesn’t like about Trump. But no, he wants to get people to fund him to antagonize someone else for what they have to say.
He does have the right to do this – he’s just a moron for doing so.
Nice so true somebody gets it.
Benjamin Chronister, no one said that the First Amendment protects the downstairs neighbor’s constitutional right of free speech from his upstairs neighbor tap dancing at midnight.
The tort of private nuisance does though.
So do local noise ordinances.
Free speech is a fundamental constitutional right.
It is also a human right under Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
However, this is a private nuisance issue and an intentional noise ordinance violation issue, but it will still be interesting to see if the ACLU accepts the $10,000 donation from money raised in support of an upstairs neighbor intentionally trying to retaliate against his downstairs neighbor because the latter exercised his fundamental right to engage in symbolic speech.
So do you support the upstairs neighbor’s plan to intentionally tap-dance at midnight to retaliate against his downstairs neighbor for exercising his fundamental right to engage in symbolic speech?
Your comment implies that you think that the upstairs neighbor plan to intentionally tap dance at midnight is a free expression of his fundamental right of free speech.
If so, you should already realize that not all speech is protected speech.
I guess he will have to call Geico about the “Clogging” problem
LOL at these conservative snowflakes being triggered by a tap dance routine. Seems like you all really need a safe space.
And to re-read the First Amendment – a tap dance routine isn’t an arrest. Weaklings.
I get the fun and the media appeal. But adding to the civil war is just not what we need now.
Does anybody really know about their first amendment rights? You have the right to say what you want or put signs in your windows! You also have the right to not listen to what is being said and not pay any attention to what is displayed in windows. Saying you will pay back someone back because you disagree whit them is so very childish. Grow up!!!!!!
You can speak freely, I’ll speak freely back. Even if I speak the LANGUAGE OF DANCE
To scared to leave it up during the riots. Typical.
The Trump flag/poster is ignorant in my opinion, however it is a legitimate for the opinion to be displayed in the manner it is. No person should be inconvenienced because of this and the ACLU should be the first to recognize this. Suck it up and understand the difference.
Seven I read most of your previous posts and thought you might have some intelligence, too my dismay after your Democrat drivel you have revealed yourself to be just another ignorant fella in your mothers basement with a phone and a data plan.
Good job ❤
I think the statement “I’ve never met my neighbor” is very telling. We get what we deserve.
I Want America Back!, what makes you think that renters can be evicted for their speech?– especially, if: (1) they did not violate their lease agreement; (2) they did not fail to pay their rent on time; (3) they did not damage the property they were renting; and (4) they did not use the property they rented for an illegal purpose.
How is the sign hurting this idiot? Snowflake. Freedom of speech…freedom to tap dance. Whatever. You people are sad and pathetic.
Shrieks, Yup they definitely need a moderator. Or maybe just turn off comments. The left and right wing extremists are just name-calling each other at this point, so I’ll join in: almost everyone commenting on this site has an IQ that’s the same as the temperature of my room. I keep my room relatively cool. And I use Celsius. I’m not stating my political views because it doesn’t matter, you should just all act decently civilized towards each other and hear each other’s opinions.
I’m gonna go ahead and use this post as my personal presidential poll. Because Trump is soooooo in the lead. Trump 2020!!!
Freedom of speech dude! Don’t punish others for exercising their given right! You wouldn’t want that to happen to you right?!?
Get a job and do something with your time! Remember Trump granted you that stimulus check. I bet you spent it on your tappers huh?
What would be the legal citation if the downstairs neighbor wanted to invoke his right to be free of any “private nuisance”? As in, where is such legislation codified? I’m not a lawyer, which is why I ask, not because I don’t believe such legislation exists, I’d be interested in the specific language used on the books.
