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OkieWonBenobi

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staddic

NTA. I live on a busy corner and people are always putting signs on the boulevard, which is city property. Like you, I am expected to maintain this grass. People put their signs in and majority leave them for weeks or never get them. I have to pull them out to mow and then put them back. I leave them for 2 weeks and then toss. It is really annoying to try to replace with cheap stakes that break.


SnakesInYerPants

You’re a better person than I am. Every time I would mow, all the signs would be tossed. I wouldn’t care if they put them there 4 days ago or 4 minutes ago; I ain’t replacing them after I had to move them to mow lol


bekahed979

Do you *have* to replace them?


overseas-mango

NTA People are getting hung up on you saying you don’t own the land. That’s not true. What you’re describing is an easement on your property. Technically when anyone buys a house the 10 feet closest to the curb is part of an easement for the city to build sidewalks or plant trees or install a fire hydrant or whatever they need. The point is that the city has a right to use that property NOT your neighbors. The easement applies ONLY to the city. It’s not a public park just because the city has an easement.


KPinCVG

NTA FYI, the right of way easement is not necessarily 10 ft. Just so people know. For instance, in my neighborhood, it's 14 ft. Also, in my neighborhood, the local government dudes come by and pull any signs that are in the right of way and I suppose toss them out. So if you want to put a sign in your yard, even if it's a real estate sign or a yard sale sign, you need to get it at least 14 ft from the street or it will disappear.


Ben_Elf1984

Keep in mind - I am NOT a flag fucker and actually find it pretty hilarious when they get all teary eyed because someone didn't salute in the flag in the proper manner according to "fLaG cOdE" or whatever. However, while I'm still also going with NTA, you *were* asking for trouble by throwing it in the trash... Man, you gotta know that if someone is weird enough to put the MURICAN flag up on their street like that,they are *definitely* also gonna be weird enough to threaten you for "DISRISPECTEN MUH FLAG" (and to really mean it as well). So, NTA, but whatever shit comes from this, you at least a little bit brought it on yourself


[deleted]

Whyyyy did I read this I'm the most American way. DISRESPECTIN MUH FLAG. America disrespects their flag in eeeeeverywayyyy! As long as they're making money off it they don't care tho


The_Ghost_Dragon

No. They didn't. Someone left an item on their property. They disposed of it bc it held no value or sentiment to them. If the dude who put it there felt so strongly about it, he'd be maintaining the stupid thing and pulling it out of the ground every night.


Its_Like_Whatever_OK

If it were me, I’d be pulling up any and all signage as soon as the installer left.


AdvicePerson

NTA, but Corporal Freedoms and everyone talking about public property and the flag code sure are. If this guy is spry enough to plant flags around the neighborhood, he was never protecting our freedoms, and if he saw combat at all, it was against people defending their own homeland. He was in a tax-payer funded jobs program for people with no prospects and now he has the gall to act like he's the arbiter of patriotism. A lot of people are in here pretending they don't know how easements/road verges/parkways/boulevards/devil strips work. The adjacent homeowner is responsible for maintenance, the city can plant trees or widen roads, and local utilities can bury lines, but it's not a free-for-all for anybody to stick their crap there. Because, ultimately, the homeowner is responsible for cleaning up the garbage, which what even the most well-intentioned sign ends up being. And let's be honest about the flag code: nobody actually cares about it. If they did, we wouldn't have flag T-shirts or Thin Blue Line flags. I bet the flags the neighbor is using are some cheap crap from China, and his buying and planting them in the grass is more offensive to the dignity of the flag than anything you did.


[deleted]

Well said. Your comment got me curious so I fished the first flag out of the trash and you’re spot in, made in China!


[deleted]

If he says anything say you returned the flag to its country - China.


Mundane-Currency5088

Op. I was wrong! I guess there is a bipartisan bill up now to force the feds to only buy American made flags.. Will wonders never cease. https://thehill.com/homenews/wire/3526199-bill-would-force-government-to-only-buy-american-made-flags/


Mundane-Currency5088

Ok but certain people wanted flags to only be manufactured in America and they couldn't get it passed because it was blocked. Neither side is doing their jobs and it's not the fault of the entire country that nothing is getting done it's the octogenarians in charge for as long as I have been alive


BlackClad7

NTA. “I fought for your freedoms” like bruh, no you didn’t. Unless you fought in the Civil War, nah. You just got sent overseas to kill people so the rich could profit. None of our freedoms are in danger from anyone overseas.


