Algoma, Wisconsin- rule of the good ol' boys (Milwaukee, Madison: crimes, school)

[oldengineer]

A mob showed up in front of my house without warning and I didn't know what to expect. I was threatened with physical violence and house burning. I wasn't going to stand around and see what they were up to.

I don't give a good God-damn about being "liked" but I will have my civil and property rights respected or I'll sue this place out of existance, "tradition" or no "tradition."

Every kind of abuse of minority rights has always been passed off as "tradition"- and it always takes outside intervention to change things.

I'm sure this area will one day be more liveable as more and more people move in that were neither raised nor educated here.

[LML]

Well, I'm still confused. Was this "mob" waving a roll of toilet paper or a lighted torch?

[quijote]

Have you hired a lawyer (from out of town, obviously) to help handle the threats, etc.? You probably ought to do so, so you can document harassment and other problems appropriately--in case a legal confrontation does arise.

If you're not keeping a log of incidents (time, place, who's involved, etc.), you should do so. You may want to send copies or updates of the log to state/federal authorities or to tv/newspaper media so that others are made aware of what could be a growing problem.

If you want to move out of Algoma altogether and not deal with this festering situation, find out the market price of your house and ask your unhappy neighbors to pool their resources and purchase it. If they really don't want you there, they should consider buying you out.

If you're the sort of person who doesn't care if your house burns down, and if you want to "have some fun," then toilet-paper your yard yourself. Everyday, all year 'round. Purple, pink, blue, and red toilet paper. If that's what they want, humor them. Who knows, they may like the tongue-in-cheek humor, but I doubt it. (I wouldn't do it, though.)

Or decorate your house with the U.S. flag and the local high school emblems. If they burn your house, they'll have to burn that stuff, too.

If I were you, I'd just get out. I've been there a couple of times, and it's charming in some ways, but it's depressed and provincial--a Manitowoc that never happened.

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by quijote

Have you hired a lawyer (from out of town, obviously) to help handle the threats, etc.? You probably ought to do so, so you can document harassment and other problems appropriately--in case a legal confrontation does arise.

If you're not keeping a log of incidents (time, place, who's involved, etc.), you should do so. You may want to send copies or updates of the log to state/federal authorities or to tv/newspaper media so that others are made aware of what could be a growing problem.

Sounds like a good plan. I'm pretty sure every state - even New Jersey - has a corruption task force who's purpose is to police the police. They'd be a good start.

It's a shame that some police seem to forget that their job is to enforce, rather than make the laws. I'd swear that there's something in some document in D.C. about the separation of powers.... Most police are honest and do their job well but a few bad apples - particularly if they're put in charge - can ruin the whole crop.

[laundrymistress]

I just don't get what happened.

One man's mob is another man's bunch of kids.
This may seem obvious to you, but it is still pretty unclear from here.

Did the Klan show up with torches?
Are you saying this is a racially motivated attack?
Was there an attack? What the heck happened???
Did a bunch of kids walk across your lawn?
How many are we talking about?
And what exactly did they do?
Did you yell at them for trespassing?
Because there are points of view...just trying to picture what the heck happened to make you want to get a lawyer and sue the city out of existance.
These are questions anyone who wanted to clarify will ask you.

So, I hope you will let us know the details, because they really do matter.
Peace

[ASDFJKL]

Originally Posted by oldengineer

A mob showed up in front of my house without warning and I didn't know what to expect. I was threatened with physical violence and house burning. I wasn't going to stand around and see what they were up to.

I don't give a good God-damn about being "liked" but I will have my civil and property rights respected or I'll sue this place out of existance, "tradition" or no "tradition."

Every kind of abuse of minority rights has always been passed off as "tradition"- and it always takes outside intervention to change things.

I'm sure this area will one day be more liveable as more and more people move in that were neither raised nor educated here.

Why will you not answer and tell us how they were "vandalizing your property"? From your lack of willingness to answer I am going to put 2 & 2 together and assume they were just toilet papering?

I really like your use of the word "mob" also. Boy living in fear you old grouch? Did they show up at your front door torches lit, pitchforks in hand, a look a mayhem in their eyes?

Give us ALL the facts, shut up or, go back to the UP.

[nyminute]

I just spent a week in Algoma and would move there in a blink. Some body had to provoke a 'MOB" threat. Judging for the words "I don't give a God-damn about being liked" I would say you have achieved the success you signed on for. Consider a move to Buffalo, NY, it should be empty soon.

[Wi_Girl]

Originally Posted by nyminute

I just spent a week in Algoma and would move there in a blink. Some body had to provoke a 'MOB" threat. Judging for the words "I don't give a God-damn about being liked" I would say you have achieved the success you signed on for. Consider a move to Buffalo, NY, it should be empty soon.

If you move to Algoma, becareful around Homecoming time! Dont want any toilet paper mobs to show up at your house! I remember when I was in high school we had an old grouchy teacher too who used to sit out in his garage at night and make sure kids didnt get his house. And they still did! LOL And he got over it...

[quijote]

Originally Posted by Wi_Girl

If you move to Algoma, becareful around Homecoming time! Dont want any toilet paper mobs to show up at your house! I remember when I was in high school we had an old grouchy teacher too who used to sit out in his garage at night and make sure kids didnt get his house. And they still did! LOL And he got over it...

I also believe it's good to lighten up, but never did understand the toilet paper thing. Seems like such a waste (pun intended) of good TP.

[LML]

Originally Posted by quijote

I also believe it's good to lighten up, but never did understand the toilet paper thing. Seems like such a waste (pun intended) of good TP.

I have no idea why the TP...I'm sure the reason is lost in time. All I know is that it sure isn't something new. I'm in my 60s and we were doing it at homecoming clear back when I was young...heck I remember them doing it when my older brother was in high school and he is in his 70s. Like a lot of tradition, doing it remains long after the reason is forgotten.