If it were possible, of course, our lives would be so much easier.

Cinnamongirl, it isn’t clever to lie to people who tell you they have information on something that they’re witholding as a gesture of respect and goodwill. I know you have a closer relationship with the plaintiff than being on the block, and if you deny it, I’ll say what it is.

(Rest of comment deleted by author.)

For the record, and for the benefit of anyone reading who thinks this got a little weird there for a moment, no one doubts that this person had bedbugs, that she was traumatized, or even that her first (and apparently only) PCO treatment was an ineffective waste of 10 minutes. After recent events on this thread, I don’t even doubt that her landlord blew off her phone calls if you know what I mean. (Big mistake there, landlord, if that’s what you did! Emotion has no place in those all important landlord-tenant bedbug discussions–I know from bitter experience–and landlords better think of their property and their interests and not of how difficult a tenant is and how much they’d rather have a root canal than come to the phone. By the way, Cinnamongirl, what I just said right there? That is speculation. But not baseless speculation. Do you get the difference?)

It is possible to form a nuanced opinion that takes into account all the known facts, multiple sources of information, and probable chronology of events and still fall short of the enthusiastic support that you came here expecting to receive.

Before our little moment of tension there, I was thinking of posting a message about all the possible ways that this landlord could be at fault. It was going to be a considered comment proposing that he might be a landlord who is worth suing, but who might escape the worst of it because of a premature, weak lawsuit. I wanted to say that the compensating grace is that now every single tenant in that building knows about bedbugs. They now have a chance. Finally I was going to fantasize, I know you like that word Cinnamongirl, about the pros and cons and practical challenges of new housing laws. If we had our druthers, you know what I mean? What if there were laws requiring not only landlords, but also tenants, to disclose infestations. What of privacy concerns? Who pays for what? If landlords notify tenants, will tenants send them their dry cleaning bills? Etc. Sigh. It was going to rock, Cinnamongirl. It was going to be a balancing gesture. For you.

Now I don’t have it in me. Especially since Nobugs seems not to like my singing.

But I appreciate the attempt at a graceful exit.

Be well…

I feel happy today. I feel like singing. Someone was blasting Aretha on the subway this morning.

Can I sing, Nobugs?

All through my morning break now
I say a little prayer for youuuuu

Any regular reader of the blog will be aware of the activist angle of this blog and its readers. We are trying to effect change. Considering how court cases may or may enhance or undermine our legal status is just a small part of that.

Others have noted that you seem to know things about the case which are not being reported in the media. I personally have reason to think you may be related to the plaintiff, or may in fact be the plaintiff. I have not exposed this information to others because I do not want to embarrass you. If you don’t stop pressing the issue, I will.

Contrary to what you think, as Nomo said, we’re being kind (even though you’re not). Trust us.

I was giving you a pass because the truth is that knowing more than you can say is an uncomfortable position. Damn uncomfortable. I could flatter myself that my motives were purer than yours, but this, this is ill advised… You don’t even know what you’re doing, do you?

I think I need to take a deep breath first.

Nobugs, if ever I needed your counsel, no time like now.