MetaChat - My (perpetually drunk) neighbor

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02 March 2007

My (perpetually drunk) neighbor seems to be passed out in a chair next to her front door with a cigarette in her hand.→[More:]

I left about 15 minutes ago to run an errand, and she was sitting there, sort of slumped over, with her chin on her chest.

Even after driving in and out of the driveway, slamming the car door twice, she hasn't stirred.

Most likely, she's passed out. But she also had a collapsed lung twice last year.

What should I do? Try to wake her? Make loud noises? Call an ambulance?

Complicating factors:

1) My relationship with them mostly consists of calling the cops when she or her friends get into drunken brawls in the driveway. So, approaching her probably wouldn't be all that welcome, especially if she really is drunk and cantankerous. Plus, I'd just rather not get involved. That may sound callous, but it's a workable strategy that I've developed after 6 years of drama.

2) Regarding the collapsed lungs: On one occasion, I had to drive her to the ER at 12:00 a.m. She was naked from the waist down and drunk out of her mind. We haven't spoken of it since.

3) Her boyfriend (who is a pretty good guy and keeps her in line) will probably be home soon.

I think I'll just to wait for him and to come back, pretend I don't know anything, and, if she's still there after dark, reconnoiter.

Advice?

post by: mudpuppie at: 20:27 | 18 comments

IANAL, but AFAIK, you don't have an affirmative duty to intervene (aka "be a good Samaritan"). OTOH, you're post indicates some moral quandry about the propriety of seeing another human being who could be in serious trouble, and doing nothing.

You've a good heart in many ways, mudpuppie. Let it be good to this person who doesn't deserve it, now. Call to her, see if you can rouse her, and if not, investigate. Minutes could make a difference.

posted by paulsc 02 March | 20:32

I would probably lean toward the "make loud noises" idea.... I don't know. It sounds awkward, at the very least.

Do you have their number, and if so, could you call? The phone sometimes wakes me up even when other everyday noises don't.

posted by occhiblu 02 March | 20:38

Err, not that I'm often passed out on my front porch....

posted by occhiblu 02 March | 20:42

Squirt her with the hose. Or just call the non-emergency police number because you're concerned.

posted by youngergirl44 02 March | 20:58

Give her a little shake. Then feel for a pulse. :)

Really I would walk over and call out her name, if she doesn't respond give the police a heads up.

posted by LoriFLA 02 March | 21:07

You had to drive her to the ER at midnight while she was naked waist down. Um, yeah, I think you are connected for life. Wake her. Even better, slap her to wake her.

You might also not want to follow my advice, which is often bad.

Why aren't my neighbors a little more interesting? Why? Why?

posted by carmina 02 March | 21:11

Eventually the wolves will carry her off.

posted by Pips 02 March | 21:13

I have found that BB guns come in quite handy for situations like this.

posted by mischief 02 March | 21:17

I employed the occhiblu method(s).

I didn't have their phone number. But it turns out that they have an old refrigerator on the sidewalk with a For Sale sign, and it had their phone number.

But the ringing phone didn't work.

So I loudly slammed my front door.

And two minutes later, when I peeked out, she was gone.

Carmina: You had to drive her to the ER at midnight while she was naked waist down. Um, yeah, I think you are connected for life. Wake her.

See, though, there's a difference between being connected by choice and being connected by necessity. My approaching her would have constituted being connected by choice. And I'm just not willing to go there.

Anyway, crisis averted. For today.

posted by mudpuppie 02 March | 21:18

Why aren't my neighbors a little more interesting? Why? Why?

I have an interesting neighbor. He co-wrote the song Electric Avenue and was a part of Eddy Grant's band. He and his wife have a band called The Caribbean Posse. They're really cool.

Eventually the wolves will carry her off.

Or a dingo.

Glad she's alive and well mudpuppie.

posted by LoriFLA 02 March | 21:19

Woo! Yay!

posted by occhiblu 02 March | 21:20

there's a difference between being connected by choice and being connected by necessity

The opposite of choice is chance and that was not a matter of chance, clearly.
I try not to overthink: but it sounds like a choice. A choice a decent person would have made. You could have called the ambulance or 911. But didn't. You are a lovely person! Deal with it.

Yes, Lori, rub it in.

posted by carmina 02 March | 21:57

What Would Occhiblu Do?

Is a mantra both tuneful and useful, and I have the best intentions of letting it guide my life.

Although I am sincere, you know what they say about intentions.

posted by rainbaby 02 March | 22:07

I think you should slur that a bit to "What 'ould occhiblu do?", which you could then abbreviate as "WOODO?"

That's what *I* would do, at least.

posted by occhiblu 02 March | 22:12

Okay. I'm with the program, Occhiblu. Woodo that woodo that you do, etc.

On a related note, the husband asked me before going out tonight if I would be "Lights Out Louise" when he got home at about 12:30. I said No no, of course not, but I recognize that it's a valid question and am chagrined. I will at least keep my pants on. I do like the phrase "Lights Out Louise" too.

posted by rainbaby 02 March | 22:16

When I was a little boy
And the devil would call my name
I'd say woodo,
Woodo you think you're fooling?

posted by occhiblu 02 March | 22:32

Word knows you're a woodoo chile...

posted by jonmc 03 March | 06:52

You know, every time I see "chile," I read it as "chili." I was very confused while reading Huck Finn (or is it in Tom Sawyer?) about Solomon "cutting that chili in half." I hadn't realized the Bible dealt so extensively with culinary preparation.

posted by occhiblu 03 March | 12:12

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