Do you mean that you know you are privileged? Or that you think you are entitled to special treatment/considerations?

Someone who felt entitled left those boxes. Too bad that the note was left on the wrong door. Not cool that it wasn't with blue painters tape, but, the note itself identified the problem. Some entitled idiot felt they didn't have to remove their own waste. You did nothing about it. Someone else, who is likely tired of cleaning up other peoples messes, left a note. The nerve! (sarc)
The note wasn't rude, it was left on the wrong door.

"Why would you ever look at a double-parked car, look at where someone went to school and assume they are acting out of a sense of entitlement?"
Seriously?

If the double parked car didn't have a parking handicap sticker or placard hanging from the rear view mirror, it's an understandable assumption.

The fact that these two minor incidences were worthy of a community post / note says a lot. You didn't have to tell us of your privilege and entitlement in such detail, sometimes actions speak louder.
Just as this comment has probably informed you that I am not from the same level of financial privilege you come from and I have little patience for this type of complaint.

I agree with i_muse.

Unless the car had something stating it was a handicapped individual who drove that car, it's definitely an understandable assumption. In fact, I've left similar notes for the same thing.

I saw a documentary a year or so ago where people were videotaped double parking and parking in handicapped spots while other cars and people who actually WERE handicapped needed those spots. Very few people spoke up about the situation. I've seen it myself more than a few times. My dad even used to use his mother's handicapped sign and park in those spots to be closer to wherever he was going.

The real complaint here should be from your friend to her school about the fact that there was a lack of handicapped spots available for her to rightfully use.

As far as the note on your door goes, there was no need for the language they used nor the condescension. However, I've knocked on doors or slipped notes under the door for the very same thing. A building is a community, and no one likes trash in their community. As the above poster said, they did nothing wrong (aside from using inappropriate language) - they just left it on the wrong door.

Had you seen the boxes prior? Were they there when you left that morning? If not, then chalk it up to miscommunication. End of story.

The first commenter made the point of the difference between the word privileged and the word entitled. I certainly hope you don't ACTUALLY think you're entitled, but rather would consider yourself privileged.

I agree that it's never a good idea to make assumptions about people and leave nasty notes, but really, sometimes people deserve it.

We live two blocks from campus, which is super convenient, but you would not believe the things that the incredibly clueless and entitled younguns' pull. And sometimes you've just had enough of the shit already, so I can understand the frustrated note. Students double park in front of our house all the time, taking up the only two parking spaces we have. It's almost always some kid whose parents bought them a nice shiny new car and cell phone, and pay all their bills for them, but couldn't be bothered to teach them that they actually aren't the only person in the universe. It comes as quite a shock to these types when you point out to them that somebody actually lives here so it's incredibly rude to double park here all weekend and then clean out your backpack when you return to your car, scattering the papers and gum wrappers all over their lawn. Their reactions range from rolled eyes and "whatevers" to fake little apologies accompanied by hair tossing. I realize that you just have to live in the world for awhile before you get a clue, but this is exactly why we're teaching our girls that they have to be considerate of others and clean up their own shit. I mean, we think they're the center of the universe, but we don't expect everyone else to feel the same. Parents do a huge disservice to everyone by turning their kids into selfish, materialistic little princesses (of both genders) and then unleashing them on the world.

I disagree with some of the points made by posters above me.

Leaving a note to correct a problem is fine - doing it with rude language is not. What ever happened to common courtesy? What makes these people think they are ENTITLED to be the arbiters of justice in these situations where they clearly don't have all the information?

The note on the door was, in my opinion, meant to be retaliatory, hence the paint-ruining tape.

The note on the car makes a lot of assumptions and implies that if you are handicapped, how dare you do what what's necessary to *just get out of your car* without identifying yourself as handicapped for everyone else's benefit?

If the neighbor was annoyed by the boxes, they had every right to leave a note, but they didn't have a right to berate and curse at the person they thought (but didn't KNOW) was responsible.

If someone in the parking lot was annoyed by the double-parking, go ahead a leave a note that says something along the lines of "double parking makes it harder for others to find spots." But don't assume things about their class and their mindset.

Otherwise, it's a sense of entitlement that motivates these people to leave rude notes. They feel as if they are so above everyone else around them and that their interpretation of the situation automatically is the reality.

daniello,

I agree that the tone and the language of the notes was inappropriate - as I stated above. It was absolutely uncalled for and frankly a douchebag move. Something much more polite could have easily been slid under the door, or perhaps the person could have had some respect for the tenants and actually spoke to them in person.

The note on the car doesn't imply anything about "if you are handicapped how dare you do what is necessary.." as the note leaver did not KNOW the person was handicapped - unless they handicapped individual has something that states as such. It's not for "everyone else's benefit"..it's for THEIR benefit, in order to avoid being lumped in with all the jerks who DO take handicap parking spaces and to ensure that they are not persecuted for using those spaces. It's also an indicator for their right to use those spaces.

I think what the handicapped individual's real complaint should be is the lack of ample handicap parking spots available to her and the other handicapped students at her school, as I said above.

Danielleo, Word. I have seen a few too many such notes while living in residence with a kitchen including one implying something like your first note description (your mom is not here to pick up after you). I see no excuse for rude notes. Notes make me think people don't have proper people skills. They can't actually talk to people about issues.

I've spent the better part of five years in buildings where you can hear EVERYTHING your neighbor is doing. That includes a guy above us currently learning the drums. I've found that as a general rule of thumb people are more co-operative (even apologetic) if you're friendly and polite in your approach. ("Hi, I'm sorry to intrude, but it's getting late, would you mind finishing your drum practice tomorrow?") I can understand leaving a note, but there's no need to be rude about it!

I can't believe you made a post about this.

This is a tricky subject to wade into, but I think she is really trying to get into is not the rudeness but the question of privilege, at least, that is what I get from the title of the post. It is actually something I have been thinking a lot about with the way the election has focused on "elitism", accusing Barack and Michelle Obama of being elite because of the schools they went to.

I think the hidden question here is how should a person deal with their own privilege? It is regularly stated that people need to "check their privilege", and it is usually said to dismiss the validity of whatever that person is saying. This poster goes to Princeton and has two lawyers for parents. It is not her fault that her parents are both lawyers, just as it isn't my fault that neither of my parents are lawyers (disclosure: mine are a government worker and retired steel worker). I have never liked it when people made assumptions about me based on my background (I was once told I was the "token blue collar person" at my progressive job), and she doesn't like assumptions based on attending Princeton.

Privilege is often talked about as though it is a sin to atone for. I agree that we must all be aware of our privilege and not let it hide the realities of other people. But at what point has someone "atoned" for their privilege? Do they need to give up the privilege they have in order to have credibility or can they still be valid and progressive if they are rich or white or American or male or went to Harvard or like arugala?

There were some dismissive comments about Angelina Jolie, suggesting her humanitarian work didn't count because she is rich and flies a jet. Yet, her lifestyle allows her to do things that people without a jet couldn't do. And she also seems to be aware of her own privilege and responsibilities as such. Am I better than her JUST because I have less than her or had a harder life or don't have the same access she does? Is this fair anymore than assuming the opposite?

I know this will probably rub some people the wrong way, but I think this is what is underlying this post, and I think it is a valid question. What do you think?

Mamma Mia

Privilege is a responsibility. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Because you can do more, please do, regardless of how you measure privilege (by western, white, capitalist standards or not).

Lets not confuse the privileged with the spoiled rotten or self entitled idiots.

It's apples and oranges or Paris Hilton's and Angelina Jolie's apart.