My interpretation of this news is that the upstairs neighbor didn’t originally expect anything to actually come of his signage, but since it has gone viral, he is willing to go through with it but is clearly worried that it could have consequences (he mentions that he hopes to continue living there, clearly it’s not for an inability to pay rent). These could well complicate a legal case where the downstairs neighbor intends to show that the upstairs neighbor acted with the desire that it would be a nuisance to the downstairs neighbor–it is now part of a fundraiser and the upstairs neighbor feels obligated (whether or not he actually is, is probably irrelevant, perhaps he could argue fear of massive retaliation/harassment if he declined at this point), otherwise it doesn’t make much sense to specifically mention that he hopes to continue living there and not to be evicted.
Isn’t the main point (granted, quite removed) that the upstairs guy is making that: “downstairs neighbor is all about his first amendment rights until he presumably fears for possible consequences, so wouldn’t it be funny if I also practice my first amendment rights, you know, like the protesters, in a way that sort of implies potential consequences to downstairs neighbor?” Whether or not you agree with the humor, it’s easy to see how the developments since coming up with the idea might complicate things legally. It probably wouldn’t and up being worth the downstairs neighbor’s time to pursue any sort of damages, especially since upstairs neighbor has been clear that it’ll be a one-time thing.
So I would be interested in a qualified legal analysis. All that said, a possible outcome is that these neighbors meet each other, can find some common ground and just laugh about this after the fact. Maybe unlikely, but everyone seems to want to view one neighbor or the other as almost less than human and completely incapable of engaging in civil discourse. Why should we assume that this will only end in more polarization, when, in my experience, many people would be willing to help a neighbor without first knowing if they can agree politically?
So in most apartments it is prohibited to display or advertise for anything. So the person who has the big campaign signs is breaking his lease rules. The smaller sign does not read in the eyes of the law as an advertisement.
Now is he does tap which I would…… as long as it cannot be heard outside the unit is it illegal. Tap away every five to twenty mins randomly.
Fighting idiocy w idiocy is what’s wrong with this country. Everyone has a right to Express themselves but when your spiteful it just breeds more of the same and then you have escalation
How about we respect one another and live and let live. Problem is the DNA and rnc wants us all to dance their jig fanning the flames w fear amd hatred is how they get elected amd or reelected. Let’s all try being human beings rather then sheeple. Lol
Wah wah. Trump suckers will cozy up to a man who freely violates every law and constitutional right we have but get mad when someone wants to tapdance on their neighbors roof. You Trump supporters are seriously the stupidest people in existence. Can’t wait to vote that scumbag out, put him in prison and watch the rest of you aging relics of racism slither back to your holes and live out your last few years in the dark, where you should have stayed.
So , making fun of the ridiculous Trump flag gets these clowns upset ? What a bunch of Trump Ian whiners , just like Trump .
I love all these ppl SO CONCERNED about Mr. Downstairs neighbors “right to free speech” while having a HISSY fit about the upstairs neighbor, apparently HE isn’t allowed the same right to free speech…that only comes w/slavish loyalty to a human stain masquerading as a president. Boo hoo if Mr. Chump supporter is peeved by the tap tapping of a “dissident”.
The best thing is Trumpsters are bent outta shape and the dude hasn’t tapped dance once.
The upstairs neighbor is wrong for harassing his neighbor.
You people should stop putting every republican or democrat under sweeping generalizations and attacking their personalities instead of their arguments (ad hominem). This isn’t helping anyone. You’re a first world country for crying out loud.
I love all the Trumptards getting outraged by this! Makes me smile. “The libs hate free speech!!”. No. You have every right to say what you want to say. Anytime. Anywhere. But we also have the right to respond to it. We are not the government. We are people who are exercising our rights to free speech but completely shaming you complete trash bags. You Voted for and continue to proudly support a blatantly racist, elite loving, womanizing, draft dodging, barely literate con man who’s entire administration had done nothing but drive a wedge between the people of the country. You deserve every second of hazing you get. You are the problem with the world and we are out here to make your lives miserable. Sorry you snowflakes can’t handle it. Keep on melting you pathetic excuses for Americans.
Just aim the shotgun where the tapping is coming from.
