A Football

[D Jay99]

Hey tifers, after the eating glass thread, there's another problem that requires your expertise!

 

 

 

A few weeks ago, me and some friends were playing soccer on the designated soccer field near our school. There's a 3m high fence around it to prevent the ball from bouncing all over the street/gardens. Despite the fence, the ball sometimes ends up on the road or in a garden. That time, it bounced into a garden. The man who lived in the house went outside, fetched the ball and took it with him inside. We asked him whether he would mind giving back our ball, but without success. He wants us to get someone from school to get it, but I think he knows just as good as we do that the school isn't going to do that. We even asked the housekeeper and he was like 'Yeah right. Go get that ball yourselves, would you?'.

 

 

 

Needless to say, we've been trying to get back that ball ever since. It was quite a good ball. We tried asking it back at least 4 times now, and he's still quite angry about it bouncing in his garden and it seems like he expects just to leave it and let him have that ball. We're not exactly planning to do that, as it's still our ball and it being in his garden doesn't make it his.

 

 

 

We considered going to the police, but it seems quite drastic to me. Would they do anything or will they just laugh at us for going to the police for something as trivial as a ball? We've also considered putting fireworks all over his car, setting his garden on fire or stuffing milk in his mailbox, but that doesn't seem a good idea either as we're acting against the law ourselves if we do that. :mrgreen:

 

 

 

Any ideas on what I should do to get back that ball?

[deloriagod]

Don't degrade yourself to breaking the law in order to get your ball back. You'll end up being the one in trouble. Ask him politely one or two more times, and threaten to contact the authorities if he's not willing to give you your ball back. If he really won't give it back, then call the police. It may seem out of line or like a waste of resources, but some people need to be put in their place.

[Shiny]

I agree with Deloria and his lawless ways.

 

 

 

And do set alight his lawn and post pictures please.

[D Jay99]

I agree with Deloria and his lawless ways.

 

 

 

And do set alight his lawn and post pictures please.

 

Will do :

 

 

 

That seems like a good idea, just asking him 2 more times and telling him we'll call the authorities if he doesn't give it back. He might notice we just want our ball back and we're not just annoying him.

 

 

 

If we do end up calling the police, do you really think they'll do something about it?

[Who]

I agree with Deloria and his lawless ways.

 

 

 

And do set alight his lawn and post pictures please.

 

Will do :

 

 

 

That seems like a good idea, just asking him 2 more times and telling him we'll call the authorities if he doesn't give it back. He might notice we just want our ball back and we're not just annoying him.

 

 

 

If we do end up calling the police, do you really think they'll do something about it?

 

On a slow day maybe...but I highly doubt it. I remember someone posted about how some guy called the police because he had the wrong kind of sauce on his sandwich or something. :wall:

[Kevin_]

Wow people acutally do that lol? I thought that only happened on tv. Anyway, i'd ask it politely and say sorry and if he still refuses call the police. I'd just go into his house myself and grab the ball lol.

[pryomancer]

I believe that you are legally entitled to your ball back, unless when it fell into the garden it broke something, then he is allowed to keep it as compensation.

[ThurinEthir]

Reminds me of The Sandlot... :?

 

Asking a few more times, then threatening to call the authorities, then actually calling the police sounds fine. If you live in a big city, with a lot of crime, then perhaps the police won't do anything, but if it's as peaceful as my neighborhood, you can get the police to come for anything...

[woopidoo2]

I think he just wants to make clear that he doesnt want any footballs in his garden.

 

He just tries to make you guys ask for the ball at his doorstep, so he can say whatever he wants to you so it wont happen again.

[Piscis_Rex]

If you can, get your parents involved, he'll take them more seriously

 

 

 

 

 

Am I the only one thinking we should have a ridiculous problems sticky?

[D Jay99]

I think he just wants to make clear that he doesnt want any footballs in his garden.

 

He just tries to make you guys ask for the ball at his doorstep, so he can say whatever he wants to you so it wont happen again.

 

We have asked the ball back 4 times at his doorstep already. Everytime he started a speech about how we absolutely don't care about him and that we should make someone from school come and get the ball. He doesn't seems reasonable at all, after the first three times asking politely, the fourth time I tried to convince him that there was no point for him to keep it as we wouldn't stop asking and it would certainly not make us stop playing soccer. Without success, obviously :?

 

 

 

And about the parents. Mine were a bit amused and kind of wanted to see if I could fix it myself lol

[runescapeloser22]

I heard John McCain's brother called the police because there was too much traffic.

 

 

 

Anyway, just ask him some more and maybe tell your parents. He can't say no to an adult, unless he's a terrible old man.

[llcoolguy972]

Ask politely a few more times, if to no avail, try these good pranks:

 

-snip-

 

And finally, if nothing works, I reccomend breaking in and taking it.

 

Ah yes, breaking and entering. Always a classic. :roll:

 

TBH, if you've already asked 4 times and he hasn't given you the ball back, I don't think you're getting it back. Really the only advice I have is to mess up his garden and buy a new ball, but that's just me.