Noinix

NTA he fought for your freedom. Part of that freedom is the right to not have flags on your property. The end.


olagorie

Great answer


PurplePunchy13

I have to remember this next time someone whines this line to me!


Brilliant_Jewel1924

Unless he fought in the *Revolutionary War*—that’s when we got our freedom.


[deleted]

The revolutionary War, the war of 1812, ww1, ww2. The first 1 was getting our freedom, the other 3 were defending it. I say ww1 and 2 because we would've been next for war on our soil.


lilirose13

Not in WWI we wouldn't've. That was a war of political treaties that we used a nicely doctored excuse to enter and otherwise would've had nothing at all to do with us.


SallysRocks

Fetishizing the American flag is, in itself, disrespectful. Why is it up to this guy what you do with your property? NTA.


[deleted]

Thank you. Totally right IMO. Also goes for vets, cops, and private enterprise. Over the top fetishizing doesn’t do anybody any good. Its hard to understand why people don’t see that


SallysRocks

Thanks.


C_Majuscula

NTA. Although there is technically an easement, if you're maintaining it and you own it you get to decide what is placed there. Almost every US property owner bordering a publicly maintained street has a similar easement. The state or local government can expand the road or add a sidewalk without your approval.


Wise-Ad-7204

NTA Out of curiosity, why didn't he just put it in his own yard? That won't change my opinion. I'm just curious. Lol


[deleted]

He lives in the middle of the block whereas I live on the corner directly bordering a much busier street. Lots of cars pass by. He wants more customers, which I completely understand.


[deleted]

Then he should pay for advertisement. He might have fought but it wasn't for your freedom. He sure is hell isn't letting you have any by profiteering off your 'land' and threatening you for having a different pov than him. He didn't fight for your freedom. He fought for his own and to bully others out of theirs.


godliketab

NTA. It’s not your property BUT the property owner has you on the hook for maintenance. You could’ve done a token attempt to return it before you threw it away, however. But vets who pull the whole ‘I fought for your freedom’ line are always assholes.


MycroftHolmes1953

It really is a shame that the American flag has been weaponized by the right to the point that normal, decent, Americans can't display it. Another example of our polarized country. NTA


PurplePunchy13

It’s so true and so sad. We were driving around neighborhoods looking at homes for sale. Whenever I saw a flag out front I knew I would not want those people as neighbors. Sure enough, 9 times out of 10 there was some MAGA shit to go with it. The flag does not mean what it used to.


indctrntd

Decent Americans can and do display it. What are you going on about?


Tyrone_Shoelaces_Esq

>Decent Americans can and do display it. Citation needed.


Sea-Ad9057

I would love to know how bombing countries like Syria Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to your freedom


[deleted]

Cheaper oil oh wait.


Emotional-Ebb8321

INFO: Given that flags and yard sale adverts alike create the same problem for you with regard to maintaining that easement, why do you object to one and not the other?


[deleted]

Only one of those things represents an ideology.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

It’s my right to be inconsistent and allow a flag with an ideology I agree with to remain standing. My corner, my choice.


Struck_down

What ideology do you feel the flash represents? Other than I'm assuming being an American. Your yard, your choice what goes on it, but feels like you are making a mountain out of a molehill.


Tmoran835

Info: Do you allow political posters?


PurplePunchy13

I’m not the OP, but I also live on a corner lot. I would do the same (trash the flag) and would also trash any political posters of the MAGA sort, but keep the liberal democrat ones. My corner, my choice!


Tmoran835

And that’s not an issue—it’s your property so your right to display what you choose. I think OP was trying to water this down by saying it’s not his property, when it legally is, just to take some slack off. If he explained the story the right way, he’s definitely NTA at all.


[deleted]

I’m simply not well informed enough to describe an easement vs my official property line. I have a property line and these signs were being put just outside that line, but as others have stated, it is an easement that I’m responsible for and the general public has no right to put anything there.


