The story from outside Syracuse, New York, is telling.
In case you missed it, Michael Rotondo was evicted from his apartment this week. That's a tough time, for sure, but there's more.
Michael was booted after getting a notice to hit the road in early February. He refused and fought the matter in court.
The evictors for poor lil' Michael? His parents, Mark and Christina.
Jay GreesonNow for the kick: Poor lil' Michael is 30. Yes, 30.
"I just wanted a reasonable amount of time to vacate, with consideration to the fact that I was not really prepared to support myself at the time where I was served these notices," the younger Rotondo told local CBS television affiliate WSTM.
Reasonable time to vacate? Not really prepared to support yourself?
Uh, dude, you are 30. Your parents have written notes since Feb. 2 and issued eviction notices and offered to pay you more than $1,000 to help you find your next place and a job.
Forget the fact that this seems like a terrible romantic comedy that features Owen Wilson as the younger Rotondo for a second and ponder the ramifications of this.
Everyone loses here. Not just in the family unit but in the measure of perspective.
We have gone from the greatest country on Earth to the softest. The land of the free is being replaced by the land of the freeloaders, and the extended arm of Lady Liberty now represents a hand out more than a hand up.
And stories like this are the shears that continue the shredding of the once great fabric that was America.
There was a time when the rite of passage saw young men and women wanting to spread their wings and find their own places in the world. There was a not-so-long-ago time when moving back into your parents' home after college was viewed as a step back. There was a spirit and competitive drive among previous generations to do better than your parents rather than doing whatever you could on your parents' tab.
Rotondo, according to court documents, had a broken-down vehicle in the yard and claimed he "has never been expected to contribute to household expenses, or assisted with chores and the maintenance of the premises, and claims that this is simply a component of his living agreement."
Maybe this is a knee-jerk reaction from an aging jerk with two knees. Maybe this is one case in one state that is not the state of the under-35 crowd. But buckets, "never expected" to contribute is an incredible admission.
The talking point goes beyond a 30-year-old do-nothing with the gumption of a goldfish, however.
"I don't see why the judge wants to throw people on the street," Rotondo said after the ruling.
Well, Michael, I don't see what's wrong with the judge wanting you to contribute to society beyond your daily web surfing in your jammy pants in your parents' basement. (And as universal as that punchline has become, it actually fits Michael to a T.)
We also think the judge only addressed half the issue.
Mark and Christina had every chance to address this long before now. Writing notes? Begging? Buyouts?
This is not to blame parents everywhere. Parenting is tough, and there are far too many who make too many excuses for their lots in life.
This whole story would be funny, if it were not so sad.
And telling.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.