Would I be out of line?

Our neighbors have gotten into the habit of playing the radio when they are outside and I don't like it. Besides erasing all pleasure that I would get outside, I can also hear it in the house. Would I be out of line to ask them to turn the radio down? If it would be o.k., how do I go about doing it effectively?

It's called noise pollution and I bet you have an ordinance that covers it. He** yes you have the right to ask them to turn it down. I just really get miffed at rude people. Just do it with as much sugar as you can muster and it should be fine. Here's wishing you luck!

Marcia

Might want to take a pan of brownies when you go visit them. Are they new in the neighborhood? Tell them that when you are out working in your yard/garden that you pray alot, and the music distracts you. Or tell them that you suffer severe headaches, and that "yard therapy" has been recommended to help with the pain. Or tell them that when you are outside that you would like them to come join you, but also add that DH, has banned you from the house because of severe gas, and you get "relief" outside. LOL, on a serious note, I would approach them and let them know that I enjoy music, but would appreciate them lowering the volume. Several years ago, we had a budding band 2 houses down, and they practiced every night, but didn't begin until about 9:00 p.m. and continued into the wee hours. I went over while practice was in session, and told them it was bothering me. They still continued. Then I went one morning to talk to the home owner one on one, and thought that we had the problem solved. Several nights later, they started practicing at 12:00 a.m. (for spite probably) and I called the police. After the police visit, we had no more problem, but they didn't ever speak to us again. So however you approach it, the outcome may not be pleasant. But hey, you are entitled to your peace and quiet.

These people aren't new, in fact, they were here before us. It's the daily radio that is new. My big problem is that I don't have an assertive cell in my body. Neither does DH.

My neighbor was blasting some Kenny G. one night so I cranked up Rob Zombie for a few cuts. She toned it down and so did I. PEACE through superior firepower.

LOL Frankay, Kelli I could come over and sing along to their music - I promise that would take the joy out of it for them!

Radio headphones are a wonderful alternative. I'll use them when I want to listen to the local gardening show on Saturday mornings or just some music I'm in the mood for while working away in the garden. The one I have has both a top and a back strap that keeps it on no matter how I bend or duck my head. I don't recall the exact cost but it wasn't all that much. I'm not sure how you can convince them to try it, but it could be a possible alternative to ruining the neighborhood peace.

Oh, Kelli, I've been in your shoes on a number of occasions, but none of them persisted long enough for me to get my nerve up to do anything about it. It is a strange question to think about: they have the right to listen to their music, but you have your right to go outside your house and enjoy some peace and quiet-- especially a tough question when houses are close together. I know how irritating it can be, so I would suggest you go over and politely ask them if they can turn their radio down. Maybe they don't realize it's bothering you? I'd sure feel bad if I had been bothering my neighbors, and I'd be careful in the future. Couldn't hurt to ask. But if they persist after that, then you have to make a tougher decision...

Our neighbors play their music INSIDE their house so loud, we can hear (and feel) the bass with our windows CLOSED and the TV on! Not to mention their howling dog. We live in the sticks, I don't think there are any kind of ordinanaces out here.

That is very bad. How far away from yours is their house?

My sister lives in a townhouse with it's share of noise interference. The guy who used to live next to her would come down to the basement and blare music while he 'worked out'. Well she works from home answering phones for a company and it sounded like they were calling a nightclub or something, she was very embarrassed. I suggested that since the walls are cinderblock, maybe he didn't know she could hear him. So, being passive like yourself, we waited until we heard him coming down his basement steps and we turned on a 'Sound of Music' soundtrack and belted out the words along with it as off tune as could be. I nearly fainted from trying to keep from laughing, but we heard him high tail it back up the steps and he never played music down there again that we could hear. Of course, he and his girlfriend never looked at us without giggling and running inside again either, but at least they weren't rude or egging our cars or any of the other horrible things I imagine people will do if I confront them.

Please let us know how you get this worked out. Rachel

You could try a tactic of comraderie......tell them that you were listening to your own music but can't hear it over their music or news show. But I think honesty is best....combined with a whole lot of tact. Just tell them that your time in the garden is for relaxation and it's hard to unwind with someone else's music or news in the background. We have speakers set up outside on our patio to play soft music outside if we are having dinner out there on warm evenings. Sometimes DH turns it up too loud ... at least I think it's too loud and I get embarrassed and tell him to be more considerate of the neighbors. DH likes the music outside, but the neighbor's right to peace and quiet should aways prevail. If anyone ever told me the music bothered them, I'd make sure DH never played it above a whisper again! You never know....your neighbor may just not be aware that they are playing it loud enough to carry into the next garden.