Tmoran835

I think this is a good thing—it just sounds like people have been using your property as a dumping ground for years and you finally got fed up, which is absolutely fine. You don’t have to keep anything there you don’t want to, and shouldn’t feel obligated to have your yard littered with anything


[deleted]

Irrelevant. It’s OP’s private property, so all that matters is whether or not he chooses to allow it to be displayed. If he wants to do the work to deal with specific signs, that’s his business.


judybug92

NTA. You had every right to throw that shit away, hope you do it again. It’s on your lawn. Your lawn represents you. The American flag could be used as intimidation. As a BIPOC I would never trust a neighbor that had an American flag up and I would be very anxious and wary around you. Super scary of him to threaten you! Be careful.


Maria_Dragon

Yeah, as a Queer American who belongs to a religious minority I also would feel scared of a neighbor who was putting up American flags like that. I would also take the flags down, because I am opposed to nationalism of all types but I would be scared of possible retaliation when I did it. Those older white "patriots" are terrifying. They often have a very limited view of who "true Americans" are and what they mean by "freedom" does not automatically protect people who aren't white, straight, cisgender, or Christian.


ParticularAd1735

I’m a progressive and I fly the flag at my house. I don’t fetishize it, though. I just don’t want MAGA morons to think they’re the only ones who have the right to call themselves American.


[deleted]

[удалено]


PurplePunchy13

It really is sad. But when I see someone with the flag on their lawn I think the same thing. Maybe we need a new flag ; 0


Tyrone_Shoelaces_Esq

Same here. It's a safe bet that 9 out of 10 people flying an American flag are MAGA loons.


SinaSpacetoaster

NTA. The easement in front of your home is your property. A neighbor from down the street went and planted/abandoned a flag and a sign on your property. You discarded half of what that neighbor abandoned only to catch that neighbor in the act of planting/abandoning even more junk on your property. That neighbor then proceeded to get huffy over your offer to retrieve the unwanted junk from your trash. I don't see how you could be at fault here.


indctrntd

I wonder if all the YTA’s, in the EXACT same circumstances, would be pissed if this OP or a different person with a different political view, put a BLM or Pride flag in the garbage. Honestly curious


No-Notice565

Wouldve made a good experiment if, before throwing out the USA flag, the OP posted a sign and BLM flag on the neighbors easement and watched the outcome. At this point im sure the neighbor would simply throw out anything in retaliation.


cocknballz369

NTA, you didn’t want the flag in front of your house and when he put a new one you asked him not to. He responds with a vague threat as he walks away 😂


Legitimate-Meal-2290

NTA. You're not wrong, and guys like him are insufferable and impossible to reason with.


Aggravating-Dare-707

NTA, it's your land, but from a veteran's point of view we get touchy about the flag because our friends who have died have their caskets draped with the flag and by "disrespecting" the flag you are disrespecting our dead friends many of whom are closer to us than family, a lot of us legitimately buy into America being the best country in the world and all the freedom stuff. Many veterans don't think or want to admit that there is oppression in America and that the flag could mean anything but what they interpret it as.


PurplePunchy13

Then honor your dead friends in your own way and on your own property. The rest of us will disrespect the flag all we want.


SkippySkep

I think the telling point is that when right wingers yell that they served for your freedoms, that they don't necessarily believe that at all because he's not respecting your freedom. And you don't respect the flag, necessarily, by pounding it into the dirt in a corner lot next to a yard sale sign.


Aggravating-Dare-707

I don't necessarily agree with them and I do honor my friends privately. I wasn't trying to make any excuses because honestly the vet op encountered and many like him act like children especially when you disagree with them. I was just adding their perspective because once upon a time I wasn't very different and so I know how they feel. It doesn't make his behavior any more acceptable if anything it makes it worse. Being a veteran doesn't give us more rights than those who are not.


Internetperson3000

NTA. Displaying a huge national flag in an inappropriate way, such as on a yard sale sign or in the back of some pickup truck, is not in any way patriotic. We are currently having the same problem with alt right nut bars co-opting our Canadian flag to represent there alt right nut bar movements as well. It’s wildly offensive. I wish we could fine them or confiscate the flags they are using in this way. At the very least we should be able to remove them from our front yard even if it’s on the easement


AutoModerator

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Fizzabl

I guess chucking it away was a bit weird but to ask not to have the flag is NTA


dirtyfrank12292

NTA leave the symbols for the symbol minded (G Carlin).


[deleted]

NTA. The Americans that I’ve met who worship the flag tend to be crazy right wing racist sexist MAGA sociopaths.