Tough to tap dance with stumps where your feet used to be
Why is no one mentioning this guys downstairs neighbor annoyed him with a sign so he opened a digital wallet account so people could send him money????? I dont care weither your white black green blue purple or from Mars, thats insane. um my downstairs neighbor has 6 screaming kids that have never once managed to not leave trash behind in the parking coming and going, all hours day and night…do you mean I could complain and set up a digital wallet and people will just send me money? I dont know which is worse the tap dancer or people just giving him money. Seriously???? No just really my downstairs neighbor put up a sign I dont like my first thought was a digital wallet what a joke we are ALL doomed!!!!!!
The guy upstairs has a little “Biden 2020” sign. He probably likes hot dogs with his cheese pizza dipped in walnut sauce.
And you have Baker Manziel!
So, the Left is justified in any action they take against a man peacefully expressing his opinion. You’ll all say that he should know better than to express his support for the POTUS in a Group Think Zone like Downton Cleveland.
Let me ask you this, if a Black Man moved to an all White suburb, flew a Black Lives Matter flag in his front yard, and someone started leveraging the internet to fuck with his life would you have the same nonchalant attitude?
We all know the answer is no. We all know that ignoring your own blatant Hypocrisy and staying on the attack against anything Conservative is your game plan.
Decent Folks, the Hypocrisy of the Left knows no bounds. Whike you are busy arguing logic with reason they are moving onto the next target.
These people do not create, they simply destroy.
Reject their bullshit and hold their feet to the fire when given an opportunity.
…and most importantly BREAK THE PROGRAMMING. FIGHT THE LEFT.
It’s amazing how thin the skin is of the trump-tards. Let them believe the lies and Bullshit.
Go and VOTE. After all that’s what they are scared of the most.
I can’t believe that this type of action is being applauded and rewarded. Come on people let’s show some love for each other.
Shhhh, be quiet! Someone’s tap dancing above my ceiling……lol
The left is here
The left is here
All hale the Left
Bow down
Cow tow
Have mercy on us Lefties
Or we’ll kick your teeth in!
Calling yourself “Freedom of Thought” is precisely the same as Fascists calling themselves Antifa.
You refuse to acknowledge this man’s right to his opinion because you disagree.
What do you think happens when you silence your opposition’s only peaceable solution?
Hint: The Product is very bloody.
“It’s amazing how thin the skin is of the trump-tards…..”
Although not by any stretch a big fan of trump, I think you might have missed the mark on who has the thin skin here.
“OH MY GOD – A TRUMP PICTURE! – I CANT HANDLE A PICTURE – MUST COUNTER!”
If you think the thought process that went through that persons head was drastically different from what I wrote, you might be kidding yourself
Hmm, you asked for a legal citation if the downstairs neighbor wants to invoke his right to be free from a private nuisance.
Check out Ohio Revised Code, Section 2917.11(A) which states: “No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by doing any of the following… . (2) Making unreasonable noise… to any person.”
“Private nuisance” is a tort, which is a civil action, which you can find more information about in Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 2307.
If you want to read Ohio case law about the tort of private nuisance, check out the Ohio Supreme Court decision in Banford v. Aldrich Chem. Co., 126 Ohio St.3d 210, 2010-Ohio-2470.
The Cleveland Noise Ordinance is 605.10, which states, in pertinent part, “(a) No person shall make, or cause, suffer, allow, or permit to be made within the City any unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise, or noises of such character, intensity or duration as to be detrimental to the life and health of any individual, or unreasonably disturb the quiet, comfort, or repose of neighboring inhabitants”
Well, if she actually does start tap dancing, I’d just head for one of the outdoor stores and get the ‘Animal Musk du jour’, a ‘do it yourself aerosol can and a small amount of thin tubing and cut it loose under her door.
Having everything you own smell like a farm forever might cause her to reconsider.
I just flip the Trump signs the “bird” as I pass by. They (the Trump signs) represent, to me, every form of ism that I deplore.
Smart Senior, I don’t give a fuck about what he represents to you and that’s the beauty of America.
