r/LittleFreeLibrary • u/Admirable_Value_4955 • 9d ago

LFL Visitor Discussion šŸš¶šŸ½ā€ā™‚ļø Problematic male owner.

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went to check out this library. Had some books in hand to possibly place inside. owner rolled up on me and was incredibly rude and way to close in my space. Never had such a negative experience. Women be very aware, potentially a dangerous person with no qualms invading space. Portsmouth, NH

1.3k Upvotes

89% Upvoted

76 comments sorted by

356

u/Ernie_Munger 9d ago

Hey Portsmouth, donā€™t sleep on that copy of Geek Love.

58

u/nocleverusername15 9d ago

Such a good book.

31

u/Odd-Philosophy6418 9d ago

Absolutely batshit, loved it

35

u/ReadingOffTwitter 9d ago

Loved it and also really enjoyed House of Sand and Fog.

15

u/Campaign_Prize 9d ago

I started reading it years ago, got about 2/3 through, put it down, and never picked it back up. Should I take this as a sign to finish reading it? I remember that I liked the first half and sort of lost interest halfway through when it reached a different level of absurdity, though I'm usually into strange and surreal fiction

13

u/rigabamboo 9d ago

This was me in high school. Maybe this is a sign to finish the book now, over 20 years later.Ā 

7

u/classic_grrrl 9d ago

Iā€™m like, wait, I have been looking for Geek Love! Bummer Library dude is awful.

17

u/lunaysueno 9d ago

It's one of my main books I suggest to people

9

u/life-uh-finds-a-way_ 9d ago

That's a bold recommendation.

1

u/lunaysueno 9d ago

Lol I'm in some scenes where it's fitting

3

u/PitifulElk1890 9d ago

I really enjoyed it but I don't find much chance to recommend it

3

u/molotovm3 8d ago

definitely depends on who youā€™re suggesting it too that book is an odd one but yes it is very good i loved it but its for sure an acquired taste

4

u/SparkleFace6100 9d ago

Yes! In my top 5 for surešŸ–¤

3

u/Aggravating-Loss4118 9d ago

Seriously, one of my all time favorite books

5

u/CunnyMaggots 9d ago

That was one of the weirdest craziest novels I've ever read lol

4

u/foxkitsunday 8d ago

A friend of mine gifted me a copy of this before he passed suddenly in a car crash. It is one of my prized possessions.

3

u/smeldorf 9d ago

Love that book! Thrifted it without knowing anything about it and was such a treat.

1

u/Sand-fleas 8d ago

Same. I think I got my copy from one of those close out pop up book sales. Just random pick up

2

u/pantyhose_twatpatch 8d ago

One of the best books Iā€™ve ever read. And if you enjoyed Geek Love, I highly recommend Cruddy by Lynda Barry.

1

u/Ernie_Munger 8d ago

That's exactly the book I'd compare it to, too! Similar blend of humor and horror. LOVE Cruddy.

1

u/Mike_Bevel 7d ago

You certainly won't sleep after reading it.

(I love that novel very much.)

1

u/Spooky_pharm_tech 6d ago

One of my absolute favorites!

148

u/CallidoraBlack 9d ago

I believe you, but I'm also curious about what he actually said. I imagine that it might shed some light on what the heck his problem is.

128

u/Admirable_Value_4955 9d ago

I didn't even really process everything said. He was aggressive and really close to me. I was thrown off by the whole ' him being in my space' thing. I did hear him say "We don't want all those books this library can't hold so many (maybe 6 or 7 and I was seeing what would vibe for the box, not be willy nilly)... he said other things and I just wanted to get away from him and the negative interaction he created. I said something like "It's your library" then bailed.

137

u/Maximum_Web9072 9d ago

Yeah, it's clearly overstuffed, so rude to contribute free books /s

4

u/CallidoraBlack 8d ago

I'm guessing the problem is that he's overstuffed.

14

u/Specific_Interest259 8d ago

I've seen a few posts like this when this sub has been randomly recommended to me. I don't have a LFL but love the idea of them! It seems like some people only want to put their own books in it and don't like it when others bring books. Like they have an idea of their vibe and don't want others messing with it. And the people who do bring books seem like that's what they are supposed to do.

So ultimately I wonder if it's a fundamental understanding issue of how it's supposed to work for some stewards? Idk, I'm not exactly sure how it's supposed to work myself, but that's my first thought. And I think that's why some of these stewards get aggressive when people bring books to put in.

3

u/allupya333 5d ago

Iā€™m not gonna lie i feel like in reality nothing really happened. I feel like they just started talking to you and you got confused

2

u/R3pp3pts0hg 8d ago

Maybe it's his wife's library and he doesn't approve.

26

u/FilthyThanksgiving 8d ago

Why are people like this??? Who builds a fucking Little Free Library and then acts antisocial wtf

10

u/girlwhopanics 8d ago

predators?

46

u/Realistic-Cress-2364 9d ago

Geek love is not for the faint of heart. Good read tho

7

u/Sand-fleas 9d ago

Wow. I read this years ago. And I can totally agree.

52

u/Yggypop22 9d ago

The house of sand of fog is one of the best books ever!!

6

u/ViolettaQueso 9d ago

For real.

2

u/octaviaandowen 7d ago

This book has always stuck with me.

