You be the judge: should my housemates bring the bins in?

The Bin Battle: Who's Really to Blame?

When it comes to household chores, there's one issue that can drive even the most harmonious flatmates to distraction: bin duty. A dispute is brewing between two households sharing a split-level maisonette, with one side claiming the other is shirking its responsibilities.

The prosecution argues that Ben and Roisin are consistently failing to bring in their bins on time, causing friction with their upstairs neighbours. They point out that when they're away working, the whole system falls apart, leaving the bins strewn across the street like a public dumping ground. It's not just the mess itself, but also the unwanted attention it attracts from random passersby.

The defence, however, takes a more relaxed approach. Ben claims he's busy with work and doesn't have time to worry about the bins, whereas Roisin is less than enthusiastic about touching them altogether. He argues that if everyone behaved like him, our streets would be overflowing with bins and nobody would even bat an eye.

But who's really to blame here? While it's true that Ben and Roisin can't all take on the bin duty themselves, their apathy towards the issue is starting to grate. Their neighbours are right to feel frustrated when they're left dealing with the aftermath of a missed collection.

Perhaps the key lies in establishing a clear routine or schedule for bin duty. With both parties willing to make an effort but not taking the lead, something has to give. For now, it seems like Ben is reaping the benefits of Mo's efforts while leaving his flatmates to deal with the consequences.

It's time for Ben and Roisin to step up their game and take responsibility for their bins. Anything less would be unfair to their neighbours and a slap in the face to the principle of shared living. After all, as Louise pointed out, "cooperation and compromise are neighbourly and low effort." It's not that hard, but it seems like Ben is having trouble with this particular aspect of flatmate etiquette.

So who wins this round? The jury is still out, but one thing is clear: the bin battle has highlighted a deeper issue of communication and accountability among flatmates. Until someone takes the reins and establishes a clear system for bin duty, this dispute will continue to simmer, causing tension and frustration for all parties involved.

Lol i feel u guys i had a roommate who was always dodging bin duty it got to the point where we were both doing our own thing and just leaving them out . But idk why they can't just make a schedule or something like 1 day a week or whatever. It's not that hard! Ben and Roisin need to get their act together already, it's unfair on everyone else . And btw, if u don't wanna touch the bins dont be mad at others for having to deal with them .

I don’t usually comment but I feel like Ben needs to step up his game big time he's always making excuses about work and not having time for stuff that's literally just part of being a responsible adult. And Roisin isn't exactly setting a good example either, leaving her bins out all the time? Not cool I think they both need to take some ownership of their messes and communicate with each other (and their neighbours) better. A clear routine for bin duty would be a great place to start

Ugh, can you believe these two are just leaving their bins everywhere? It's like they're trying to be inconsiderate on purpose . Ben should really get his act together, it's not that hard to take a few minutes each day to bring the bin out. And Roisin, come on girl, don't just sit there and let your partner do all the work. You're both adults, you can figure this out . It's not like they're living in some kind of dictatorship where one person gets to make all the rules. A simple schedule or routine would solve the whole problem... why is it so hard for people to just get on board?

I feel like Ben's excuse about being busy with work is weak . I mean, I've got deadlines to meet at work too, but that doesn't mean I leave the bins out on the street. He should just make a schedule and stick to it, or ask Roisin if she can help out more often. It's not like they're living in a zombie apocalypse where nobody can be bothered with their bins . A clear routine would solve this problem in a heartbeat.

idk, i mean, ben's not entirely off the hook, he is kinda always busy at work... but roisin's gotta step up her game too, it can't just be one person doing everything . and what's with the "no big deal" vibe from mo? shouldn't we all take responsibility for our own bins? it's not like they're asking for a lot, just a simple routine would do... but at the same time, ben can't be expected to single-handedly fix everything . and what about when roisin's feeling lazy? shouldn't we all have to pitch in sometimes? it's all so confusing!

I feel like Ben and Roisin need to take a hard look at themselves - it's not that hard to divide tasks fairly between them, especially when it comes to something as simple as taking out the bins on the designated day! It's not just about them being responsible, but also about respecting their neighbours' space. I mean, can you imagine having to deal with those bins for an extra week because Ben and Roisin can't be bothered?

I'm so done with people making excuses not to do their part in household chores . Ben and Roisin need to stop playing the blame game and take ownership of their bins. It's not that hard to set a schedule or communicate with each other about who's bringing what out when. The fact that it's become a big deal with the neighbors is just a sign that they're not pulling their weight. I mean, if everyone was on the same page and contributed equally, we wouldn't have these kinds of issues in the first place. It's all about finding a solution that works for everyone, not making excuses or waiting for someone else to fix it .

I feel bad for Ben & Roisin's neighbors , who are literally left to deal with the mess when they're not around... it's like, come on guys! They can't all take on the bin duty themselves, that's just too much work . But at the same time, I get where Ben is coming from, he's busy and stuff . Maybe they should just make a schedule or something and stick to it? It's not rocket science, right?

