I live near the Asheville Mall. In fact, my yard borders that fence that goes around the back of the mall, you know, where the road goes around Sears and on back to the parking decks and the food court and stuff.
Across from my house is a small park. People walk their dogs and play little games at the park. Well, lots of people go through this hole in the fence, right up by my house. It doesn’t really bother me, and I’ve never really worried that anyone was going to cause trouble at my house or anything.
Some people use the hole in the fence to walk to work from their Kenilworth home. They rely on the hole in the fence to get them to the mall quickly and on time. It’s a much longer walk to go all the way around to Tunnel Road, then over to the mall that way, up past Chili’s and stuff.
Well, this guy and his wife(?) patched up the hole a few weeks ago. Actually there are two holes, but one is the more often used. This guy patched up both holes in the fence. I guess maybe his car was broken into or something, so he’s trying to prevent people from using the hole. I’ve actually never seen or heard about any hole-goer causing any trouble. They’re just passing through as far as I’ve ever known.
Of course within a day or two, the hole was back. The patch job apparently had no real effect on the users of the fence hole. Sorry guy. I didn’t break it down. I don’t go to the mall very often anyway.
So today he’s out there and at it again. He and his wife (or whoever) are repatching both fence holes, yet again. I know he’s probably spent a bit of money; I imagine there’s some bolts or brackets or clamps or something that he needs to fix the fence. But I can TJ-guarantee you, guy, that someone’s going to bust it right back down by the end of the week.
I’m not saying this guy’s wasting his time completely. Just almost completely.
When people need a path, they will take it. If it’s not there, they’ll make it. This fence hole is no different. People are going to break it down again.
Jim Jamesson
2008.11.13
One day down and the latest fence patch remains. My next guess, is that people will start going under the original best patched hole, the one higher up the road, next to the latest breach. Seems to me about 10 minutes with a stick would dig out under the fence well enough to squeeze under it.
Let us not forget the Penn & Teller where they had the Mexican guys try to get past the mockup ‘proposed’ government wall built to government specs. Took them all of a few minutes to go over, under, and through that son of a bitch wall. My guess, hole users will have this sucker opened up by the end of the week.
Steve
2008.11.13
I’m not sure when it happened, but it was definitely about a week ago. They’re still going right on through the fence. So my statement holds firm “A hole in the fence will always be a hole in the fence.”
Steve
2008.11.13
Fixed it again, they did. But now people are just climbing right over it. I saw a guy just the other day. He couldn’t find the hole, and after scaling about 80 yards of the fence (including portions bordering my lot), he decided it would be easiest just to climb the damn fence.
So hole or not, you still can’t stop people from doing what they’re going to do. Hindering them only encourages them more, in many cases.
Steve
2009.02.26
They’re back at it, but this time, they’ve called the city! I’ve changed my mind… Good luck fence fixer people! Good luck.