What got you flummoxed today?

[pappnase]

There are no great problems with ABP if you can accept their philosophy, but I don't and won't use it because of their "acceptable ads" policy.
The problem with it is it allows ads from syndicated advertising networks and every single one of them has at some time or another served up malware.
I've been around on the internet since before the web and advertising ALL fits into the category of malware for me, so the concept of "acceptable" ads does not compute.

[Sannerl]

There are no great problems with ABP if you can accept their philosophy, but I don't and won't use it because of their "acceptable ads" policy.
The problem with it is it allows ads from syndicated advertising networks and every single one of them has at some time or another served up malware.
I've been around on the internet since before the web and advertising ALL fits into the category of malware for me, so the concept of "acceptable" ads does not compute.

Have you ever clicked the wheel and chose "advanced"?

[Fraufruit]

"Users have the option to disable the Acceptable Ads feature and block all ads, or to selectively allow ads from specific websites."

[Franklan]

I just want to double-click the number, copy it and paste it into the form.

Pappnase wasn't venting about the adblocker, but about websites that require you to enter codes or account numbers and then are too stupid to ignore leading or trailing spaces. Just my two cents.

[Fraufruit]

"I don't and won't use it because of their "acceptable ads" policy."

I was only replying to the above statement.

The rest I don't understand. You know that.

[pappnase]

Hey Fruity, it's fine, I get it, if it works for you then it works. Like I said there is nothing wrong with ABP, I just don't agree with them because the concept of "acceptable ads" doesn't work for me.

[Fraufruit]

No probs, Papps. Good thing it works well for me. I am a tech idiot but I do have people.

[john_b]

Not a big deal, but FWIW: my inner German regularly gets annoyed at those lazy and inconsiderate neighbours who regularly put uncollapsed cardboard boxes into the Papiertonne which I (depending on my mood) either (a) break down myself or (b) remove intact and leave on the ground next to the container.

On the other hand, my thrifty self is only too happy to retrieve Pfandflaschen from the coloured glass container, left by those lazy and presumably better-off neighbours who can't be bothered to take them to the supermarket to reclaim the Pfand.

What flummoxes me is that I will probably never know if they are the same neighbours....

[Franklan]

[..]they are the same neighbours....

When it comes, to me... Just make sure that the brown neighbours and the blue neighbours get into the fücking right container...

[snowingagain]

I do not understand the logic of banning someone from being in a particular county of UK (for 3 months) after he was caught shoplifting. Seems to be homeless. I would think having him stay in his usual hangout would make it easier to police him? Also, over 200 GBP worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs. Also,
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/c ... 22385.html

[john_b]

More neighbourly nonsense: lüften/ventilation.

Firstly, I'm perfectly aware of why the requirement to ventilate a flat makes senses, particularly in the bathroom, to prevent condensation and inhibit the growth of mould. All very sensible.

However the thing that flummoxes me is the fact that in the Treppenhaus (we're on the second floor), there is a neighbour (or more of them) who insists on opening the windows on every floor, irrespective of the weather. Obviously this is not an issue for much of the year, but even in deepest winter, which can occasionally dip down to -15, even -20 in Berlin, you can guarantee that the windows in the stairwell will be opened, letting really icy air into the building. As you can imagine, I close them again in such weather.

I simply don't get this as I don't see the logic - there is no condensation in the stairwell (it's not heated, obviously), so why are they doing it? It's not a major issue, but I do wonder if it has an effect on the temperatures in the whole building...

[Fraufruit]

Same in our building. Some of the big windows in the stairwell are opened in all sorts of weather. A couple have slammed and broken over the years. Insane.

[LeonG]

I do not understand the logic of banning someone from being in a particular county of UK (for 3 months) after he was caught shoplifting. Seems to be homeless. I would think having him stay in his usual hangout would make it easier to police him? Also, over 200 GBP worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs. Also,
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/c ... 22385.html

They don't want to deal with him so they pawn him over on somebody else. I totally get his love of Cadbury creme eggs though.

[john_b]

On the other hand, my thrifty self is only too happy to retrieve Pfandflaschen from the coloured glass container, left by those lazy and presumably better-off neighbours who can't be bothered to take them to the supermarket to reclaim the Pfand.

Situation today: opened the lid on the virtually empty coloured glass container, and lo and behold, resting at the very bottom, a single Pfandflasche that was frustratingly too low to reach.

€0,08 gone to waste.

I suppose I could have upended the container, but I do still have some dignity. It's still there.

[LeonG]

I got this neighbour, I don't know exactly where she lives or her name but she walks past my house every day on her way to work. Initially she started talking to me because of my cat who since died. Another neighbour told me that she had asked him if anybody still lived in my house and that she wanted to take the cat and he told her no, please don't steal Leon's cat. Since then, she sometimes talks to me if I run into her whereever. The other night I was walking to the store and I ran into her by chance and she started telling me how she noticed that I often have the blinds down but she's walked behind my house to try to see me and that she's seen me through the windows with my headphones on. She seems nice but this is a bit weird? I think she realized how it sounds too because she started saying she is not a stalker. Isn't that exactly what a stalker would say though?

[kiplette]

Yes! Weirdy weirdo vibes.

No-one should be trying to see you inside your home unless they think your life is at risk.

I remember stories of your close-by neighbours from the past. Strange people, calling the police and taking out court orders against each other, if memory serves.

I'd say get blinds or net curtains, but I fear she'd then be coming right up to try and look through!

[Fraufruit]

If your back garden is private enough, install a few security cameras and get evidence. You should be able to look outside and not cover all windows all the time.

[LeonG]

Yes! Weirdy weirdo vibes.

No-one should be trying to see you inside your home unless they think your life is at risk.

I remember stories of your close-by neighbours from the past. Strange people, calling the police and taking out court orders against each other, if memory serves.

I'd say get blinds or net curtains, but I fear she'd then be coming right up to try and look through!

I have rolling shutters on all my windows and back door, thanks to the former owner. If it's cold or hot they stay down most of the time. This time of year I like them up to enjoy the sun. I have a gate in the back and it's locked so whoever wants to come right up would have to jump over the gate.

The one neighbour who took out the court order moved away. The one who the court order was taken against is verifiably mentally ill and not always on her meds. She ended up going to jail for a bit and got transferred to a mental hospital and committed for a couple of months. She came out better but didn't keep up with her meds. She broke their front door last summer. Knocked it off the hinges with a hammer someone told me. They leaned the door up to the frame to close it or moved it to up against the wall to open. Her husband finally fixed it in December. They don't have a toilet anymore either. I'm not sure what happened to the toilet but she is now known in the neighbourhood as the woman who poops all over the place.

[snowingagain]

It is really tricky working out how to respond to people like her. Germans tend to be honest. Like, I need you to leave me alone. Have had a couple of intrusive disturbed people here. Both harmless. But they picked on me, basically because I was a bit weak in responding to their intrusions. Which I think actually confused them, and thought I wanted to be their mate, or whatever.

[snowingagain]

As an add on, we have an old folk home near us. Until recently we heard a guy screaming near our road, quite few times. My son and I have both responded. The guy was blind, and hated his life at the home, and wanted to get to the bus stop to take him 10 mins to his old stomping ground. But he had gone blind very late in life, so had difficulty learning the pavement thingies, and routes to public transport. But what was awful were the staff at the home he lived in. Sure, he might be difficult, but they were awful to my son, aged 15, took him back. He had earlier rung the local cops, because the guy was walking in the road with his stick. The police did not care either. Told him to just ignore him, and go hom. The old guy, when I was guiding him back was bright. Asked me about Brexit and stuff.