All you lefties are suck SOB’s. I’m totally serious. You believe whole heartedly everything that CNN broadcasts without giving it one single thought. What recent president followed thru with their campaign promises except for Trump. Humm, let’s see. Build a wall, he built and continues to build the wall. Tear up NAFTA, he tore up NAFTA and got us a much better deal. Lower unemployment, before the virus we (people of ALL colors) had the lowest unemployment rate in a very long time. Build the economy, he built the best economy possibly in the world. Cut back on regulations for small businesses, he did that and helped spark the economy. Move the embassy in Israel, he moved the embassy to Jerusalem. Tear up the horrible Iran nuclear deal, he did it and is standing tough agaisnt Iran. Get tough on China and the lopsided trade deals, he did that and it helped everyone, etc, etc. Seriously, what the hell did Obama accomplish,oh ya, besides Obama care, you can keep your own doctor, YA RIGHT ! It’s so simple. If you 4 more years of Obama vote for Biden. If you want to make America great again vote for Trump. In closing, ALL lives matter ! !
So. Much. Journalisming!
When will WTAM remove their line-up of hatred from 9 AM to 7 PM? It is one unfounded conspiracy theory after another. All older white males spewing their “1950’s” view of white America. 1100 needs to do better. Start by putting Triv out to pasture. He is an embarrassment to Cleveland.
I hope he gets evicted. The downstairs neighbor has a right to his opinion whether anyone agrees with him or not. His flag is a silent expression of his opinion which the upstairs neighbor can simply ignore just like we all ignore political signs in people’s yards during an election. The upstairs neighbor does NOT have the right to intentionally harass his neighbor as I am sure is reflected in the lease they BOTH signed.
To the human cunt whining about WTAM….
if one station that covers an angle that you don’t agree with is too much, I suggest you take the Detroit/Superior Bridge.
Best to do it soon before you witness the “Progressives,” Communists, Socialists and Democrats hand Trump his reelection.
Let me know where you plan to take your eternal rest so I can swing by and pick on your grave.
Shiwaku Seven, free speech ends when a contingent neighbor hangs obtrusive signage in a window of a shared building. The downstairs neighbor isn’t just making his political beliefs known, he’s defacing property with non-drapery. And he’s making a mockery of an otherwise beautiful building. There are good tenants and bad tenants. If my apt. neighbor hung anything that heinous in a window, management would get an earful from me–regardless of whether the flag/poster matched my political leanings or not.
I agree that we all have a right to free speech….but supporting Trump…..you have to be a moron like him
OOOOOOOOOOOOOH…how you give yourself away every time with that overuse of Communist and Commie, Wingnut. And why are there literally HUNDREDS of likes and dislikes for this stupid story? Have you figured out a way to post multiples of each with one keystroke, or do you just sit and click 24/7? I’ve never seen four or five hundred likes or disklike for ANYTHING here, and it ends up happening at this joke thread. Congratulations, assclown.
I had some jerks living upstairs of me when I lived in a bigger city and had to get up at six every day to catch a train to work. They would come home in the wee hours and roller skateabove my bedroom. I told the landlord that his floors were being ruined..and he evicted my a-hole neighbors. Funny thing…they were from Cleveland.
J de Haan, this Scene article says the window display was up for months, which suggests it was permitted under the rental agreement and the landlord didn’t have a problem with it. This article also said that the window display was taken down during the protest in Downtown Cleveland and then reappeared, which means that the political signs are removable, which in turn means that no actual defacing occurred.
Political signs on lawns and windows during an Election year is an American tradition. The same goes for Pro-Trump bumperstickers on cars and campaign buttons on shirts and jackets.
As a political independent, who believes that both Democrats and Republicans are really working for the same Power Elite, I don’t get why Democrats claim that Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”, is offensive to them, because making America great again is a good goal to work towards..
Fussing about this positive message makes Democrats sound petty and unreasonable.
I suggest if you want to counter this positive message, hang a Joe Biden for President sign in your own window.
Shiwaku Seven, Thank you kindly for pointing me towards the relevant legislation!
