Richard Hawley

The neighbour's missus was so annoyed with what the 16YO wrote about the bloke she was seeing that she threw him out and changed the locks. The neighbour is fuming not just because the lad's allowed to feel mad about the situation, and entitled to his privacy, but because he's paying the mortgage, his son's out on his ear, and the ex (but trying to sort things out) has got her bloke staying over. All very messy. Personally, I think she was looking for the excuse to throw the lad out, accessing the personal stuff just created a huge argument that allowed her to feel justified in her action.

Hadn't realised that this thread would be so emotive, but Maggie I can understand your actions ... your lad was getting into criminality and of course you'd do everything you could to try to find out what was going on and protect him. Years ago I taught a mature student, her eldest daughter was a heroin addict and at 15 on the game ... if that had been my daughter all my liberal ideals would have gone straight out the window, I'd have locked her up on a remote island and driven around looking for her 'boyfriend' to run the b*****d down.

_________________
The way your face could light the bitter dark of every street
In every town I'll ever go

I hacked into my ex-husband's email under those circumstances. Sure, going through other people's messages is at the very least rude. I would never have dreamed of doing it if I didn't have a very strong suspicion. But I don't think it's as bad as cheating on someone you've promised to love, honor and obey forsaking all others until death do you part blah blah blah, risking your health and finances (and those of your spouse) then bare faced denying it even when the damn woman is sitting in the car outside your house.

Spying on people whether it be your kids, spouse etc. just because you're a nosy old bag isn't right. But I think in some situations an invasion of privacy is excusable. Someone being in danger or trouble is the obvious one - whether it be the person you're spying on, or yourself.

_________________
If you use glitter, be prepared to have it on you forever. Glitter is the herpes of craft supplies. (Demetri Martin)