I have personally been to condos where neighbours hardly know each other. They sail past each other like ships at sea, in some cases, it's just simple greetings but they hardly know anything about their neighbours' lives, which many guard like family heirlooms. I perfectly understand that there will be people who love their homes for their location, friends, or hold on to their homes as they hold great sentimental value.

En-bloc sales at least give you some compensation, though for the minority who oppose it, it is of no consequence. But to this 'minority' who consider themselves unfortunate victims of their neighbours' fancy or greed, I would appeal to them to focus on the positives rather than the negatives ... and respect the views of the majority, rather than accuse them of wrongdoing. To the majority, who may be for an en-bloc sale, I would say, be sensitive to the minority and explain your stand with love and understanding, rather than look at them as 'thorns in the flesh'. Who knows, you may soon win them over.

In fact, sometimes, it's in times of an en-bloc 'crisis' that neighbours actually try to strike up a conversation and try to rally for support. It brings them together. Friendships should be forged in normal 'peace times' so that in times of 'war' you can at least make your stand as a friend and not as an enemy.

Patricia Stephen (Mrs)