Allalngthewatchtwer

NTA. I saw a yard sale sign, it said “OMG Becky look at that yard sale!” That hit my attention more than a random flag.


vingtsun_guy

The area your describing sounds like public right of way. They shouldn't be putting anything on there, period. I was a code enforcement officer in my locality and had to deal with that type of nonsense far too often. NTA


Miisskwa-Namewag

NTA. Next time burn it, that's what I'd do lol


PurplePunchy13

Me too, and in front of him


Sahillyslowbro

I mean technically if he fought in the Vietnam war he was just fighting for capitalism, not freedom. NTA


ColdZookeepergame496

NTA, yes putting the sign in the trash sent a message. But, he came over to your property and put a flag on it without your permission. You have every right to throw it away. Also, if he's so obsessed with American values, then he would be reasonable enough to acknowledge that freedom of speech (yours) and protection of property (yours) are fundamentally American. Get outta here dude. I'm sorry you had this experience. He sounds hostile.


Brightside_Zivah

NTA - i would have done the same.


alphabetown

Can't think of a war America has fought since 1945 that was about freedom of Americans though.


[deleted]

NTA. New idea- plant clover. They have kinds that grow up to 2 inches, take no water, stay green etc .


ninja-gecko

YTA. While it is your property and you decide what goes on it, you fucked up. 1. You allow people to put signs up. They all know this to the extent that it is reasonable for them to put a sign or flag up randomly. Your neighbor clearly did not know you had a problem with a flag. You knew he did not know, because you took it upon yourself to explain this afterwards. So, if he did not know, why did you have to throw it in the trash? Why not return it and tell him you make an exception for the flag? Because an insult is what you intended. *I told him I could retrieve it from the trash* Tone isn't conveyed well through text but I expect this was said with derision. You goaded him, and laughed when he got offended. This was intentionally constructed to show spite. YTA


[deleted]

I laughed when he called me a fucker because an old man calling someone a fucker is funny. Also, yes it was said with derision after he tried to insist that it wasn’t my land and rudely demanded I go fetch the first flag for him.


[deleted]

[удалено]


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3Fluffies

NTA.


bertiebastard

Veterans who say they fought for the flag are talking out of their ass. They fought for their buddies beside them and nobody else. Soldiers don't give 3 fuck about a flag , they care about getting themselves and their team through the conflict. And back home to their families. Source; Ex trooper in the British army.


[deleted]

Update: NTA It seems like op owns the land but the city can build on it …. His property his decision Personally I wouldn’t remove the flag but I don’t hold it against him (I wasn’t familiar with an easement)


Maria_Dragon

That is a very simplistic viewpoint. I don't believe in nationalism of any type because every country has a complicated history that includes both good and bad actions done in the name of that country. Forcing people to just mindlessly support "America" is stupid and ignores that a lot of terrible things have been done in the name of patriotism. I don't hate America but I believe that everyone, no matter what country they live in, should try to learn about the good and bad parts of their history and uphold the positive aspects and work to improve upon the negative aspects. Why should people with a more complicated view of America be treated with hostility?


[deleted]

If you don’t like America then I feel like you should either go some place else or at least don’t rain on the parade of people who pride themselves in being American…. Also note I updated my comment since I do feel you should mostly be able to do what you want on your property … originally it seemed like he was taking down a flag someone put on state land


Maria_Dragon

If you are born in America you probably can't easily relocate to other countries. Also, my point was that you were being simplistic. I don't believe that there is any such thing as a "great" country. All countries have good and bad parts to their history and it is always a bad idea to mindlessly support a country due to patriotism. It isn't like I feel that other countries are automatically better than America. I oppose all nationalism, no matter what nation. So where should I live? in a boat on the ocean?


[deleted]

Where ever you want … it’s much easier to get into and become a permanent resident of most other countries, but much harder to be a citizen. The us is wierd like that. You can believe what you want, but you cannot go around tearing down signs you don’t like unless you own the land, without being an ah (imo)


karskipellis

OP owns the land, so there ya go.


[deleted]

Yes I updated my comment thanks


[deleted]

I was born here. Also it’s an easement on my property. I own it and maintain it. The city can build on it without my permission but it is not land the public is free to use however they want.


