My passive-agressive neighbors

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 18, 2006, 2:10 am

I moved into my new apt a few months ago...nice place, great sunsets as I am overlooking the valley...a bit smallish, but I dig on the place so far...I have even made good friends of both my downstairs and next door neighbors....well, the neighbors on one side, that is.

I have only seen these other neighbors a handful of times, as we keep different schedules it seems...even exchanged hellos when I first moved in...quiet younger couple.

For the last month, they have had a digital camera on a mini tripod in their living room window (all balconies face west) which seems to point directly at my balcony. Kinda wrote it off as them taking sunset pics and leaving the camera on the sill by accident.

I am not so sure now...

First off, whenever I go out to smoke, I hear the window or sliding glass door of their place slam, hard. Now, that's cool if they have issues about the smoke, but I am talking aggressive slams here...how annoying! But all that is just random, nothing really to get under my skin--even the creepy camera...not like I am throwing loads off of the balcony or anything (yet). Maybe they have one of those wacky 'candid' websites. I know the Japanese love the cocksuckers, but I believe these folks are Korean.

So to the reason for my latest concern...

At about 9:00 tonight, I just get done watching Serenity, which does have rather deep lows on the sub. I go to check my email and hear a knock on the door... Fucking Sherriff says there has been a noise complaint but of course there was no noise at the time of his arrival so he was promptly dismissed...poor bastard must be a rookie to have to deal with retarded calls like that.

No real harm done, but that shit is irritating, especialy since there is no noise statute or whatnot till 10. Even so, I was not blazing the fucking movie that loud! Dios mio man.

Is this the kind of shit you do to your neighbor? Sure, if I was an asshole and constantly causing them grief...but really. I have done nothing to these peeps, yet they cannot even post a fucking note on my door? Why cops? WTF?

I will take a pic of the camera in a few...batteries charging.. mucho creepy.

I have not confronted them yet...gonna see if they act even wierder. I am a pretty good fucking neighbor. I bbq, provide booze and generally try to make friends with everyone. I even asked some other folks in general area if they had made the call and got general responses of 'that seems rather unneighborly of whoever did that', etc... the clincher was that as I was rapping with some other neighbors via balcony, the fuckers slam the windows again....

Last week, someone was pounding on the common wall as well...I was not playing anything loud...I guess they just don't like me...but really, who calls the cops on neighbors without first trying to be adult about a complaint? Especially with a baseless complaint??? meh

http://home.comcast.net/~volforeen/Picture.jpg

Trek · Post by **Trek** » June 18, 2006, 2:43 am

Give them a cat

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 18, 2006, 2:44 am

At about 9:00 tonight, I just get done watching Serenity, which does have rather deep lows on the sub....

No real harm done, but that shit is irritating, especialy since there is no noise statute or whatnot till 10. Even so, I was not blazing the fucking movie that loud!

Bass doesn't have to be loud to be annoying. No matter if it's past 10:00 or not. That's the most annoying part of apartment living. I can't wait to get a house and get the hell out of here!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 18, 2006, 2:49 am

Point is that a decent person would either:

A: Wait till after 10 so their reason are justified
B: Say something to me????

I mean really, calling the cops right off is a sure sign of being an asshat. Apparently, they figure to be anon, which is fine. I will have satisfaction!

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 18, 2006, 2:55 am

Canelek wrote:Point is that a decent person would either:

A: Wait till after 10 so their reason are justified
B: Say something to me????

I mean really, calling the cops right off is a sure sign of being an asshat. Apparently, they figure to be anon, which is fine. I will have satisfaction!

I disagree with point A. That's basically saying they don't have a valid complaint about the noise being too loud simply because it's not past 10:00. Now I have no idea how loud and low your bass was and whether it really was annoying. Apparently to someone it was... All I'm trying to say is there is such a thing as common courtesy to your neighbors regardless of what time it is.

Oh and that camera thing is a bit creepy. Call the cops (ha!) and tell them they are stalking you.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 18, 2006, 3:06 am

Absolutely. I try to be a good neighbor. Thing is, that shit just was not loud. Now, different people have different views, and that is cool. Also, some folks just love calling cops on others at the slightest incovenience.