I feel so frustrated with Ben right now . I mean, it's not that hard to take out the bins when you know they're coming! It's not like Roisin is asking him to do a marathon or something. And what's up with being busy at work and expecting everyone else to cover for you? He should be setting an example, not leaving his flatmates to deal with it.

And I don't get why he thinks the solution is just "everyone would be like him" . Newsflash, Ben: being a good neighbour isn't about everyone being selfish and apathetic, it's about taking responsibility for your own stuff!

omg u guys idk wut's wrng w/ benny & roisin tho they're just tryna do ther own thing n dont wanna be responsible 4 evrythin but on the other hand, their neighbours r dealin w/ all da drama n stress cuz of dem bins maybe its time 4 them to step up & take charge or summat

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im think ben & roisin need 2 take responsibility 4 their bins but it's not just about them, it's also about the rest of the flatmates who r getting affected by it . they need 2 work out a routine or schedule that works 4 everyone . maybe ben can set up a reminder on his phone or somethin to make sure he dont forget . and roisin can try 2 be more enthusiastic about touching the bins . it's not rocket science, but i guess u need 2 communicate & compromise w/ ur flatmates . until then, it's just gonna keep on being a bin battle

omg u gotta feel 4 ben & roisin's neighbours lol they r gettin shafted here!! like, come on guys take responsibility 4 ur bins its not dat hard!!! Ben thinks he can just leave it all 2 Mo while he's busy @ work?? no way!! and Rosin dont even wanna touch the bins??? what kinda flatmate does that?! u gotta have some basic respect 4 the ppl u share space w/ and a clear system 4 bin duty would solve everything

I gotta say, it's kinda wild that Ben thinks not doing his part in taking out the bins is no big deal . Like, yeah sure, he's busy with work, but so are his neighbors when they're working... isn't that how life works? It's all about finding a balance and being considerate of others.

And Roisin's not exactly setting a great example either - if she doesn't want to touch the bins, maybe she should be the one to take on the responsibility for bringing them in . I mean, can't we all just try to do our part and not make it so dramatic? It's just bins, right?

The article makes a good point about establishing a clear routine or schedule for bin duty - that would really help resolve this issue and prevent future disputes. Until then, it's just gonna be a never-ending cycle of "who's gonna take out the bins?"... not my favorite thing to think about

so like ben and roisin's problem is they're not taking responsibility for their bins , but it's also not fair to leave everything on mo . maybe they should make a schedule or something , like every other week someone has to take out the trash . ben says he's busy with work , but roisin says she doesn't wanna touch the bins . it's not that hard, just divide and conquer ... [ diagram of a split bin with one side labeled "ben" and the other "roisin" ]

I feel so bad for their neighbors , they're literally stuck with the mess! I would be super frustrated if I was them too . Ben should just try to schedule a time slot in his calendar to bring in the bins or something , it's not that hard. And Roisin, come on girl , take responsibility for your part too! It's not like they're asking you to do all the work or anything . Communication is key here, and Ben and Roisin need to get their act together . I mean, it's not just about the bins, it's about respecting each other as flatmates . They should really try to find a solution that works for both of them... maybe even make a schedule or something . It's not too much to ask, right?

I'm like "um what's next? Are we gonna start paying our mates to do their chores too?" Like seriously, can't they just sort it out themselves? I mean Ben's got a job, Roisin's not saying she doesn't want to, but neither is he taking the lead. It's like they're expecting everyone else to clean up after them . A clear routine or schedule would be great, but come on guys, get your act together!

I mean can't you just throw your trash in the bin whenever you want? It's not that hard, right? And Ben's whole "busy with work" excuse is pretty weak. Like, if you're so busy, how do you manage to scroll through Instagram for hours on end? Priorities, dude! And Roisin's just being dramatic about it. Newsflash: bins get full sometimes and people have to deal with it. It's not the end of the world... yet.

OMG u guys I'm so done with Ben & Roisin's bin drama like what even is fair about leaving their neighbors to deal with the mess while they just chill? I get it, life gets busy but that's no excuse for not taking responsibility for ur own bins! and lol at the defense team saying if everyone was like Ben then our streets would be overflowing with bins no thanks! anywayz im all for a clear routine or schedule for bin duty so they can both step up their game & take responsibility for their bins. it's not that hard, but i guess some ppl just need a little nudge

ugh, can u believe ben is getting off scot free? like, come on guys, taking turns is not that hard. if roisin's too busy, ben should start doing it earlier or something. i mean, the neighbour thing is fair, but also what about when they're out and someone else has to deal with it? we need some real communication between flatmates here. maybe a shared calendar or schedule for bin duty? that way everyone knows their responsibilities and no one's left dealing with the mess...