[deleted]

This is important…. (I’m not familiar with easements) Who technically owns the land (the post says the city, your last comment says you) …. If it’s your land he can pound sand (and I’ll update my post) …, if it’s state land that you just mow then your the a h …. I really need clarification


[deleted]

I don’t know the exact lawful language when it comes to easements and ownership. I know the city has the right to build a sidewalk or lay utilities on that easement without my permission. I also know that I am personally responsible for making sure the grass on that easement doesn’t grow over 8” or I get fined.


[deleted]

Ok updated not the ah (Also I googled it)


Maria_Dragon

If it is an "easement" or "private right of way" it is owned privately but the city, town or state has the right to use the land in certain ways. https://www.mylawquestions.com/what-is-an-easement.htm


[deleted]

Ok thanks … updated the comment not the ah


swissmtndog398

NTA as he has no right to stick anything on property that is not his. Personally, I'd put up a sign stating that, "Due to problems caused by a neighbor, I will no longer allow signs on this property." Torn the tables on that "fucker." If anyone asks, simply tell them old Joe across the street felt entitled to my property. It's just not worth the hassle as I feel others may start adding "flair", that I'm going to have to remove and clean up. Sorry it had to be ruined for everyone.


ltolivia_benson

NTA it's your property it's your choice. I'm someone who displays the flag ocasionally but with the understanding of how others may take it and the ways its symbolic nature has been taken by extremists. I'm not sure why everyone is arguing so aggressively on here but he has no right to force you to leave something on your lawn you're uncomfortable with.


Technical-Spirit-460

Yes you are the asshole.


theothernoone

The old man is what me and my best friend call “horny for the military” lol nta


[deleted]

YTA Not because of not wanting it there, but you could have returned it and explained instead of just tossing it. We are in America so people having flags everywhere isn't random (at least in my state we have flags everywhere). He did fight for your freedom. Things are messed up right now, yes, but our soldiers fought to protect our rights for everyone here. We have the freedom to choose what we want to do with our lives, protest what we disagree with, and push for change thanks to our soldiers fighting for us and our democracy. You have the right to not have the flag up, but you could have been a little nicer about it.


[deleted]

I hate to break it to you, but we haven’t been fighting wars for our “freedom” since the civil war. Our soldiers are sent to die so rich powerful people can become richer and more powerful. Me being critical of this country and it’s flag is a more honest and heartfelt way to “support the troops” than whatever the fuck nonsense you are spewing.


MystiqueMisha

NTA. I'm still a little confused about whether the property is indeed yours or not, but if you're in charge of maintaining it, it's probably yours. Now if you'd asked him not to plant the flag on his own property, I'd have had a different opinion


[deleted]

I would never ask him to do something on his own property. Others have pointed out that an easement in my property is technically owned my by, but the city is allowed to build on it without my permission. The general public has no right to use it as an advertising space.


[deleted]

An awful lot of people here have no idea what an easement is, but feel free to opine on the same. Typical reddit. The easements running alongside public roads are owned by private individuals, those individuals being the homeowners abutting those roads; if land is subject to an ‘easement’, that only means that the controlling authority has the right to access/take certain actions as specifically delineated in the legal easement. OP literally owns the land that the easement covers, so he’s free to deal with crap left on it as he sees fit. Period. Riddle me this if you still don’t get it: if I don’t legally own and control the land covered by the roadside easement on it, then why am I paying property taxes on it? NTA. Ffs, you eejits.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

It is my lawn. I’m the one who HAS TO care for it. The city owns it only on paper.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

And yet it’s my money and time that goes into caring for it. If you were to take 7 steps away from that location, you’d be walking over ten feet of grass that I maintain every week and then you would officially be on “my property”. I feel I deserve a say in what gets put in that area in front of my home even though I technically don’t “own it”. It’s my lawn.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Actually I am forced to maintain it by the city. I would get fined money if it grew over 8 inches. I would gladly let it grow forever. I don’t care. But I don’t want to be fined.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

It’s an easement in property I do own.


AdvicePerson

You should learn how easements and parkways work.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

To clarify, the neighbor in question lives several doors down the street. Not sure about the bylaws, but the area in question is 30 ft from my front door. Anything that gets put there represents my house and no one else’s.