As far as bass--that does indeed carry, but my sub is on the opposite wall and was just plain not turned up loud. Jeez, I almost want to play the same games and buy a sub that forces people to poop themselves.

Back to the peeping thing...well, unless they are hot into folks that are getting a bit flabby due to PT rehab...more power to them--maybe I will give them something to look at. ><

Talac · Post by **Talac** » June 18, 2006, 3:07 am

That camera would probably freak me out... I would probably just bare all towards it everytime I went out to smoke though.

As far as the noise complaint goes... that's just dickheadish to begin with. Noise is something that you have to deal with in any apartment no matter where you go. It's an unwritten fact of fucking life. The people above me stomp around all day and night but they have kids... kids do that. Life goes on.

Apologize to your other neighbors first and then turn the bass up louder.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » June 18, 2006, 3:30 am

Canelek wrote:Absolutely. I try to be a good neighbor. Thing is, that shit just was not loud. Now, different people have different views, and that is cool. Also, some folks just love calling cops on others at the slightest incovenience.

As far as bass--that does indeed carry, but my sub is on the opposite wall and was just plain not turned up loud. Jeez, I almost want to play the same games and buy a sub that forces people to poop themselves.

Back to the peeping thing...well, unless they are hot into folks that are getting a bit flabby due to PT rehab...more power to them--maybe I will give them something to look at. ><

Make noise complaints about yourself from a pay phone every day. You'll just get black listed. /nod self.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 18, 2006, 3:52 am

I had a similar situation with a downstairs neighbor once, they complained aobut everything. I once had 4 or 5 people over and we were hanging out listening to music at like 3 or 4 on my stereo and they called the cops on us. When the cops got there they were surprised, like wtf are you sure you guys aren't sacrificing babies and screaming at the top of your lungs?!

My roommate was a bartender and they'd call the the front office to complain about him closing the door when he got home from work at 3 or 4 am.

We actually ended up getting an eviction notice from that place, but I forwarded it onto a lawyer friend who made one phone call to the place and they then changed their minds.

I hate apartments!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 18, 2006, 5:33 am

Point a camera back at them.

I have to say, I'd be pretty pissed if smoke was coming in my window from a neighbor smoking. There's nothing illegal about it so I'd pretty much consider myself shit out of luck and try to move as soon as possible...but in the meantime, I'd call in noise complaints to try to get the smoker evicted. : )

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » June 18, 2006, 5:41 am

every morning go out on your deck buck ass naked with the doors playing on stereo and do that shit martin sheen did in his first scene in apocalypse now.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » June 18, 2006, 6:47 am

Get a cardboard cutout of Mr. T or something and stand it on your balcony pointed right at the camera. You can even leave amusing notes to them each day via the T.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » June 18, 2006, 9:32 am

kyoukan wrote:every morning go out on your deck buck ass naked with the doors playing on stereo and do that shit martin sheen did in his first scene in apocalypse now.

While smoking a fat foul-smelling stogie.

Sendarie · Post by **Sendarie** » June 18, 2006, 12:39 pm

Want to find out if they are recording you?

Go to any local tobacco shop and pick up some papers and a pouch of cig tobacco. Remove it from the package and dump it into a ziplock bag.

Sit out there and roll yourself a fat one couple times a day and tear it up.
..wait for cops.

Wearing a tinfoil hat would be a fun bonus.

Expose yourself and you'll prolly be looking for a new home after you have payed whatever fines.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 18, 2006, 12:57 pm

Sendarie wrote:Expose yourself and you'll prolly be looking for a new home after you have payed whatever fines.

And end up on the sex offenders list. Bonus!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 18, 2006, 1:51 pm

I like the Mr T cutout idea.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » June 18, 2006, 3:44 pm

I used to have a friend with a Clint Eastwood cut-out. Startled me every time I walked past it in their apartment.

Neighbors suck. That's why I am anti-social.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » June 18, 2006, 4:30 pm

Sirensa wrote:Neighbors suck. That's why I am anti-social.

Amen sister!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 18, 2006, 4:59 pm

On the other hand my 'good' neighbors invited me over for a beer or 9 this morning...damned if I wasn't tempted, but my apt is a fuckin wreck. I be cleaning today. Need to find cardboard cutout now...maybe craigslist.