Freedom of Speech is not for everybody.
Just lefties!
The comments here are hilarious. I live in this building. I met the guy with the Trump flag multiple times and he’s a good dude. Never seen the tap dancer before.
He took the Trump sign down because there was a riot… Who wants to have some intolerant asshole throw a brick through their window because of a sign? They were trying before it was taken down, I took my stuff out of my window too, turned off the lights and closed my blinds.
That says more about intolerant assholes than it does him. He made the logical move… I don’t get the logic behind calling him weak or a pussy. Confirmation bias at its finest.
Also, the guy upstairs has just as much of a right as the guy below him to display that but it’s very typical of a liberal to be a negative and divisive and intolerant then paint a picture of the opposite. Great job donating money earned by creating divide, supporting targeting someone for exercising and their freedom of speech, and spreading more negativity in these times. Grow the hell up man.
Also, thanks for ruining it for everyone and having the front office force all residents to remove window decorations. If you didn’t see check your email.
You donating money to residents who spent money on their window decorations? Im not even allowed to have my own window shades up now, they have to be white. Fuck you for that one buddy.
Good post Richard. These “progressives” have their heads lodged up their ashes way too far to realize they should be embarrassed.
Why was the original sign posted in a common area?
He should have put it on ‘his’ front door. Putting it on the building’s front door might be construed as everyone living there is in agreement with the sign.
Why did the original poster put the sign up in a common area?
He should have put it on ‘his’ front door.
Putting it on the building’s front door could be construed as everyone living there is in agreement with the sign.
How dare this man exercise his 1st amendment right and put up flags in support of a presidential candidate. We should make it illegal for people to hand up flags and signs that we don’t like because only some should get the 1st amendment rights and only those who have the same opinion as me get to express that opinion. Boy liberals can be so stupid and contradictory sometimes(always)
Shiwaku Seven, are you educated in law or do you otherwise understand enough that you’re sure you can correctly interpret these statutes? And the specific case law that you mentioned? If so and you don’t mind, I would very much appreciate your time for a few questions after looked more deeply into them:
29 Ohio Rev. Code. § 2917.11 is a subsection of chapter 2917 of title 29, “Offenses against the public peace” — accordingly, the definitions and specific examples (although the laws are explicitly not limited to them in scope) seem to clearly indicate that the spirit of these laws are about defining crimes related to the intentional cause of disturbances to the general public. If so, then this would not be the statute for the downstairs neighbor to cite in filing a complaint, since the disturbance would be (as I understand it) entirely confined to private property/properties. Is that an invalid interpretation? If so, are you able to identify what information I may be missing or concepts I may be misunderstanding so to help me understand?
The Cleveland Noise Ordinance, likewise, seems to be in the spirit of public peace (it even has a section about dance events in public, which is just noteworthy because this story is about an anticipated future dance, just not in public). In fact, it seems that Cleveland, Ohio, Municipal Codes § 605.10 is decidedly not codified under Cleveland, Ohio, Municipal Codes Chapter 621 – “Offense Against Persons”. Assuming it is applicable, though, § 605.10(d) seems to suggest that the downstairs neighbor could call the police for a noise complaint, and upon receiving a warning from an officer, the upstairs neighbor would then have TWELVE hours to desist ! Can that be right??
23 Ohio Rev. Code. 2307 appears to be more relevant, but 2307.011(D) defines: ‘”Intentional tort claim” means a claim alleging that a tortfeasor intentionally caused or intentionally contributed to the injury or loss to person or property or the wrongful death or that a tortfeasor knew or believed that the injury or loss to person or property or the wrongful death was substantially certain to result from the tortfeasor’s conduct.’ As I pointed out before, the upstairs neighbor has expressed -uncertainty- about the consequences (at least as far as his ability to remain as a tenant in his current dwelling, and maybe that’s because he hasn’t said how long he would tap dance, he has only said that it’d start at midnight–I have no idea how long a typical tap dance lasts, if there is such a thing; maybe a, say, 5-10 minute long nuisance is indeed entering questionable territory). Would that not conflict with this definition?