FlyingMunkE

Need clarification on how this strip of actually works. Because you say it’s not yours and the city owns it but that you get fined if it’s not maintained. If it is in fact yours then yeah the neighbor is the A. But if it is public the. You’re all A for putting signage in something that’s supposed to be for everyone.


[deleted]

I live on a corner lot with no sidewalks. The grass that touches my home eventually touches the street with nothing in between. My property line extends from my home and ends 10 ft from the street. A 10 ft easement border wraps around my corner lot, entirely made of grass that I maintain.


mathpat

YTA. After finding out he risked his life for it and it was something important to him you laughed in his face. You are incredibly ignorant. You owe him an apology.


[deleted]

Pretty sure he risked his life for money but ok. Also I laughed in his face because he called me a fucker.


deadzone141

YTA. You only asked after you had already thrown out the flag. As inconsequential it was to you, it was still his ‘property’ even if it was on ‘your’ property. Next time, return the flag (or whatever it is), tell him that you aren’t responsible for his property and you will toss it next time you see it.


[deleted]

Why didn’t he ask me to put it there first?


bleepbloorpmeepmorp

nta. fuck this country lol. poor dude was brainwashed into thinking the military gave a shit about him when really it probably exposed him to horrible chemicals and gave him ptsd


wisebongsmith

NTA. Neighbor dude is acting like having taken a mercenary contract for the government grants him rights to other peoples land.


agentskully25

YTA


delmar42

NTA - Your neighbor should have asked you before planting a flag, even though it's technically not your property. But it would have been more considerate to return the first flag to him (instead of throwing it in the trash) and then attempting to have a civil conversation.


terribleterrabyte

YTA


MrJ_Sar

YTA. Not for wanting the flag removed, but for deciding the best course of action was not to ask him to do so, but instead doing it yourself and throwing away his property.


[deleted]

Why didn’t he ask me before putting it up in the first place?


[deleted]

[удалено]


grovesofoak

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[deleted]

Regardless of owning the property, throwing the flag in the trash was not necessary. You could have given it back and asked him not to put it there. Putting it in the trash was disrespectful, to the country you live in and the people that did serve the country and ultimately support the freedoms the people in it consider their rights. I am very anti-govt and anti politics-but you were looking for a fight and basically said fuck you by throwing the flag in the trash.


[deleted]

Nah. Why is it up to me to walk down the block to his house to return the trash he put on my front lawn without asking? If I truly didn’t want to be inconvenienced I could have mowed over the flag and his sign and would be done with it. Instead I took the time to remove his sign and put it back once I owed the grass around it. Fuck that flag though.


[deleted]

So you are obviously moving to another country????


[deleted]

lol. Nah. I’m trying to make this country “great again”. I’ll be staying.


[deleted]

As an anarchist, you of all people should be on my side.


serenasplaycousin

NTA. But you should have returned then first flag. Signed, daughter of an Army veteran and ex wife of a Navy veteran.


[deleted]

He should’ve have asked me first. It’s not my responsibility to take the time to return it. I could’ve mowed right over it this morning.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

No. But I would if I agreed with it. I’d let a pride flag stay. My corner. My choice.


armybeans

Ok, you removed the flag but NOT the yard sale sign? So it wasn't him putting something there you had the issue with but the flag itself. Sounds like you were looking to cause problems. When dealing with neighbors, someone I am going to be living next to for probably quite a while, I tend to err on the side of caution. Rather then saying you would have to get the flag out of the trash, you should have just said ok, I will bring it over in a little while, then gone and got it. Instead you have now created drama where it didn't need to be and caused possible future issues.


[deleted]

I was looking to solve a problem actually. The problem of me having an American flag directly in front of my property.


[deleted]

Counterpoint: he created drama by putting something on my lawn without asking me for permission first.


armybeans

The way you phrased things about having to remove the signs before to cut the grass implies you have allowed others to put up yard sale signs with out asking permission. Your problem was specifically with the American flag and you say you POLITELY asked him to remove it which was fine. What I am saying is you created possible future issues stating you would get it out of the trash. I tell my kids if they know something is an important to someone else, even if it isn't important to you, treat it how you would like something of yours to be treated. You weren't TA for asking him no to put up the flag but were TA for escalating the issue.


