Nosy Neighbours
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
December 21, 2015 11:38am CST
The Dutch are famously open and reluctant to hide, so when I discovered that my Dutch friends had a 'problem' neighbour, I was amazed at the response in their small community.
Dutch people pride themselves on being open, transparent, ultra-direct and having an "I have nothing to hide" mentality. They have houses with enormous windows and they rarely draw their curtains - even if they have them and many don't.
My neighbours have a nosy neighbour. If they go out into their garden, the chap decides he needs to go and stand on his balcony so he can watch them. They bought vertical blinds to stop him staring into their living room but their neighbours on the other side and in front of them took tougher steps to prevent Mr Nosy from looking in.
Both have grown really tall plants along their fences. One has grown Leyland Cyprus trees that stretch a good 5 meters or more above the fence to stop him prying. They are so tall that they have to be clipped twice a year - probably at considerable expense.
Local rules dictate that your fences and walls can't go above a certain height but they can't control the trees. I think it's no great surprise that when my friends first moved in, they found 12 different species of bamboo planted in the garden. That's a clear sign that the previous owners REALLY wanted privacy - or they were planning on adopting a pair of pandas.
18 people like this
19 responses
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
21 Dec 15
I am so glad that we have lots of foliage between me and the neighbors. I do want to plant more between us and the closest neighbor because we can see into their yard and they can see into ours. Fortunately, neither of our households like to spy on each other.
2 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
21 Dec 15
That's funny, adopting a couple of pandas..lol Some people like their privacy. I know when we first move where we are now, there were no home around us. Then a family not only bought and built a home next door, but they built it too close to the property line (a violation, but the woman had power on the community board, so they got away with it) so I planted all kind of trees and bushes between our homes.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Dec 15
So have they tried taloing to this guy? If they made friends perhaps he would be less apt to be watching them.
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
21 Dec 15
It doesn't matter where in the world you live, someone, somewhere, will be a nosy neighbour. I think I'm the local nosy neighbour, but not intentionally!
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Dec 15
I have no neighbors and I like it that way. I have an empty lot on one side of me, across the street is a creek. I do have neighbors on one side but their house is further back and they're very quiet. Behind me is a farm. I've got a pretty good location here... just wish the house itself were a bit nicer.
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
21 Dec 15
I am so glad that we have lots of foliage between me and the neighbors. I do want to plant more between us and the closest neighbor because we can see into their yard and they can see into ours. Fortunately, neither of our households like to spy on each other.
@allisonwish (464)
• Shenzhen, China
22 Dec 15
In our community, sometimes have some people quarrel or speak loudly. Especially sometimes at 2:00 a.m, it woke me up in the sleep and then I had to hearing their's argue and hard to fall asleep. I really hate that type of people.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
30 Dec 15
that's a good sign they had issues and were blocking someone from being a peeper. I suppose parade terrifying things past that window. Place a sign with an add for something like wart creme in it! lol
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
21 Dec 15
I hate nosy people! Good thing is our current neighbors are just friendly not nosy!
@Iam_jauntyjen (5017)
•
22 Jan 16
I have a very nosy neighbor grrrr! They are a couple with one kid.The girl has been my friend since highschool.She is married to her long time boyfriend.I have no problem with the girl but it is her husband who I am so annoyed with.He does not work so most of the tim he is out of the house hanging out with other neighbors' household help. He is sooooooo nosy. He always on the look out on whats happening in my house.
.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
22 Jan 16
These people are annoying but they can help prevent your house getting burgled.
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Dec 15
Our neighbors planted bushes all along the border between their property and mine. We are quiet people buy they are loud and bothersome. I'm glad they planted the bushes they have grown well and almost block their ability to see my property. Glad they did it if they hadn't I would have.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
22 Dec 15
This one was fired from his job so I assume he's just low on human contact.
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Dec 15
Had to laugh at the panda bit, very good.
When the hedge at the back of our house loses its leaves in the autumn, we do feel exposed, knowing the neighbours behind us can stare straight into our conservatory when they're standing at their kitchen sink...
Must be genetic 
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
21 Dec 15
I like a bit of privacy and would hate having a nosy neighbor staring in my windows
@Ketage (56)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
21 Dec 15
Yikes, that sounds like a horrible situation, nosy neighbors would drive me insane, I am a pretty private person in real life. Weirdly enough, I am more open online.
