Sillyman's Folly

During the time that Tall Pygmy spent as deputy to Pooh-Bar he frequently received complaints about noise pollution. He responded with empathic anecdotes about his own apartment in a private residential building. He explained that he allowed the noise made by his neighbors to reach a high-decibel level then complained to them. However, he has done nothing to complain to recalcitrant Council House residents about the noise that they make although he receives a salary to perform that duty.

Evidently, Tall Pygmy will act in his own interest to reduce the noise in his own apartment but will do nothing to abate the noise at Council House. Now that he has assumed the position of acting administrator he has a greater responsibility to use the authority granted to him by resident leases. He still does nothing. Instead, he apparently plays with his sci-fi toys in a futuristic make-believe world.

Residents have rights granted by law. If the directors appoint their court jester as thespian administrator then they cannot expect anything but a comedy of errors. Sillyman et al have decided to give an actor responsibilities that he cannot handle: a decision unfair to both Tall Pygmy and Council House residents.

Both Pooh-Bar and other directors have generally treated grey panthers as feeble-minded morons unable to decide for themselves. They have consistently used this ploy to manipulate residents in their own interests and to deny them their rights. Many residents have worked for many years in the professions and have come from educated backgrounds. Their economic impoverishment does not mean that they have lost their minds or their initiative. The board must use their talents and not rely upon residents with both physical and mental disabilities obsequiously to do their bidding. Evidently, the directors will only deal with people whom they can manipulate. They do not dare to negotiate with people of equal or superior intellect to themselves.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulates the building not the National Endowment for the Arts. Therefore, the directors have a responsibility to follow HUD directives and mandates by appointing a trained administrator or building management agency to manage the building lawfully. The law does not permit them to appoint a thespian or theatrical agency to turn the community into another theater of the absurd.

Following publication of the essay Life in a Seattle Squirrel Cage, the noise level at night decreased measurably during the investigative patrols at the Council House. Significantly, some residents who had repeatedly transgressed at low-decibel levels modified their behavior. The remaining high-decibel people have continued their aberrant behavior. Another two patrols have confirmed these findings.

The extremists persist and continue to disturb other people. Nmesis requested Dr. D. R. Sillyman, a Council House director now President, to direct Tall Pygmy to take remedial action. However, neither Sillyman nor his jester have acted.

Eight people make up the high-decibel category. They have repeatedly created noise during the quiet hours that impinged upon the rights of other residents. The investigator could hear them from each end of the building and across several floors.

The investigator found flagrant breaches of leases then validated them and wrote a report containing that information. The document shows that thirty Council House residents violated their leases also municipal and state laws by consistently making excessive noise during the quiet hours. The documents showing that Pooh-Bar and Tall Pygmy received repeated complaints over a six-month period but did nothing to alleviate the nuisance append to the report. The documents show a pattern and practice that will probably stand up in court, at a HUD investigation, or a civil rights hearing. That report containing the names of both categories of transgressor will now become a public record. It will also become the subject of a formal complaint to the appropriate authorities.

The report initially lists by name and apartment number those residents who made excessive noise during the investigative patrols that took place between 3:00 am and 6:00 am over an extended period. It includes a variety of noises predominantly radio or TV sounds. As a controlled sample, it does not include those people who made excessive noise at other times and on other days. The report highlights the names of residents who made noises heard from each end of the building and across several floors. The statistics relate to source sounds and do not take into account the amplification caused by flanking sound transmission.

The Council House theater of the absurd continues its present run of Proverbs of Hell. The mullenium jester and his directors continue to do nothing. The noise continues and the pygmies continue to pander to the oligarchy. All this reinforces the adage that a fool always has bigger fools to admire him.⁽¹⁾ However, let us remain thankful for them for without fools the sensible people could not succeed.⁽²⁾

Nmesis can only hope that Sillyman MD treats his patients with more respect and consideration than he does Council House residents for whom he holds an equal responsibility. His own activities director said: ". . . actually, I think that I met him [Sillyman] once . . . I doubt that he will do anything [about the problems]." Apparently, the financial rewards from his medical practice give him more impetus. He will get very little money from the paragraph that he can include in his resume which describes his civic service to senior citizens. Meanwhile, the fools return to their folly like dogs return to their vomit.⁽³⁾

Nmesis.

1. Nicolas Bolleau-Despréaux, L'Art Poétique, cto 1 (1674).

2. Mark Twain, Following the Equator, ch. 28, Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar (1897)

3. Hebrew Bible. Proverbs 26:11.

Since publication of Life in a Seattle Squirrel Cage, Nmesis has received notes and documents from a variety of sources. They reveal other violations of law by Council House administrators and directors. He can verify and validate copies of genuine documents when received anonymously but must disregard unsigned notes. If Council House residents and others wish to use Disconnected to air complaints then they must sign their names to them. If authors wish to remain anonymous then they should say so. Nmesis, a professional journalist, will honor the request and will not disclose his sources. He knows about the retaliation and ostracism that Pooh-Bar has consistently used to silence people who have filed legitimate complaints. However, Nmesis prefers openness and the publication of correspondents' names.