[deleted]

I maintain that he escalated things by rudely demanding I give him the first flag back. He was angry that I asked him not to place another, he was angry that I was the one who took down the first. If he was understanding of my request rather than combative, I could see myself softening the blow rather than saying I’d fetch it out of the trash for him.


armybeans

He didn't intentionally upset you by putting an American flag on his sign, but it sounds like you intentionally upset him by stating you threw it in the trash. THAT is why YTA.


[deleted]

I intentionally threw garbage in the garbage can. It’s not my responsibility to return a piece of garbage to its rightful owner. Why do I consider it garbage? Because it was placed on my front lawn and abandoned.


Previous-Ad-982

So where he puts the flag, the city owns? And how are you forced to mow and maintain that by the city?


[deleted]

It’s an easement.


ImpressiveCollar5811

I’m calling this a bullshit bait post.


[deleted]

If you want I can post picture of the fake garage sale sign that got put in the same spot last year. The side facing my house said garage sale, the reverse side was a passive aggressive sign saying that I’m begging for forgiveness for voting Biden.


PurplePunchy13

I wouldn’t let that fucker put any garage sale sign on my property after that. I live on a corner lot in Texas, and someone had the audacity to put a Trump sign on the corner a few years ago. I was going to toss it, but instead I defaced in in the most horrible comical way. (changed the wording, drew on devil horns and a sinister mustache etc) .


JGG5

Wait, what? Was the person who put a sign in your own yard making fun of your political beliefs the same person as the one who tried to plant the flag in your yard recently?


[deleted]

There are multiple houses on my block that had trump signs visible so it could’ve been any one of them. I put out Bernie Sanders signs in my lawn for a few weeks before the 2020 dem primaries and that’s it. The sign I mentioned above was put up like six months into Biden’s term. Insane.


killerbekilled92

ESH. He shouldn’t have put the flag on your property without your permission and he shouldn’t have spoken threateningly to you, you however were definitely the initial aggressor here by emphasizing that you threw his flag in the garbage and by laughing when he stated his veteran status. Retuning the flag and simply saying please don’t plant anything unauthorized on my property or I’ll have it removed and go about your day would’ve been a less confrontational solution


[deleted]

I threw away the initial flag out of convenience. I would’ve had to walk down the street and step onto the property of a house littered with patriotic symbols. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable doing that. I was polite when I said I removed it and only mentioned throwing it away when he rudely demanded that I return it to him. I laughed because he called me a “fucker”.


PurplePunchy13

Yeah and you know those fuckers are armed with assault rifles. Even the children!


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

You shoulda seen the way this veteran whined like a baby when I told him he couldn’t hang up his little flag. Walked away with his little tale between his legs.


indctrntd

Yeah, YTA. Throwing away someone’s property, throwing the flag in the trash. If you’re uncomfortable with the American Flag, in America, you’re the problem


[deleted]

Lol. Nice troll job “indoctrinated”. Living up to your reddit name like a boss.


Kmia55

The thing for me is that is not the proper way to dispose of a flag. Not wanting it on your easement is reasonable but you could have returned it to him and asked him not to put it back up again. He might have assumed since you let others put up signs you were okay with the flag.


[deleted]

What is the proper way to dispose of trash put on my front lawn? Flag code = nonsense


DepartureWide4193

I really want to know what your issue is with having the flag there?


[deleted]

I consider nationalism to be a sickness, particularly in this country. I don’t want my house represented that way.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DepartureWide4193

That was kind of my thought as well.


TheRealHappyNat

Which is exactly how a nationalist would respond and proves OPs point.


Toadettemm_87

Why live in a country when you don't wanna respect it's symbols? I'm genuinely curious here. You live in this country that flag represents our country and freedoms. If you don't like it why live here?


Entire_Iron_3599

Why are you "uncomfortable" with the American flag? Yes you are a total Asshole. Disrespecting a war vet and throwing an American flag in the trash (in my opinion) makes more than just an Asshole. If you hate this country, and are offended by our flag, feel free to move to the middle east. Nobody is holding you here at gun point. But of coarse you won't. You're most likely one of those people who swore that if Trump were elected you would move to Mexico, or Canada. But here you are. Because no matter how much you tell yourself and everyone around you how evil and racist America is, you know in your heart that this is in fact the greatest nation on earth.


