Why do some neighbors not understand how to be a "good" neighbor?
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
United States
March 26, 2007 3:24pm CST
I don't expect a lot from people and I'm a pretty "stay to yourself" person. This being said I live in a neighborhood that is fairly quiet, very middle class, family oriented but not filled with tons of kids, etc. It's truly an almost perfect kind of place to live.
Now, recently we had 2 neighbors move in behind us. Their yards connect with ours, fences in between. Most of us keep to ourselves and to be honest they're all rentals so most don't even stay too long. These 2 families however have really killed my lovely quiet times I spent in my yard. The one family, directly behind and attached has 2 dogs. These dogs, while adorable and sweet, are nonstop barkers. All winter they've barked and barked and barked when the owners put them out and I can only guess that the summer will end with days on end of nonstop barking that will not only annoy me when outdoors but when I have windows open to enjoy the breeze from the lake!
The other family has a bunch of kids, 2 of which are special needs kids. They are a great "family" oriented bunch but often leave the kids out there to play and ignore the kids screams and loudness. While I understand kids will be kids and I raised 3 myself I'm not talking a few screams here and there. The 2 special needs kids I believe are autistic (one) and mentally challenged. They put all of the kids, about 4 total I believe, out there for hours to play and scream and literally fight with each other. The parents, when out there are caring and loving and seem to watch them but I think use the "toss them outside when they get too much to h andle in the house" method at other times, making the neighbors suffer instead!
I know I'm not a perfect person.. but omg.. why can't people realize that others are around them and the actions in your living space do make a difference to others, especially noise! We live in the city, closer together with only a driveway between houses. I just think common courtesy is needed!
Any ideas how to survive the summer?
2 people like this
6 responses
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
27 Mar 07
Honestly, There's not a whole lot you can do. I think I would suggest keeping a diary of the noise and if it gets bad then call environmental health and report both the families to you. I think there is usually something the landlords can do if the noise is above average for a family.
I don't really have any other suggestions except to maybe call round and talk to the owners of the dogs and the parents of the kids and ask if they could try to ensure that the noise level s kept down somewhat. Of course, that might result in the dogs being left out to bark for even longer periods of time just to spite you.
I wish you luck in resolving this peacefully.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I didn't even notice anything! Guess I read worse then you type? LOL
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
27 Mar 07
Sorry, that should read, report both the families to THEM lol. It's been a long day ... *sighs*
1 person likes this
@emisle (3822)
• Ireland
27 Mar 07
I'm only in college at the moment and the neighbourhood I grew up in has never caused any problems. The houses are all owned and so neighbours stick around for a long time. It doesn't have many young kids at all and so is very peaceful.
I did however live above a very noisy crowd last year in college. They liked to party and someone also used to play the electric guitar, and badly at that!
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
27 Mar 07
OMG.. years ago we had a neighbor that swore he was a rock musician. He would wail on his guitar and sing on the top of his lungs and even my kids (at the time only about 3 yrs old or so) would come in laughing hysterically at his singing abilities. Finally it would get so bad we'd all stand at the window and howl like dogs. He got the message! LOL
@classy56 (2880)
• United States
27 Mar 07
wow,im sorry,but theres not a whole lot that you can do.beside talking to your neighbors face to face an tell them what you are feeling about all the noise.maybe they will be understanding.or "call an talk to their landlords about them an let them deal with them.i think this would be the best way to handel this situation.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I keep hoping it will change... lol.. or that I'll learn how to tolerate it. The good part is that I prefer going out in the later evening too and just sitting and enjoying a diet pepsi on the swing. The kids are usually in bed, although we've had some nights that they're out past 11pm (usually weekends) but it just doesn't seem to end and I hate to think I have to go say something. I feel like a big meanie! LOL
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
26 Mar 07
If the dogs are not taken care of, if they are outside all day - call the town - check for ordinances.
If the children do have special needs - call CPS. Children who are deveoplmentally disabled need structure to help them maximize what the do have. CPS may have an interest in getting these children properly placed.
Keep records on activities on both the dogs and the kids.
SOrry I could not help more.
1 person likes this
@ganwn071 (1116)
• Singapore
27 Mar 07
I live in an apartment thus we are very close to the neighbor. Recently, I had a new neighbour and they are migrant from other country.
They stared on the wrong foot an the day they move in, they were moving their boxes late in the night at 10pm, drag the boxes for the next hours and then they start unpacking, with thing dropping with loud bang.
Next, come to closing door, they just slam the door and our house are connect, that slam will translate into a loud bang into our house and they talk loudly. They just need to learn that they are living in a foreign country and need to have common courtesy.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
27 Mar 07
Sometimes I wonder if it's just that they are ignorant to the fact of how close together we are and how annoying it can be. I try to keep that in mind. My dog goes out and I guarantee you that he will bark ONE TIME and he comes in! I'm sure I've missed it a time or two but for the most part he is brought in as soon as I hear him bark, it's just common courtesy if you ask me. And I know the kids will be kids but OMG... all day long the screaming and yelling. The parents are bad parents at all but I think they need to not leave the kids there as much.
@haiderazakhalid17 (54)
• Pakistan
27 Mar 07
some neighbours really act like fools.mean they dont have the basic sense of mannerism of neighbourhood.they dont take into account anything happening around.they r just concerned to themselves...dont even damn care abt their neighbours,,,this shud not happen and v shud understand the feelings of others..
1 person likes this
