{"id":30536,"date":"2024-08-30T20:13:54","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T20:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/2024\/08\/30\/annoying-neighbors-let-us-count-the-ways-readers-say-block-talk\/"},"modified":"2024-09-01T08:03:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T08:03:49","slug":"annoying-neighbors-let-us-count-the-ways-readers-say-block-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/2024\/08\/30\/annoying-neighbors-let-us-count-the-ways-readers-say-block-talk\/","title":{"rendered":"Annoying Neighbors: Let Us Count The Ways, Readers Say [Block Talk]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8864793242727901\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>ACROSS AMERICA \u2014 Unless you actually want your neighbors to talk smack behind your back, take a little pride in the upkeep of your property, stop being nosy, smoke your pot in your house and keep the smell to yourself, quiet your dogs, slow down your cars and show a little pride for your property.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>And that\u2019s just the start of the definitive traits of an annoying neighbor that readers practically hurled in comments on our informal survey for <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/us\/across-america\/topics\/block-talk\">Block Talk<\/a>, Patch\u2019s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet me count the ways,\u201d a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/michigan\/whitelake\">White Lake-Highland (Michigan) Patch<\/a> reader wrote. \u201c1) he allows his dog to be off leash, so when I open my garage door to leave, I have a barking, snarling dog to scare the life out of me; 2) uses the back of my property for his own use and damages my lawn; 3) smokes pot A LOT and grows \u2014 therefore, I can\u2019t open my windows without getting my entire house filled with the skunk smell; 4) had a yard filled with dead cars, a refrigerator and other items, 5) had a tarp on this roof for three years, 6) hasn&#8217;t paid his HOA dues in 8+ years, 7) do I need to go on?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ContentBlocks_CardDetail__SubscribeBlock__4zBcQ ContentBlocks_CardDetail__SubscribeBlock--mobile__18tT_\">\n<section class=\"styles_SubscribeForm__0dj5n\">\n<h2 class=\"styles_SubscribeForm__title__F_olP\">Find out what&#8217;s happening in Across America<span class=\"styles_SubscribeForm__title--nextLine__FTO3K\">with free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>\u201cYou name it, it happens with this neighbor,\u201d the reader said, claiming rights to the \u201cWorst Next-Door Neighbor Award.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/new-york\/bayside\">Bayside-Dougladton (New York) Patch<\/a> reader Gigi heard all that and more. She has an eight-point list of complaints against a neighbor who illegally subdivided his house, renting to \u201cbasement tenants from hell\u201d and multiple others on the first floor, while at the same time running an illegal motorcycle repair business and possibly a chop shop for clients Gigi is pretty sure are drug dealers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ContentBlocks_CardDetail__SubscribeBlock__4zBcQ ContentBlocks_CardDetail__SubscribeBlock--desktop__oN6vv\">\n<section class=\"styles_SubscribeForm__0dj5n\">\n<h2 class=\"styles_SubscribeForm__title__F_olP\">Find out what&#8217;s happening in Across America<span class=\"styles_SubscribeForm__title--nextLine__FTO3K\">with free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>On top of that, there are rats under the front stairs, the front yard is often strewn with trash and garbage because 15 people are using garbage and recycling bins intended for a family of one, and package deliveries intended for Gigi\u2019s family always seem to end up in the hands of one of the property owner\u2019s kids.<\/p>\n<p>Reporting the problem to code enforcement officials is hit or miss, Gigi said, but \u201cI stay vigilant.\u201d Gigi said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>Annoying neighbor problems started for \u201cThumbelina,\u201d who reads <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/norristown\">Norristown Patch<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/malvern\">Malvern Patch<\/a>, both in Pennsylvania, when her neighbors moved in at 1 a.m., using only flashlights because they didn\u2019t yet have the power turned on.<\/p>\n<p>Once they had electricity, \u201cthey used power tools almost every day for almost two months from 7 a.m. until well past midnight,\u201d Thumbelina said. \u201cThere was banging on the walls so hard that pictures fell off the walls in our house.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>That\u2019s not all. \u201cThe front of their porch is overgrown and littered with Corona 40-ounce bottles, cigarette butts, and trash. They have one sedan, one SUV, three pickup trucks, and one work van that take up five spots on the one-way street we live on. Everyone on the street has to park on the street if they don\u2019t have a driveway, which is 90 percent of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, Thumbelina said, \u201cthe banging has stopped but nothing else. They started selling drugs in broad daylight on the front porch, though.