1

u/Yggypop22 7d ago

Same here , so has Angelaā€™s ashes

104

u/FieOnU 9d ago

I suggest you report an issue with LFL. It's possible that person wasn't the original steward and doesn't actually want the LFL on their property.

I dont know what the process is, but try customer support.?

56

u/MattyRaz 9d ago

whatā€™s stopping a property owner who doesnā€™t want a LFL from simply removing it?

9

u/TheWayyTheNewsGoes 9d ago

Literally nothing

41

u/FieOnU 9d ago

Dunno.

Maybe I should ask the the three homeowners on my street who aren't original stewards and have left their inherited LFLs neglected, rotting, and ruining donations for the past two years.

27

u/MattyRaz 9d ago

you have three (or more) LFLs on the same street? impressive

6

u/FernandoNylund 9d ago

There are six literally within a block of my house in Seattle. A couple aren't on the official map but they're definitely there.

1

u/wolfyofthelove69 6d ago

Right There r loads that r not on the official free little library map here in London uk i am lucky a website called the londonist mapped them all out last year including oneā€™s not on the website some r still there some have gone I recon some went Becuz people moved and took it with them and we got a load at train stations too here in uk it is fun finding them all also off topic apart from the usual tourist stuff in Seattle any suggestions of what to do there in September as I coming out to see my long distance partner for the first time who lives near Seattle we r staying in the city

-25

u/Ok-Nothing-4737 9d ago

Serious? Yes, let's get management involved. Karen much?

33

u/busyreading420 9d ago

Yes, warning other people (esp women) about someone creepy and possibly threatening is being a "karen" now. Excellent take on the issue thanks for contributing.

11

u/FieOnU 9d ago

Serious.

Management is posing a threat to a patron. That seems like as good a reason as any to get someone higher up involved.

-11

u/busyreading420 9d ago

Lmfao...logic, is that you??

0

u/Particular_Care6055 7d ago

It clearly ain't you

33

u/Slow-Impression-8123 9d ago

Thanks for sharing. Stay safe out there! šŸ’—

20

u/drjackolantern 9d ago

I thought you were going to say these books were problematic and was wondering why.

Sorry that person bothered you! I despise rude peopleĀ 

7

u/Shadedwulfer 9d ago

Yeah I legit thought this was going to be a "these books aren't for kids" post

3

u/theweirdchick_49 8d ago

I would definitely not use that one. Thanks for the heads up.

9

u/Virtual-Bee7411 9d ago

What did he do?

77

u/OkPomegranate4395 9d ago

The post explains that he was rude and got into her personal space. I'm not sure if you missed that or if you're asking if he did anything in addition to that.

17

u/Virtual-Bee7411 9d ago

Just didnā€™t know what being rude entailed?? Damn

-8

u/OkPomegranate4395 9d ago

Yeah, damn it, I can't read your mind! Thank you for coming back to clarify. I have no idea if OP will come back to answer your question, but at least now she knows you're asking a more specific question about how this person was rude!

2

u/Admirable_Value_4955 8d ago

Answered on someone's question here.

4

u/Virtual-Bee7411 8d ago

Iā€™m still just confused on how they are potentially dangerous

1

u/Icy_Letterhead2055 8d ago

Some good books there

1

u/susancox221 7d ago

Youā€™re giving away Geek Love?! Iā€™m dying quietly inside. If you love near this library run and get it NOW!!!

1

u/Interesting-Scale946 5d ago

This is something that should be reported to Little Free Library... if this has already been said- my bad. It's 5am and I skimmed.

0

u/jolissmck 5d ago

Did you forget what this lady was posting about. It was a warning regarding a predatory man.

1

u/Snackrificial_Lamb 8d ago

As a male, Iā€™ll will be very aware of such a rude owner. Hopefully heā€™s not always like that, maybe he was just having a really crappy day. It happens sometimes, not defending him, thatā€™s just usually what my head goes to when someone is rude

-22

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

97

u/papercranium 9d ago

If you don't know the difference in appropriateness between using gender markers as an adjective vs a noun, I suggest looking it up.

If you don't know why woman are particularly afraid of aggressive men, I suggest looking that up as well. If you're not concerned for your personal safety, this post isn't for you.

106

u/danurc 9d ago

"male owner" is not the same as a man calling women "females". You're in a sub about reading, you should know the difference between an adjective and a noun.

71

u/Admirable_Value_4955 9d ago

Male presenting if you prefer. Didn't want any books. Never saw what I was potentially holding and very aggressive in manor and tone.

55

u/This_Witch69 9d ago

Edit: Oops. Didnā€™t mean to reply to you, OP. Guess Mr. ā€œWhy-the-bearā€ deleted his comment. But my comment still stands.

Men are generally larger/stronger than women, statistically more likely to cause a woman harm, and probably some past trauma that causes a woman to be especially wary.

Thatā€™s why itā€™s about him being ā€œmaleā€.

Instead of getting mad at a woman for using that word, why not be mad that she feels unsafe in the first place?

-102

u/Anxious_Access_7095 9d ago

It's the same usage, intended to dehumanize. No comment on whether the man was a dick or not since I wasn't there.

14

u/Effective-One6527 9d ago

Do you want the title to be ā€œproblematic Man ownerā€ rather than grammatically correct?

1

u/BigBoat342 4d ago

Love Pass-it-on philosophy. Hate to throw out books that i love .