Crazy Message from LL

[Mrs. D]

I don't know, but I have a problem with the word "Honey" sounds a bit condescending.

Sorry...I got wayyyy too used to that term when I worked at the Harley dealership in grad school. Nicest people you've ever met, but they all called me honey, men and women.

 

[johnd]

Honey, you're talking to someone with an MA in poli sci...which, in fact, requires classes like "women and politics" and "gender controversies" (even if you're a *little* more interested in international law). I have all kinds of theories about the use of the word "girl," but fact remains that is what she uses. She is used to renting to people fresh out of undergrad, maybe 22 or 23, and on their own for the first time.

What does any of this have to do w/ the price of tea? Poli sci, huh? Try engineering. Which is akin to tons of logic courses (math is pure logic). I stand by my statement.

Yes, her casual relationship with tenants sometimes begets immature and unprofessional behavior. Whatever...so long as everything is working and the rent is reasonable, I'll treat her like I would anyone else I have a business relationship with. Including when she, intentionally or not, tries to create a new obligation for me.

Whatever? You seemingly embrace and foster this relationship, and its casual application, yet then complain when she asks an ordinary (for her) favor of you (to watch the property)? Yeah, mixing and confusing business with personal affairs, and professional with street language begets this kind of "stuff."

Notwithstanding your seeming allowance and perpetuation with this casual relationship, my only issue with it (other than the unprofessional verbiage and sexist (yes...sexist) overtones (post modernistic poli-sci stuff) is her appointment of the tenants as gatekeepers and watchers (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?) She cannot assign that duty to tenants (negligence or crimes of others of which the tenants are totally uninvolved with).

Yes. We reap what we sow, and casual relationships (and verbiage) in a professional setting begets just this sort of thing. Surprised? Class is out! I, as the others, would simply ignore the illegal mandate/assignment. And try to re-establish a proper LL/tenant relationship that is not so...casual.

 

[Mrs. D]

I have never attempted to foster an unprofessional relationship with my landlord. However, there are 3 units in this building, the other 2 of which are occupied by very young women who welcome the casual verbiage of my landlord. Honestly, my communications with her usually revolve around "we will be out of town for 3 weeks beginning X date, and, oh, by the way, we need some more air filters." I simply do not feel the need to respond to these types of e-mails with "I would prefer if you didn't call me girl, and per DC statue..." yadda, yadda, yadda. While the LL/Tenant relationship should be a formal business relationship, it need not be acrimonious. Moreover, I don't see how correcting the preferred language choices of someone the age of my mother would make me more of a desirable person to keep around.

Yes, I realize that most of her e-mail was related to simply keeping an eye out for things. I appreciate the reminder as I was the only current tenant here when the last attempted break-in occurred. However, like I said, I was concerned that I would be conveying acceptance of new terms if I simply replied with "thanks for the reminder." While I understand that the LL typically doesn't take things so literally, I also have a job that requires me to do a lot of legal double speak (things will happen as they are supposed to...which doesn't really pen us in). I have been involved with one too many disputes with people regarding informal agreements for me to take these things lightly. I am about to ask my LL for an extraordinary favor in July (going MTM so that we can look for a place to buy) and I don't particularly feel like getting on her bad side.

 

[Alaska landlord]

I am about to ask my LL for an extraordinary favor in July (going MTM so that we can look for a place to buy) and I don't particularly feel like getting on her bad side.

This is where your sexist women courses in college will be of help. Or maybe not if she is not a feminist.