Latest news with #Dreizen
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Neighbor Keeps Leaving Same Thing in Apartment Hallway, Internet Outraged
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An apartment dweller's Reddit post has sparked widespread frustration over a neighbor's clunky habit. In the post, they shared photos of their neighbor's persistent act of leaving a row of empty water jugs in their apartment hallway. The accumulation of bottles has left the poster, and now the internet, baffled and annoyed. Since the post was published, it has received 12,000 upvotes. Newsweek spoke to etiquette and boundaries expert Jenny Dreizen about the post, and how the resident can address the situation. "My neighbor keeps leaving his water jugs outside of my people live in the apartment across the hall, and they refuse to take their water jugs to the dumpster outside," the poster wrote. "No idea why they even go through this many water jugs in the first place." The comments section quickly filled with a mix of outrage, solidarity and creative solutions. "Build a tower leaning on his door so that when he opens it they all fall inside," one Redditor suggested. Many users immediately pointed out the practical and safety concerns. "As others have said, contact your landlord," another wrote. "This is a fire code violation, and the landlord could get fined." Some tried to rationalize the neighbors' behavior, albeit without excusing it: "Not to justify this at all, because they should be storing them in their unit, but the reason they're letting them pile up is (my guess) they want to get enough to justify making a trip to the recycling center. Thank you for saving the planet but yeah it would be better if they kept the jugs in their unit," one commenter offered. 'A Quiet Kind of Disrespect' Newsweek spoke to Dreizen, modern etiquette and boundaries expert, and COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, about such common living dilemmas. "As someone who spends a lot of time thinking about boundaries, etiquette and the psychology of how we live alongside others, I can tell you that situations like the one described in this Reddit post are more common than people realize," Dreizen said. She explained that such seemingly small acts can carry significant weight. "When a neighbor repeatedly leaves something like empty water jugs outside their door—especially in shared or visible spaces—it can feel like a quiet kind of disrespect. It's not loud or overt, but it chips away at the shared sense of responsibility and consideration that makes communal living feel safe and pleasant," she said. Dreizen noted that while sometimes it's due to a lack of awareness or differing cultural or personal norms, other times, it can be a form of "passive defiance—a way for someone to exert control over their environment or avoid tasks they feel aren't their responsibility." For those like the poster, looking to address such issues constructively, Dreizen recommended clear, respectful communication—ideally soon. She advised a calm approach, like: "Hey, I've noticed the empty jugs by your door. I wasn't sure if you were planning to take them out, but it's becoming a bit of an issue. Would you mind tossing them in the dumpster instead?" Framing the message as an observation could help avoid a defensive response. Dreizen concluded by emphasizing the importance of respect in shared living spaces: "Everyone deserves to feel respected in their living space, and addressing these things early, with compassion and clarity, can go a long way toward preserving that." Newsweek reached out to u/virtualzebra1 for comment via Reddit.
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Fury at What Neighbor Posts Through Mailbox: 'Is This Harassment?'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A parent is outraged after a neighbor allegedly delivered an unsolicited parenting book in a mailbox. The Reddit user, known as u/Gh0st_Pirate_LeChuck, shared their frustration on the subreddit r/mildlyinfuriating, where the post quickly gained traction with over 13,000 upvotes. The poster wrote: "My neighbor in her early 80s who likes to throw water on kids' chalk art put this book in my mailbox. We keep to ourselves and my kids are very respectful. They hate everyone around us and do things like this to everyone. "She's married (somehow) and her husband doesn't do anything. She's petty af [as f***]. Is this harassment? Isn't it a federal offense to put things like this in others' mailboxes?" she wrote. The book left in the mailbox was 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12, a popular parenting guide that outlines a method for managing behavior through consistent routines and nonemotional discipline. Expert Insight Paris Smith, a licensed therapist at Mending Minds Mental Health Collective LLC, weighed in with Newsweek about the saga. "When dealing with a passive-aggressive criticism in this specific example, it's best to ignore it," she said. Smith acknowledged the natural response of feeling "angry, frustrated, shocked, and judged," but added that responding only feeds the conflict. Although the act might not qualify as criminal or harassment on its own, she recommended documenting such incidents in case they become a pattern. Smith added that, when criticism is given more directly, it's important to be firm and set clear boundaries. Smith suggested saying something like: "Hey, I'm not really looking for parenting advice at the moment; there are a ton of different parenting styles and I'm going to do what I believe is best for my household. In the future, if I need advice, I'll ask directly." Stock image: A residential mailbox has been left open by a road. Stock image: A residential mailbox has been left open by a road. xphotoz/iStock / Getty Images Plus Etiquette expert Genevieve "Jenny" Dreizen, COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, agreed that the neighbor's action crosses a line. Dreizen told Newsweek: "When someone anonymously puts a parenting book in your mailbox—especially one titled How To Discipline Your Kids—it's not just bad manners. It's passive-aggressive judgment wrapped in paper. "In modern etiquette, we always come back to this: unsolicited advice is not kindness. And when it's delivered