[woopidoo2]

I think he just wants to make clear that he doesnt want any footballs in his garden.

 

He just tries to make you guys ask for the ball at his doorstep, so he can say whatever he wants to you so it wont happen again.

 

We have asked the ball back 4 times at his doorstep already. Everytime he started a speech about how we absolutely don't care about him and that we should make someone from school come and get the ball. He doesn't seems reasonable at all, after the first three times asking politely, the fourth time I tried to convince him that there was no point for him to keep it as we wouldn't stop asking and it would certainly not make us stop playing soccer. Without success, obviously :?

 

 

 

And about the parents. Mine were a bit amused and kind of wanted to see if I could fix it myself lol

 

 

 

In that case, how about faking a letter from school?

 

You could also ask one of your teachers (if school is actually involved in this) to write a letter to him, to ask him to give the ball back.

 

 

 

Seriously, that man must have nothing better to do in his life. :wall:

[goat62494]

For some reason, this thread made me laugh. Hard. :-k

[deathdrow]

i think when he goes on vacation or isn't at home, you should fill his house completely wih soccer balls. until you can't fit anymore in. so that when he opens the door, he'll have lots of soccer balls and give you free soccer balls.

[Dizzle229]

Breaking and entering is not an option, but you will have to prank him mercilously until he gives it back. Basically, this is a rare instance where terrorism is acceptable.

[Guest]

Ask politely a few more times, if to no avail, try these good pranks:

 

 

 

-Take a dump on his porch

 

 

 

-Buy tons of "soccer" balls and repeatedly kick them all at his house

 

 

 

-Right "Give us back our football!" on his door with toothpaste

 

 

 

-Ding dong ditch him repeatedly

 

 

 

-Unleash goats on his yard

 

 

 

-leave your trash infront of his driveway

 

 

 

-put eggs under his welcome mat

 

 

 

And finally, if nothing works, I reccomend breaking in and taking it.

 

 

 

I nominate these suggestions.

[BlueLancer]

Happened to me & my friends countless times when we were just little kids like under 10, playing frisbee/soccer in the yard and it flew into another person's garden... If the person was unwilling to return it (as I can remember 1 case), we had no other choice but to enter her garden once she left her home & fetch the ball/frisbee back :lol:

 

 

 

Not sure how your community would view that, but where I come from, nobody would've thought of it as illegal, least of all our parents

[Georgelemmons]

I agree with Deloria and his lawless ways.

 

 

 

And do set alight his lawn and post pictures please.

 

Will do :

 

 

 

That seems like a good idea, just asking him 2 more times and telling him we'll call the authorities if he doesn't give it back. He might notice we just want our ball back and we're not just annoying him.

 

 

 

If we do end up calling the police, do you really think they'll do something about it?

 

On a slow day maybe...but I highly doubt it. I remember someone posted about how some guy called the police because he had the wrong kind of sauce on his sandwich or something. :wall:

 

 

 

Lol, that was me. (he actually called 911)

 

 

 

Anyway, you should try asking 1 or 2 more times, and then go to the police. It depends on how nice of a soccer ball it was. A lot can easily be $60, and if yours is around there, you have a pretty good chance that the police may actually do something.

 

 

 

Happened to me & my friends countless times when we were just little kids like under 10, playing frisbee/soccer in the yard and it flew into another person's garden... If the person was unwilling to return it (as I can remember 1 case), we had no other choice but to enter her garden once she left her home & fetch the ball/frisbee back :lol:

 

 

 

Not sure how your community would view that, but where I come from, nobody would've thought of it as illegal, least of all our parents

 

Did you miss the part where he said the man came outside and took it? :|

[D Jay99]

Seriously, that man must have nothing better to do in his life. :wall:

 

Why else would he be at home on monday and thursday, 3 PM? :|

 

 

 

For some reason, this thread made me laugh. Hard. :-k

 

That's the first good thing that this man has caused :P

[Numberkills]

Just threaten to eat/kidnap his first born child. Should he have no children, a breaking and entering should suffice. Alternatively, you could make ransom notes with empty threats on them i.e. "I have your sister! If you want it back, leave the [soccer] ball on the other side of the fence!

[D Jay99]

There have been some developments :P

 

 

 

So I went back to the guy today. Rang the bell and he opened the door. I got about as far as 'Good morning sir. Would you mind giving our...' and then he closed the door lol.

 

 

 

There's some good news though. Our town major will come and give a guest lesson next friday, and it seems like he'll be open for questions afterwards. I'll ask him if he can do something or what we should do, hope he can provide a solution other than going to the police.

[obfuscator]

I would simply continue to ask him, a kind of passive resistance type of thing? He cannot stop you from coming to his house every day and politely asking for the ball back unless he calls the police, and at that point he has stolen your property and will have to give it back.\

 

 

 

Eventually he will get so annoyed that he gives it back.

[dragoonson]

I'll give you a sack of black powder if you light it and throw it into his yard.You know,to see if he's willing to trade for the ball. :D