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Neighborhood Snitches And Gladys Kravitz<\/h3>\n<p>Among other annoying neighbor traits that stood out are people who can\u2019t seem to mind their own business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is VERY annoying when your neighbor is a snitch about EVERYTHING,\u201d a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/massachusetts\/shrewsbury\">Shrewsbury (Massachusetts) Patch<\/a> reader said. \u201cYou drag the garbage cans to the curb an hour before the borough ordinance states is acceptable because you will be out of town overnight. The landscaper started his mower at 7:58 instead of 8! The music coming from my yard is still on at 9:45 (not at all loud, it\u2019s just on), when the noise ordinance is 10 p.m.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t like my kids\u2019 friends parking their cars in front of his house \u2014 legally parked and orderly,\u201d the reader continued. \u201cHe is verbally abusive to the parents that take their kids around the neighborhood trying to \u2018solicit\u2019 without a permit when trying to sell Girl Scout cookies or Boy Scout Christmas wreaths! The neighborhood kids (ages 6-10) are \u2018PANHANDLING\u2019 when they ask him to buy lemonade from their stand while he is walking his dog!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/connecticut\/across-ct\">Connecticut Patch<\/a> reader Lisa\u2019s neighbor is a little like Gladys Kravitz from the old \u201cBewitched\u201d sitcom who couldn\u2019t resist sticking her nose in when things seemed amiss at the Stephens home.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur next-door neighbors are very nosy. They are always trying to find out what is happening at our house under the guise of caring and wanting to help,\u201d Lisa said. \u201cThe police came by one day on a routine matter and they were in their yard watching and calling out to the police to come over to them while they were still talking to us!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the two officers did go over there and came back to tell us that they were asking what was happening,\u201d Lisa went on. \u201cHe told them there was nothing to be concerned about. Later they called to make sure everything was okay. We said it was.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGOSSIPING!\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/new-jersey\/berkeley-nj\">Berkeley (New Jersey) Patch <\/a>reader D said of annoying neighbor traits. \u201cI had a tree removed because it was infested and destroyed by <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/us\/across-america\/spotted-lanternflies-are-back-what-do-if-you-see-them\">spotted lanternflies<\/a>. A week later, I see comments on social media by friends of the gossiping neighbor that the tree was cut down so I wouldn\u2019t have to rake leaves. Needless to say, I no longer speak to the old witch.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>\u2018Threatened To Shoot Me\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>Jen\u2019s neighbors may have crossed the line from annoying to menacing. Jen\u2019s problems with her new neighbors began when they cut branches from her tree, explaining they were \u201changing over their property,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/nazareth\">Nazareth (Pennsylvania) Patch<\/a> reader explained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>When she complained to the man, his wife came outside and \u201cthreatened to shoot me,\u201d Jen said. \u201cThis was our first meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The tree was a living symbol of friendship planted by Jen\u2019s old neighbors along their shared property line.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is now cut down by the new people,\u201d she said. \u201cAlso, she watches me with a camera and runs out to take pictures if I go near her property. She is also very big on declaring that she called the police on me. With all the problems in the world, I wish my neighborhood was a comfortable haven,\u201d Jen said, adding, \u201cI live in fear and sadness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSad Hermit,\u201d a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/california\/palmdesert\">Palm Desert (California) Patch<\/a> reader, also has a neighbor who \u201cbehaves like a Karen, is a busy body, spreads rumors and lies, and also graffiti and trash, like knives and beer bottles thrown into my property.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>How does Sad Hermit deal with all of that?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>\u201cNot well,\u201d the reader said, explaining the neighbor\u2019s actions trigger fear, nightmares and other symptoms of PTSD after the death of a child.