Hoarmurath · Post by **Hoarmurath** » June 18, 2006, 9:28 pm

Damn, and I just recently tossed out my 6-foot tall cardboard cutout of Gandalf!

The camera is creepy, I suppose I'd just point one back at them.

Trek · Post by **Trek** » June 18, 2006, 11:56 pm

If you trounce around naked they will just tell the police they recorded you to prove your behavior. The tobacco in a baggy is a great idea tho. Personally I would invest in a good pellet gun and shoot it out one night from a different location, but that because I live in Nevada

Breagen · Post by **Breagen** » June 19, 2006, 6:59 am

One of my friends has a GWB cutout that he would put a cowboy hat on and place behind random doors in his house. Used to freak me out for a couple weeks everytime it would move.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » June 19, 2006, 9:17 am

Dude, you are going to have to lose a shit ton of weight if you are going to be able to sit out and tan on that balcony.

If you can't find a cardboard cutout, look for one of those med school type skeletons or something similar. Hang it right there on the balcony and put clothes on it. Change thenm every couple days......and stuff the pants so it has an enormous bulge. Let them get their money's worth out of that camera. Hell, every time you went out to smoke you could light one up and put it in the skele's mouth too....just so you don't have ot smoke alone. Don't forget to name it Gonar.

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » June 19, 2006, 10:57 am

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:Dude, you are going to have to lose a shit ton of weight if you are going to be able to sit out and tan on that balcony.

If you can't find a cardboard cutout, look for one of those med school type skeletons or something similar. Hang it right there on the balcony and put clothes on it. Change thenm every couple days......and stuff the pants so it has an enormous bulge. Let them get their money's worth out of that camera. Hell, every time you went out to smoke you could light one up and put it in the skele's mouth too....just so you don't have ot smoke alone. Don't forget to name it Gonar.

Medical skeletons suck.
Our 2nd server room is in the middle of the Xray department, and in the room we have to go through, there is a skeleton. Freaked me out a few times till i got used to bumping into it in a dark room at 2 AM

A medical training doll will be great too, those can really scare people. Just one of those, a gag knife, and some ketchup, and youre good to go

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » June 19, 2006, 10:59 am

Personally, I would take a moment to ask them why the fuck they feel the need to photograph through my window.

Deward · Post by **Deward** » June 19, 2006, 11:13 am

Go buy one of those cheapo blow-up dolls from your local sex store. I am sure you can find one for less than twenty bucks. Put a string bikini on it so they can't claim indeceny and put it right in front of their camera.

As Winnow stated, it is probably the smoking that is doing it and I must say that it would annoy me as well. I used to smoke occasionally (heavy at times) and now the smell of it just bothers me for some reason, especially in the mornings. If I was forced to close my windows to avoid the smell then I would be pretty pissed off too. Dump the habit and they might be friendlier.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » June 19, 2006, 1:51 pm

file a harassment complaint with the apartment office and the sherrifs dept.

cadalano · Post by **cadalano** » June 19, 2006, 3:25 pm

uh obviously they are challenging you

buy a bigger camera and face it towards their balcony

Kwonryu DragonFist · Post by **Kwonryu DragonFist** » June 19, 2006, 3:36 pm

What Cadalano said!

IT'S A CHALLENGE!

BIGGER CAMERA AND YOU WIN!!!!

Xyphir · Post by **Xyphir** » June 19, 2006, 4:34 pm

Have you tried talking to them and asking why they slam the window? It might be worth a shot. Does any of your other neighbors know anything about them? How long have they been there? Have they called the cops on anyone else?

Regarding the camera, yeah, that's pretty creepy. You could always put up a barrier on your balcony preventing the camera from 'looking' in your direction. Maybe you could have the whole A Team... Face, Murdoch, Hannibal... I'm surprised I can name that many.

GO GO A TEAM! I always loved how the jeeps would roll over twenty times, blow up, and the guy would crawl out from underneath.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 19, 2006, 5:43 pm

This should do! Might take awhile to save up enough though.