-Julie

Kelli, I think honesty is the best way. Go over and be as embarassed and shy as you normally are and maybe they'll not be so offended. Just tell them that you are embarassed, that you don't mean to be rude or offend them, but you just HAVE to ask them if they can turn it down, just a little. Say that you just weren't sure if they knew how loud it was. If they get offended, then you might have to get nastier. You'll feel like it too if you've tried it the nice way first.

I'm a little bit of both. I go outside and love to just hear the sounds of the birds and airplanes, or nothing. Then somedays I go out and turn on the radio. I do try and make sure no one else is outside, or that I don't have it extremely loud. I'll walk around to various parts of the yard and see if I can still hear it. My neighbor's family were recently over swimming and their kids are so HORRID to each other, yelling and fighting and near cursing. I got so tired of it that I did crank up my radio so we didn't have to listen.

Frankay, that's too funny! I think RZ would send the message out! I've had on Kid Rock and others and had to keep running to turn it down before certain songs or lyrics, so I resorted to just the radio. Pantera would be my "big gun". :)

Do you have at least a friendly, "wave and say hi" rapport with these neighbors? I agree with these folks -- Just be yourself, tell them you hate to even have to mention it. Many times people just don't know their music's a nuisance.

Today I said something. He was working close to the fence between our properties. I asked if he could do me a favor and turn down the radio. (He listens to talk on weekdays.) He had no problem with that and turned it down right away. I gave him a bag of lemons. He said that his daughter will like that. So far, so good.

Whew... glad the anticipation stress has been lifted.The lemons were a very nice thought!

Hey it sounds like it worked great! Bravo for you, I'm glad you were able to settle this, at least for today. I agree, the lemons were a nice touch.

Great!

Way to go Kelli! I bet he thinks you're a great neighbor....not only politely asking him to turn it down, but bringing him a neighborly gift from your garden too! And if he and his daughter like the lemons, he might just keep you in mind the next time he plays the radio outdoors :-)

-Juile

Wow.... I'm turning mine up till someone brings me lemons.....

Glad it worked out Kelli......

VS....ROTFL! Well, that's not exactly what I meant about keeping Kelli in mind :-D

-Julie

Yay, you lucked out! :)

LOL vs!!!

Well lucky you, Kelli! Glad it worked out for all.

I like the sounds of nature in the mornings but when out after lunch, CD's are loaded and playing in the garage.. Sometimes it's probably audible to more than the family inside I certainly don't want to bother anyone but then again, besides the kids I'm the only one thats outside nearly everyday. I haven't called the cops about the kids screaming and yelling or the basketball in the street that I can hear thump, thump, thump in my bedroom so I figure it's a trade off. Besides that, then there's also the barking dogs that just happen to be behind me on either side. I just gripe to myself about them because in the fall they're in for some LOUD hours (daylight only) when I've got the 8hp chipper shredder fired up and going through 200+ bags of leaves I drag home. What goes around comes around.

Oh - one time I was in bed trying to watch TV and struggled to hear it even after cranking it way up. I went outside and realized it was house behind me. I went around front and pounded on the door. He answered with a smile and kind of surprised. I DID ask if he could hear my TV and he said no. "Well neither can I, would you mind turning that down?" That was it. We still wave when I drive by and I've never heard his home stereo again.

What is interesting to me is that people all over the country have had problems. DH seemed to think it was just a CA thing, though his mom in TX has neighbors who have their moments some times.

Oh, it's definitely not just a California thing! There's a house a whole block down from us which occasionally thumps and jitters so much from the stereo woofers within, we're sure it will sometime vibrate clean off its foundation and roll down the hill.

We used to live in an apartment building and knew when the young couple upstairs were "doing it" Kind of like the Forrest Gump thing. LOL
Now we have new neighbors and the lady is always screaming at the man or her grandkids. We have come to expect it every day.
Her hsuband goes outside on the weekends and spends the whole day mowing the lawn. He must go over it ten or so times because it is not big at all. I think he just does it so he doesn't have to be inside with her listening to her scream.
I hate to have the weekend ruined with the mowing noise, but prefer that to her constant yelling.

Rudeness is universal these days.