<\/p>\n<h3>\u2018Miss Understanding\u2019 Really Doesn\u2019t<\/h3>\n<p>Try living next to someone\u2019s personal recreational vehicle storage lot or junkyard, other readers said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI currently have several neighbors that fill their yards with large vehicles, such as contracting trailers, boats, large motor homes, jet skis, etc. I have seen five or six items per yard,\u201d another <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/\">Patch<\/a> reader said. \u201cAdditionally, neighbors run businesses such as contracting, landscaping, boat storage and automobile repair shops from their homes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Neighbors have tried to talk to the offenders, but \u201cthis ends in an argument and does not resolve the situation,\u201d the reader said, adding that township officials have done little to enforce their ordinances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHarassment usually occurs when you report them,\u201d the reader said. \u201cIt is very frustrating for the community, as these are very unsafe conditions No one should have to live near these homes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/virginia\/centreville\">Centreville (Virginia) Patch<\/a> reader calls herself \u201cMiss Understanding\u201d because she\u2019s been asked to overlook what annoys her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy neighbors have a garage full of stuff and too many cars so they park in front of my house, making my front yard look like a used car lot. The mail carrier has yelled at me because he doesn\u2019t have access to my mailbox. Trash and recycling aren\u2019t picked up because cars are in the way,\u201d the reader said.<\/p>\n<p>When she tries to talk to them about it, \u201cthey say they hope I understand they don\u2019t have enough room in their driveway for three cars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, I don\u2019t understand!\u201d she said. \u201cClean out your two-car garage and you\u2019d be amazed at how much space you have in your driveway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/t\/ct\/fairfield-ct\">Fairfield (Connecticut) Patch<\/a> reader Amy said she reported her neighbor for paying the trash pickup driver extra to pick up items that are not allowed, such as used motor oil, mattresses and construction debris.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>\u201cI watched a guy jump on a twin mattress to force it into the compactor,\u201d Amy said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/illinois\/oaklawn\">Oak Lawn (Illinois) Patch<\/a> reader Slim spoke for many about a neighbor who \u201ctakes zero pride in the upkeep of his property.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe house literally looks abandoned. Dead trees. Weeds as tall as the house. Gutters falling off. He just doesn&#8217;t care,\u201d Slim said. \u201cI will never understand why someone will not take care of their biggest investment! Meanwhile, I pay a big mortgage payment to live next to all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Smokers, Tokers And Fire Stokers<\/h3>\n<p>Secondhand smoke, from tobacco but also from weed, is a big rub among survey respondents. Recreational cannabis may be legal in nearly half of U.S. states, but that doesn\u2019t mean it should be smoked with disregard for neighbors, several readers said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt annoys me that I can\u2019t enjoy my yard without the smell of weed,\u201d said Staceface, a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/new-jersey\/woodbridge\">Woodbridge (New Jersey) Patch<\/a> reader. \u201cIt infuriates me that the smoke drifts into my son\u2019s bedroom at night. He has asthma and the smoke triggers it, reducing the sleep we all get.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OwingsMillsReisterstownMDPatch\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Owings Mills-Reisterstown (Maryland) Patch<\/a> reader is annoyed by the chain smoker on the other side of the condo wall. The smoke \u201cseeps into our own living space,\u201d and the neighbor seems to have \u201can incessant need for attention over everything coming out of our house, like us talking normally, and also blaming us for anything happening wrong in their unit, like a broken [garbage disposal].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Isle, a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/virginia\/kingstowne\">Kingstowne-Rose Hill (Virginia) Patch<\/a> reader, said her neighbor in the cul-de-sac burns newly cut wood from trees he claims are his \u201cat all hours, when he knows all surrounding neighbors have their windows open for fresh air, and also on windy days.\u201d He often leaves the fires unattended, Isle said.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Let The Dogs Out?<\/h3>\n<p>Andrea, who reads <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/california\/imperialbeach\">Imperial Beach (California) Patch<\/a>, tried to talk to her neighbor about his dog, who \u201cbarks no-stop when the owner is gone,\u201d but he \u201cgot rude and defensive\u201d and \u201cturned on me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>H.L.\u2019s neighbor has loud dogs and plays the drums \u201cso loudly I don\u2019t think it\u2019s safe for my dogs\u2019 hearing, let alone their many dogs.