Comments on: Craigslist Clinton Hill apartment ad, “must tolerate bed bugs”

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:58:53 +0000

What’s next, personals for people with bed bugs?

By: kurtck177

kurtck177 — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:02:16 +0000

I like how quickly bed bugs have become something to be tolerated in the NYC rental market. Hello, 19th century!

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:27:40 +0000

ps Persona-non-bugga,

NICE nickname. I have to say, it is hard being original around here, and you’ve done it.

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:23:18 +0000

persona,

You are actually more likely to get bugs via this route if the mice or rats are gone, but it’s a reason to get a PCO involved in getting rid of them and inspecting for bugs in their nest, rather than waiting for them to die out or leave, which is when bugs, if any, would be on the lookout for someone to bite.

I don’t want to sound alarmist. Having mice does not mean you’re getting bugs from them.

By: Bugalina

Bugalina — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:21:25 +0000

Yes rumor has it that bed bugs, when hungry, will feed on any warm blooded mammal..and rumor has it that bat bugs ( a first cousin of bed bugs ) will cross over from bats to humans…..Ah life in the year 2007…

By: persona-non-bugga

persona-non-bugga — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:51:04 +0000

“Oh, and ps: if rats are living in your building (or mice, bats, birds, etc.), you can get bed bugs (bird bugs, bat bugs, etc.) from them. So eliminating rats in the building is important to keeping bugs from biting you.”

Crap. There are definitely mice in my building. Another thing to put on the worry-list.

By: No Name Please

No Name Please — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:33:31 +0000

I agree Bugalina. And the fact that she states “we kinda got used to and like the little critters” shows their complete ignorance and irresponsibility as well as disregard for others who they could easily infest.

And as nobugsonme noted, it isn’t clear whether they still have them or not. I would lead towards “yes” because they are very, very difficult to get rid of and they hide in the tiniest of crevices. The fact that they can live 18 months without a bloodmeal makes it impossible to tell whether they are completely eliminated before that timeframe. It seems to me that any exterminator would have told them this basic fact, which makes me wonder if they had treatment from a reputable pest control company or even if they did at all.

By: Bugalina

Bugalina — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:06:36 +0000

From the way I read this is that they treated for bed bugs but did not have 100 percent success, so they are “tolerating them”…and expect any roomie candidate to be prepared to do the same. I hope they do not expect their fellow office workers or students to tolerate their bringing the bugs to other places with them…You can see how their ethics can now be deemed questionable….

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:34:59 +0000

Yes, I am a bit confused.

The “Anonymous” commenter who claimed to be one of the advertising residents, said,

To clarify the story, yes we found a bed bug in the apartment and told the landlord about it. Two days later we had the first of four treatments that got rid of the little suckers. We all came to the conclusion that they could have come from anywhere! While doing research about what they can do, we found out that New York City, is the #1 city infested with bugs. Which is really f—ing disgusting.

But wed rather get bitten up by bugs in bed Stuy than live in a small joint, THATS OUR PEROGATIVE! SO DONT BE MINDING OUR BED BUGS! We kinda got used to and like the little critters! And we only have a few rats. no big deal!

I am totally confused now. Either they “have” bed bugs (as per the advertisement which says, in the present tense, that bugs come in and bite them). Or they “had” bed bugs and got rid of them, in which case, why does the ad not put things in those terms?

Oh, and ps: if rats are living in your building (or mice, bats, birds, etc.), you can get bed bugs (bird bugs, bat bugs, etc.) from them. So eliminating rats in the building is important to keeping bugs from biting you.

By: No Name Please

No Name Please — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:10:54 +0000

Thanks hoplessnomo. I just read her reply to the curbed posting. I wouldnt “tolerate” bedbugs in a rent-free, palacial spread overlooking Central Park. As someone who is currently battling a light bedbug infestation, I think it’s irresponsible to state “must tolerate bugs” instead of “must tolerate bed bugs”. Living with ants, spiders or even the occasssional cockroach is much different than living with bedbugs. I’d take all of the above, anyday, over one pair of bedbugs.

Have a bug free day:)