without a name, it's not advice at all—it's a quiet attempt to shame you." Dreizen called it "an act of control dressed up as concern" and said that recipients of such behavior have every right to ignore it—or, if the neighbor has a pattern of overstepping, to set a direct boundary. Reddit Reacts Commenters on Reddit were quick to chime in, with reactions ranging from sarcastic humor to more-serious advice. "I think the correct response would be to leave her fliers about dementia and some retirement home listings," wrote one user. "OP [original poster], I will purchase this book for you if you promise to knock on their door and hand deliver it," another offered, referencing a title called Why It's OK To Mind Your Own Business. "Once when I was a baby, a lady in the grocery store handed my mom a book of prayers for parents with troubled children. My mom couldn't help but being confused because I was being well-behaved that day! It's definitely annoying, but this will make a good story to laugh about later," a third commenter wrote. Not everyone was on the original poster's side, though. "As passive aggressive this is, I have s***** a** neighbors with loud a** kids and would view this as a potential issue from your household. Being a good neighbor goes 2 ways. Maybe figure out where she's coming from," one user wrote. Newsweek reached out to u/Gh0st_Pirate_LeChuck for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on "WSID" at Newsweek.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Couple Hire College Student as Dogsitter—Shock at What They Later Discover
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A couple have received widespread support online after discovering that her dogsitter had added several expensive streaming subscriptions to her home account—without asking first. Reddit user u/Upstairs-Storm1006 shared the incident in a now-viral post on the subreddit Mildly Infuriating, where it garnered over 12,000 upvotes. According to the post, the original poster and their wife had hired a friend's daughter to stay in their home for four days and care for their dog. The sitter was paid and even given an extra $200 specifically for food delivery each night. But not long after returning home, they got a bad surprise. "I got a text yesterday from Xfinity thanking me for making my monthly auto-payment, and noticed the dollar amount was over $50 higher than normal. I looked on my bill and saw Max, Starz, Paramount+ w/Showtime, and Apple TV+ were now on my account, we don't subscribe to any of those. I called Xfinity which confirmed all were added via settop purchase during the dates she was staying with us," they wrote. After cancelling the subscriptions, the poster informed their friend, who reimbursed them immediately. The daughter then called in tears to apologize. "I'm glad it worked out for me but the chutzpah for her to do this in the first place they added. Expert Insight Etiquette expert Genevieve "Jenny" Dreizen, COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, described the situation as "frustrating and layered." "The OP handled things with admirable clarity and grace. They reached out directly to the parent, which may not have been everyone's first instinct, but it was likely the most effective and emotionally grounded route given the family connection," she told Newsweek. Dreizen emphasized that even in casual arrangements, there are unspoken rules that should be followed when staying in someone else's home: use only what's been offered, never purchase or sign up for anything without clear permission, and treat the space like a guest room, not a hotel. She noted that with the prevalence of smart devices and streaming services, clarifying boundaries ahead of time is more crucial than ever. She added that homeowners should feel empowered to leave a simple guide outlining expectations—including which services are OK to use, food policies, delivery boundaries, and emergency contacts. "Clarity is kindness for everyone," she said, also pointing out that while mistakes like these aren't uncommon among inexperienced sitters, that doesn't excuse them. Both parties can treat this as a learning experience. A stock image showing a woman holding a white dog. A stock image showing a woman holding a white dog. Halfpoint/iStock / Getty Images Plus Adrienne Alexander, a conflict resolution and etiquette expert and owner of public relations firm IPY Agency LLC, echoed that sentiment. She said the OP handled the situation well overall—taking quick action, contacting the parent, and resolving the charges without escalating. However, she pointed to one missed opportunity: "The OP could have spoken directly to the sitter before involving the parent. As a basic conflict principle, address the issue at the lowest appropriate level. Going through the parent first might've made the apology feel more coerced than sincere." "This isn't just about a $50 charge; it's about trust. When someone watches your pet, they're stepping into a role that demands maturity, respect, and responsibility. They shouldn't be in the role if they can't handle that," she added. Ivan Petersel, the founder of Dog Virtuoso, told Newsweek: "Pet care isn't just a side gig—it requires trust, professionalism, and accountability. "In general, people don't take Pet Sitting seriously enough. That goes for the pet sitters as well as the pet owners. "Many people think that anybody can take care of their dog but to find somebody that is responsible and truly understands Dogs is hard to find." Reddit Reacts Reddit users didn't hold back in the comments. "If a person can't take care of themselves, they can't take care of my dog," wrote one user. "Extra $200 for food? I'll dogsit for you!" joked another. "$200 for the person looking after the dog to eat food, s*** in this economy I'll start barking, sounds like a good home to me," someone quipped. Another commenter added: "If they aren't even capable of making a sandwich, then it is entirely possible that they aren't smart enough to figure out that adding channels means someone has to pay for them." Newsweek reached out to u/Upstairs-Storm1006 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@ We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Bride Invites High-School Acquaintance to Wedding—Then Comes the Demand