In the Banford v. Aldrich Chem. Co. case, I notice that it and all of the case law that it, itself, cites, involve far larger incidents, often accidental–the Banford v. Aldrich Checm Co. being about an explosion and subsequent 24-hour evacuation of residents within a 1 mile radius, other cases involve odors from a nearby kennel, noise from air traffic, wind carrying soot/smoke/coal particles from a smokestack over someone else’s property, etc. Given that the trial court awarded individual plaintiffs in the case of the explosion at the Aldrich Chem. Co. monetary compensation in the range of $35 to $625 for an explosion and 24-hour evacuation and this was for negligence, “strict liability for engaging in ultrahazardous[sic] activity” on top of the nuisance charge, this reinforces my suspicion that it would not likely be worth the downstairs neighbor’s time to pursue damages for a tap dancing session, and after reading all this legalese, the most compelling case (or maybe just easy to argue) that I can think he could make to demonstrate emotional distress (because tap dancing shouldn’t end up causing physical distress–and the law doesn’t seem to acknowledge the philosophical argument that these could be considered one and the same) would be to highlight that it deprived him and any others living in the unit of some sleep. Sleep, though, is a topic about which I do know a lot and even a completely restless night would be difficult to quantify/qualify as anywhere near significant emotional distress nor even a notable health detriment. In the Banford v. Aldrich Chem. Co. case, it cites a precedent that “The emotional injury or distress must be beyond trifling mental disturbance, mere upset, or hurt feelings.”
Whether I’m right or wrong in my reading of the legalese, the downstairs neighbor may very well be fine with letting it go, or not even finding it all that bothersome in the first place (maybe he doesn’t happen to be home that night, who knows). There are plenty of paths to amicability here without involving any lawyers or courts, and these two neighbors don’t necessarily need to be mortal enemies. This certainly isn’t a chemical explosion-scale case, hopefully it turns out to indeed be a whole lot of nothing.
Personally, if I felt inclined to practice my first amendment right by displaying signage in a window or something similar and it were to end up drawing even a fraction of the amount of attention as this incident has because a neighbor disagrees with me or just finds my signage to be obnoxious, I’d very much welcome a conversation with that neighbor, as well as I’d celebrate his/her first amendment right, too. I’d even be willing to modify my signage so to convey the same message if it were clearly possible to do so such that at least some of the neighbor’s objections are satiated. Additionally, if my hypothetical neighbor were half as creative about it as the upstairs neighbor in this story, regardless of relevant laws (as long as it doesn’t involve physically hurting anyone, or disturbing other neighbors), I’d be more amused than upset, even if it involved the idea of disturbing me briefly one time, at night, but that’s just me. If the downstairs neighbor is as cool as another poster here has mentioned, maybe he won’t have a lawyer on speed dial, either (and, as an aside, I’m just realizing how dated that expression is: speed dial?).
I know it wouldn’t be so sensational if we can’t assume that these neighbors would be at each others’ throats given the opportunity, but how many people actually live life so angry all the time?
Trump and civil liberties are opposite forces. Anyone who hasn’t figured that out yet is just too busy trying to order their tickets to the coronation of king T#%@!
To all you cunts upset about the flags,
Sick my sick, you’re just mad President Trump came after your shoe shine boy.
45th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
…and there ain’t a Goddamn thing you can do about it.
Everyone in the comments is right. His downstairs neighbor does have the right to have that sign in his window. This is america. He (the the upstairs guy) also has the right to tap dance at midnight in his home. America is great.
I think if instead of trying to be a dick (even if you are a dick in a very creative fashion) to our neighbor we instead took that time to share a beverage with them and have a calm discussion about who we are and what we believe in, we might stop seeing each other as enemies and actually find common ground and understanding.
This story made it to the Daily Mail in Britain. In their article, the upstairs intolerant liberal was described as being 45-years-old. And get this — there was a picture of the guy wearing an N-Sync t-shirt! That’s absolutely hilarious.
