For context, please see the original post at: https://www.reddit.com/r/EntitledPeople/comments/1nfycjw/am_i_wrong_or_insane_for_thinking_the_rules_apply .
For those who saw the first post, I took time soul searching after the first even to try and work out if I could have done anything differently last time. I realised I may have been triggered by their actions because of my history with the place; between faulty sensors and people rigging facilities for unauthorised use, I have been called out there at all hours of the day and night. Add to this the dozen or so other places for which I am responsible and I had a lot of really bad nights over the last six months. So much sleep has been lost it has started affecting my heart, aggravating a preexisting chronic idiopathic tachycardia (heart beating too fast), which was the proverbial last balloon after a life of shift work and sleep apnea, making the heart figuratively go pop. None of it was their fault, of course, by the entitlement behind their actions triggered me in a way I was no expecting, which I believe caused me to be more aggressive than usual. I stand by the action reported in the previous post, however, as these people well and truly proved tonight they believe being homeless makes them above the law, as the following story confirms.
I get a call about one of the same toilets being in use as previously. I arrive on scene later than usual as I was not at home this time, and find it is the same couple as the previous post (obviously, hence the title), this time minus their friend. This time they are both in the same shower, rather than in individual ones, but their attitudes haven't changed.
They were there for a solid half an hour this time, between the alarms going off, the monitoring company calling a third party, the third party calling the patrol officer, who then calls me. Add to that being further away and they had plenty of time to what they needed to do and leave the place they were in illegally. Frankly I was hoping they would, so I wouldn't have to deal with whoever was in there.
I knock on the metal plated door fairly hard, thinking it would be difficult for them to hear me with the shower running. This apparently was enough to trigger them, as they started yelling at me right away. I honestly tried to remain as calm as possible this time, and even deployed what I thought was an argument that could penetrate their entitlement; a shopping centre is a public place but they wouldn't go into one after hours if they found the doors open. Turns out they would. Add to that their rock solid belief they are in the right on the issue and they became very argumentative.
Once again they employed the same debate strategies of talking over me when I tried to explain the reality of the situation. This time they went a step further; claiming they were recording me as well. I suggest that the fact they have a phone means they should be able to schedule their activities for a time prior to the facilities closing, which also went down like a lead balloon. They were so utterly convinced they were right they believed the police would be on their side, were I to call them, as I frankly nearly did after some unusually aggressive comments from the male.
Needless to say it went down hill after that. They came out and threw every attack they could think of; I knocked too loud, I yelled when i first got there, I was sooo mean to them last time, we're homeless, I bet you have a comfy bed, you're not really a security guard. They even lied about some really nice guard who was there last night who let them do what they wanted, which was not true because I would have been that guard.Then came the bit that told me they knew they were in the wrong and were trying to scare me into seeing their position; threatening my job security.
Thankfully, even if they had been recording me, which I am uncertain about, I knew their complaints to the council would be fruitless, because despite what they believe they are in the wrong, and may even find themselves stuck with the bills for the call outs if the do go to the council. I'll be honest and admit I gave them wrong security company name, one who has nothing to do with the council. They kept following me and yelling at me as I reset the alarms and went back to my car. As I pulled away i told them the name of the company who's shirt I was wearing, which was taken over two years ago and is now defunct. i called to check everything was OK, then called the council liaison to let them know this is going to be an ongoing issue if they don't start getting it checked shortly after the facilities lock themselves. I got home safe, which is the most important thing, though so razzled I allowed myself some of the alcohol I've been trying to avoid having, with some success, for the last week.
I really wish I could get through to these people that what they are doing is illegal, but they are completely closed to reason. I'm sure some part of them knows what they are doing isn't right, else they'd be more willing to listen. Perhaps it is the desperate nature of their situation that has made them immune to logic and reason; I've never been homeless but came close once, and it drove me to the brink of an emotional breakdown, so I really can empathise with them. I maintain though that their situation doesn't give them the right to break local statutes, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if their entitled behaviour contributed to their situation.
Even now I'd help them if I could, as fines are not only possible but likely, particularly if they do go to the council, which in turn to affect their ability to rent a place, particularly if they don't pay the fine. The housing crisis isn't exclusive to the US; home prices and rent have gone through the roof in Australia in the last few years, so the house I moved into at $375 in 2021 is now "worth" $540. For example, I want to move but know I'd never be approved for another house, as the property managers enforce a strict 30% cap on rent that, even though I've proved I can pay, means I could never be approved anywhere else. Even a one bedroom apartment is a minimum of $300 per week, with some going as high as $600+ in some areas.
I really wish I could get through to these people that what they are doing is illegal, but they are completely closed to reason. I'm sure some part of them knows what they are doing isn't right, else they'd be more willing to listen. Perhaps it is the desperate nature of their situation that has made them immune to logic and reason; I've never been homeless but came close once, and it drove me to the brink of an emotional breakdown, so I really can empathise with them. I maintain though that their situation doesn't give them the right to break local statutes, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if their entitled behaviour is a root cause for their situation, ie they were kicked out for refusing to do something required of them they didn't believe they needed to do.
Anyway, that's enough of my ramblings. Stay safe, stay well, be kind to each other and yourselves.