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. What started as a casual RSVP to a high-school acquaintance's wedding quickly turned into a boundary-testing request for one woman. In a post to Reddit, a 27-year-old makeup artist who occasionally posts her work on Instagram shared her story, explaining how she accepted an invite to the wedding of a girl she knew from high school. But her attendance led to a surprising request for free services. Since the post was published, it has gone viral with more than 6,700 upvotes and over 170 comments. Newsweek spoke to modern-day etiquette and boundaries expert, Jenny Dreizen, about whether or not the request to the guest was appropriate or not. Stock photo: A professional makeup artist applies eye shadow to a woman. Stock photo: A professional makeup artist applies eye shadow to a woman. nicoletaionescu/Getty Images In the post, the makeup artist wrote that, a few days before the wedding, she received a random Instagram DM from someone she didn't follow. The sender was the bride's cousin. "She somehow found out I was a makeup artist and would be at the wedding, so she asked if I could do her makeup. No greetings, no please, nothing," the poster wrote. Still, she responded politely by sharing her event makeup rate, and thanked the cousin for reaching out. It didn't go well. The artist had to further explain that her kit, time and effort are not free, but instead of appreciating the clarity, the cousin fired back. "She called me a greedy person and added that girls are supposed to support each other," the woman wrote. The irony wasn't lost on Reddit. "Girls need to support each other … Like supporting a woman and her business?" one person wrote. "I'm so glad you didn't cave!" another added. "You were going to the wedding as a guest, not as a makeup artist. I wonder if she tried to scope out the guest list looking for hairdressers so she could ask if they'd do her hair for free, too?" The kicker? At 7 a.m. on the wedding day, the cousin texted again asking if she could be "squeezed in." The makeup artist didn't respond and showed up to the wedding, glam and unbothered. "She didn't say a word to me," she wrote. An Expert Weighs In Dreizen, COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry and host of the Jenny Says So podcast, told Newsweek that this kind of social pressure is far too common. "Whether it's makeup artistry, photography, catering or even legal advice, professionals are often put in positions where their work is expected for free, simply because they're 'already there.' It's a misunderstanding of boundaries and the value of skilled labor," Dreizen said. And, no, showing up at an event doesn't mean services come as part of the RSVP. Dreizen's advice for beauty professionals in situations like this? "Kind but firm boundaries are key," she said, suggesting scripts that involve clear communication of rates. "'My makeup work is a big part of my livelihood, so I have to stick to my rates, even for friends and family,'" she added. In the end, it seems the poster was able to keep her cool and her boundaries—and left with her glam intact. Newsweek reached out to u/IsoldeFairbourner for comment via Reddit.
New York Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
This is the most useless phrase to put in an email, expert says: ‘It accomplishes nothing'
'Just checking in' is considered one of the worst phrases to put in an email and etiquette experts are begging you to stop. As reported by Parade, according to modern-day etiquette, boundaries and relationship expert Jenny Dreizen, you might as well be shouting into the void if you're using that wording. 'This is a vague non-statement that is basically the same as saying, 'Pushing this to the top of your inbox,'' Dreizen, the COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, she told the outlet. Dreizen also explained that it's not doing what you think it is. The phrase, 'just checking in' in an email is all fluff, according to experts. bodnarphoto – ''Just checking in' does not accomplish the task it seemingly needs to, which is to force the issue or expedite the to-do item,' she said. 'When we're using email as communication, we want to be as straightforward and direct as possible. This phrase accomplishes nothing while also coming off vaguely passive-aggressive.' That doesn't mean every email has to be robotic or ruthless, but Dreizen argues that if you want results, you have to be clear. She suggests swapping the fluffy 'just checking in' for something, like: 'Wanted to know how progress was going on [action item].' 'Writing emails to ensure people respond to your questions and/or get things done is an art,' Dreizen explained. Speaking of wanting to get a point across in an email, some employees are shying away from being overly polite in their OOO responses — and are instead telling it how it is. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, 62-year-old chairman and chief investment officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, Barry Ritholtz has no problem being blunt in his automated replies. 'I am out of the office having way more fun than communicating with you,' his reply says, according to the Journal. 'I will likely forget to email you back.' 'During this time, I will be out of the office, not checking emails, avoiding texts, ignoring Slack, letting calls go to voicemail, off the grid, and generally unreachable. As such, my auto-responder is, well, auto-responding,' the rest of his email read. And while some employees are taking the straightforward approach in their work communication, some female workers are choosing to 'sound like a man' in their emails to get what they want, despite experts warning against it. 'In 2025, we write emails like men and get promoted,' wrote content creator @FeliciaPr1ime in a social media post that garnered over 46,000 views. While this is an empowering statement for many women, ''perpetuating gender stereotypes in the workplace could be 'harmful,'' said Danaya Wilson, CEO of BetterCertify, a professional training company in a report for WorkLife. It's 'better to communicate directly, with brevity, and focus on information exchange, but we don't have to necessarily align this with masculinity anymore,' she added.