Maybe Jett should have confined his disdain for All Things Trump to a middle-finger gesture whenever he sees a sign supporting the cowardly draft-dodging asshole. And flip off that loser battle flag too.
45th Prez…calling those you dislike a vagina just proves what a misgynistic fascist PUSSY you really are. And there IS a goddam thing we can do about it. Less than five months from now, Dolt 45 will be out on his fat ass and Joe 46 will restore sanity and decency to the Oval Orifice. And if Orange Julius refuses to leave, he’ll be dragged out kicking and screaming and thrown into a rubber truck that takes him to the looney bin. And there ain’t a GODDAMN THING you can do about it.
While I myself am not a supporter of our current presidential administration, I don’t think someone hanging such a sign in their window should be punished in a tormenting kind of way. Isn’t that along the same lines of what was done to Colin Kaepernick for his silent and peaceful form of protest? The upstairs neighbor could easily display a rebuttal poster in their own window as a response… no need to “go low”…
Hmm, Richard Heyward’s post ended my interest in this minor controversy.
According to his post, the front office of the apartment complex has essentially made this a moot issue by not allowing any tenant to hang window decorations in his or her apartment windows and requiring even window shades to be white.
This should end this controversy, because the front office has eliminated its root cause– that is, the upstairs neighbor not wanting to see a .pro-Trump window display in his downstairs neighbor window.
Shiwaku Seven, fair enough. I assume the upstairs neighbor still intends to donate the money to the ACLU and film himself tap dancing at midnight, though, so I’m not sure if I agree that new rules set by the landlord effectively end what I see as controversial about this story. It seems to me that the new rules would only prevent recurrence of such controversy.
But loss of interest is loss of interest and that’s fine. I still appreciate your knowledgeable comments here and feel I owe you a debt of gratitude. The positive “likes” of your comments are well-deserved!
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” – Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, April 22, 1800
Worth thinking about
Some idiots here think Freedom of Speech means Freedom From Response. What they really believe in is the freedom for them to speak and everyone else to live with it.
It’s pathetic that the upstairs Liberat of a neighbor is so triggered by a Trump sign. I can’t wait to see how upset the Libs will really get when myself and 1000’s of former NASCAR fans exercise our right to fly the Confederate flag outside of Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15th when NASCAR comes to town for the All Star race. It’s going to be a (G)rand (O)ld (P)owerful time in East Tennessee. The Dimocrats are offended by a flag that represents our heritage and Southern roots. It has nothing to do with racism whatsoever, regardless of what they’re telling their flock of sheep within their house of glass. Git over it or we’ll gladly help you kick the habit.
Fuck you and fuck Tennessee.
Ohioans kicked your asses once, and we’ll gladly do it again.
Bring it on, Johnny Reb. There’s only one language you rednecks understaand, and we speak it.
Bring it on Rooster. Ohioans took Tennessee in 1863 and we’ll do it again if you want it that way. GTFO out of here and go post at your Nashville rag.
sO yOu SuPpOrT tHe UpStAiRs NeIgHbOr’S pLaN… to call somebody out for being an absolute turd? Yeah, why not?
Oh, but it’s harassment! *Clutches pearls.
You mean like the harassment by the police for having a different skin tone and being born non-wealthy? You mean like the harassment of anyone not falling in step with conservative viewpoints?
Motherfuckers can’t even take somebody tap dancing on their ceiling a couple nights, but expect libs to lay down and die when asked politely. Get the fuck outta here with your phony “tolerance” horseshit pearl clutching; you’re probably one of those guys that preaches about how we should all be “tolerant” about your pedophilia.
Freedom of Speech is not freedom from consequences; top floor man recognizes this in saying he may need to look for a new house soon, and bottom floor person realizes this by removing the poster during protests. The difference between the two, though, is that one of them is willing to accept the consequences of his message being heard, and the other takes after THEIR personal hero by hiding the second adversity strikes.
Just because you have a right to free speech doesn’t mean you can’t be criticized for your speech. There’s no “infringement” going on here.