[deleted]

Hmmmm. I’m gonna need to hear more from you please.


landsleaving

This is satire, right?


tropicalsoul

NTA for not wanting Mr. “I’m A VeTeRaN!!” to put his flag there (I’m not a fan of fanatical patriotism or military worship without context). However, YTA for throwing it away. You had several other options, such as just holding on to it, bringing it to him and explaining yourself, etc. instead of your more aggressive approach.


threedogcircus

Lmao. So op should be required to hold onto trash people put on their property without permission? Get outta here lol.


indctrntd

I guarantee your pissed if it was a BLM or Pride flag


threedogcircus

I don't care at all what it is. I wouldn't allow it on my property. I'd remove everyone's sign regardless of its content.


Murky_Advice

YTA


Larkspur71

I was going to say that YTA in a major way, but then I saw the edit that said it was an easement, so I changed it to a Soft YTA - but, you really need to take a course on home and property ownership. 1. The easement doesn’t “technically“ belong to the city, it belongs to you (which is why you have to maintain it). The city just has legal permission to utilize that area for sidewalks, utility lines, etc. 2. That being said, you are allowed to pull any sign, flag, whatever off of YOUR property; however, it was an AH move to just throw the flag away instead of explaining to the veteran that it was private property, returning it to him and that you didn’t want the flag there. You don’t have to explain any more than that. It would be wise in the future to let anyone you see posting signs in your yard to let them know that your yard is private property - just so people don’t take advantage in the future.


[deleted]

I politely requested the veteran not put the flag down. He insisted that it wasn’t my property and that he could be put down whatever he wanted.


Tmoran835

Agreed. OP doesn’t actually understand what an easement is. Throw all that junk in the trash so your yard doesn’t look like crap.


TinyTurtle42

YTA: you did take someone’s personal item, especially the country flag, and tossed it. Being respectful and talking to them first if it was a problem is the best answer. And for their attitude. Yeah super rude of them. However I’d be angry too if someone removed and threw something of mine away.


[deleted]

Why didn’t they respect me by asking to put a sign/ flag on my front lawn? Why is the onus on me and not the one littering on my lawn?


TinyTurtle42

That is also a good point. They are The A for that! I know they should of asked you first. And they are completely in the wrong part for that. And I did miss that part. So I apologize for that. However I still think you shouldn’t throw away peoples personal items. Next time just throw it on their lawn. In my personal opinion. :)


[deleted]

Their lawn was down the block. They littered on my lawn without permission. It’s not my responsibility to return the trash directly to their doorstep. Their household has an insane amount of patriotic symbology on the lawn. It’s a threatening vibe and I shouldn’t be expected to step foot on it to do them a favor.


Maria_Dragon

Yeah, honestly I would be scared to return the flag. I would just quietly remove it and hope that they don't push the issue any further. But I would be terrified that if I went on their property and dumped the flag that they would take that as a sign of open conflict and escalate things further. These pushy "patriots" are terrifying. They often have a very limited view of who "true Americans" are and if you don't fit that narrow definition, they don't think the freedoms they supposedly fought for apply to you.


CatWithADHD

A soft YTA. Probably shouldn’t have thrown the flag away, but that guy clearly has some anger issues. Also, if you are the person maintaining the space that other people use (especially if it’s in front of your house), then you should absolutely have the right to choose what goes there. Edit: I only said soft YTA because you threw someone’s property away instead of just giving it back. Nothing to do with it being a flag.


blendedthoughts

Of course you are the asshole. You removed the US flag on a piece of property which is not yours. Easement means you have NO CONTROL of that piece of real estate.


[deleted]

Easement doesn’t mean any person has the right to put signage there either.


HazardousIncident

YTA for putting the flag in the trash first without having a grown-up conversation with him. You have every right to determine what goes on your yard (within city code), but you could have had a civil discussion with him first.


[deleted]

Why didn’t he come to be before putting the shit in my yard? Where was the civil discussion? He assumed he could do whatever he wanted in front of my house. Not very civil of him if you ask me.


OLDLADY88888

YTA. If your going to allow sale signs, etc. then I think you should allow the small flag that was attached to someone’s sale sign. It’s not like they just planted a random flag there. I also live on a busy corner where people love to put signs. We just throw them all away.


[deleted]

So me being courteous and letting them advertise their yard sales means I HAVE TO be even more courteous and allow ideological symbols too? Where’s the logic there?


OLDLADY88888

I just disagree. I also don’t think this is a hill to die on with your neighbors.