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy dog only barks when someone is at the door, thankfully,\u201d said H.L., who reads <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/phoenixville\">Phoenixville Patch,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/norristown\">Norristown Patch<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/limerick\">Limerick-Royersford Patch<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/pottstown\">Pottstown Patch<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/pennsylvania\/malvern\">Malvern Patch <\/a>in Pennsylvania, <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/florida\/newportrichey\">New Port Richey (Florida) Patch<\/a> and several others. \u201cI\u2019m not sure it\u2019s legal to have five dogs and two kids in a three-bedroom home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>\u201cHow about the pigs that leave their dog poop baggies in the street gutter, or along the paths between the cul-de-sacs or the shrubby brambles between properties where no one can witness their disgusting foul droppings?\u201d asked <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/new-jersey\/chatham\">Chatham (New Jersey) Patch<\/a> reader Bill said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t believe there are such selfish irresponsible citizens residing in such an affluent community as Chatham,\u201d Bill said. \u201cIf they take the time to gag and bag it, why in the world can\u2019t they dispose of it properly? I&#8217;m waging my own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0080487\/characters\/nm0000195\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carl Spackler<\/a>-like obsessed mission to find and identify the filthy varmints, the dog owners that is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mickey, who reads <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/illinois\/frankfort\">Frankfort Patch<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/illinois\/mokena\">Mokena Patch<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/illinois\/newlenox\">New Lenox Patch<\/a>, all in Illinois, has a solution for the Carl Spackler wannabe. \u201cReturn the poop to the neighbor\u2019s yard,\u201d Mickey said.<\/p>\n<h3>\u2018What\u2019s The Worst That Could Happen?\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>Junie, a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/minnesota\/woodbury\">Woodbury (Minnesota) Patch<\/a> reader, hit an annoying neighbor trifecta but tries to keep good humor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have one neighbor whose dog never stops barking when it\u2019s outside, another who brings out the <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/us\/across-america\/fall-leaf-warriors-vs-mind-your-own-business-crowd-block-talk\">leaf blower nearly<\/a> every day year round, and an HOA narc,\u201d Junie said. \u201cIt\u2019s annoying, but I guarantee there are things about us that annoy them, too. It\u2019s just something we chuckle about privately, roll our eyes, and move on. They won\u2019t be our neighbors forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_HTMLContent__LDG2k\">\n<p>Scott, a <a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/new-york\/huntington\">Huntington (New York) Patch<\/a> reader, said the concept of an annoying neighbor is a two-sided coin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy neighbors are great. I\u2019m actually pretty lucky \u2014 they were there to support us when we had a house fire, and any little annoyances are on me because I just generally am not a people person,\u201d Scott said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody ticks off somebody else at some point in their lives,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of my neighbors has his sprinkler on my driveway, what\u2019s the worst freaking thing that could happen?\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>About Block Talk<\/h3>\n<p>Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette \u2014 and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you&#8217;d like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with \u201cBlock Talk\u201d as the subject line.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/us\/across-america\/topics\/block-talk\"><strong>Catch up on Block Talk<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox.<!-- --> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/patch.com\/subscribe\" class=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><time datetime=\"2024-08-30T20:13:54Z\">Posted <!-- -->Fri, Aug  30, 2024 at 4:13 pm ET<\/time><span class=\"styles_Dateline__divider--hide-on-mobile__v2byZ\"><span class=\"styles_Card__LabelDivider__wRVKo\">|<\/span><\/span><time datetime=\"2024-08-30T20:53:30Z\">Updated <!-- -->Fri, Aug  30, 2024 at 4:53 pm ET<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/patch.com\/us\/across-america\/annoying-neighbors-let-us-count-ways-readers-say-block-talk?utm_source=article-mostrecent&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_term=community%20corner&#038;utm_campaign=recirc&#038;utm_content=aol\">Source link <\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ACROSS AMERICA \u2014 Unless you actually want your neighbors to talk smack behind your back, take a little pride in the upkeep of your property, stop being nosy, smoke your&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30536"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30538,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30536\/revisions\/30538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}