The "Big Guy" is Canon's largest EOS prime lens, a ridiculously huge 1200mm monstrosity. There are only about ten of these things in existence. Sports Illustrated owns two of them. Generally speaking you have to be a major corporation to even think about buying one, as they're individually hand milled in Japan to the tune of about USD$80,000 each.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » June 19, 2006, 7:01 pm

Xyphir wrote:Have you tried talking to them and asking why they slam the window? It might be worth a shot. Does any of your other neighbors know anything about them? How long have they been there? Have they called the cops on anyone else?

Regarding the camera, yeah, that's pretty creepy. You could always put up a barrier on your balcony preventing the camera from 'looking' in your direction. Maybe you could have the whole A Team... Face, Murdoch, Hannibal... I'm surprised I can name that many.

GO GO A TEAM! I always loved how the jeeps would roll over twenty times, blow up, and the guy would crawl out from underneath.

There's Hannibal Smith, Murdoch and Face. B. A. Barraccus you know each one is an ace. They're the A-TEAM!

Now, if you read that sentence to the tune of the jingle from the commercials hawking the figures then congratulations, your childhood was as much of a product of consumer whorism as mine was!

Post by **Xouqoa** » June 19, 2006, 7:38 pm

Aslanna wrote:

This should do! Might take awhile to save up enough though.

The "Big Guy" is Canon's largest EOS prime lens, a ridiculously huge 1200mm monstrosity. There are only about ten of these things in existence. Sports Illustrated owns two of them. Generally speaking you have to be a major corporation to even think about buying one, as they're individually hand milled in Japan to the tune of about USD$80,000 each.

Will that fit on my Digital Rebel?

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » June 19, 2006, 7:39 pm

I thought we had some code added in that wouldn't fuck up the width of the whole thread!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 19, 2006, 8:52 pm

I'll put the pic in link form as I am too lazy to modify size.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » June 19, 2006, 8:58 pm

have you done what i've said yet rich or are you still going about this the wrong way

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 19, 2006, 11:34 pm

Xouqoa wrote:
Aslanna wrote:
The "Big Guy" is Canon's largest EOS prime lens, a ridiculously huge 1200mm monstrosity. There are only about ten of these things in existence. Sports Illustrated owns two of them. Generally speaking you have to be a major corporation to even think about buying one, as they're individually hand milled in Japan to the tune of about USD$80,000 each.
Will that fit on my Digital Rebel?

Actually yes it would. That's the beauty about the EOS system. It's an EF mount so it will sit on a Rebel just fine.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » June 20, 2006, 12:14 am

Screw them, if they don't like you smoking... OUTSIDE they can shove it. If it comes in their window then they can... <suspense> TA DA, close the freakin' window. I'm so tired of whiney ass crybabies I want to puke. It's a free country, if you don't like it change the channel, close the window, move etc... Outside is outside.

My mom is living in an apt for the first time in 50 years probably. She loves it but the upstairs neighbors are obviously loud. They have a small child and the guy walks really heavy. Before that she had 3 college guys living above her and guess what? They had parties (not huge ones) they stayed up late etc... But you know what? she just chalked it up to living in an apt. After realizing she was cool they would always let her know if people were coming over (which was always on the weekend) and she would just say "that's cool, I'll be watching the late edition of StarGate, SG Atlantis and BSG or playing on the computer, if it gets too loud I'll just turn it up down here

" They lived there about 2 years and always ran out to carry in her groceries when she got back from the store or would help her take out the trash on trash day etc... Sometimes they would even come down and sit on the front porch with her when she smoked (only 1 of them did the other 2 were triathlon guys) and get advice about their girlfriends, life etc... Do you think they would have both enjoyed the relationship that much if my mom had been a bitch the first time they turned up the music? No... would you?

My point is as simple as the first statement really. People need to quit whining about the small stuff. There are MUCH bigger issues for all of us to be worrying about right now.

Marb

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 20, 2006, 12:58 am

Exactly (if smoking is their issue). I have yet to corner them though...will not be mean or anything...just figured I could ask if they would remove the camera....hooked up to USB cable it seems...who knows what they are doing...

It is really the calling of sherriff that bugs me...99% sure it is them. Hell, my apt complex has 10PM-8AM quiet hours and they called the fucking cops at 9PM on a saturday! FFS man...

Anywho, I have pictures of the camera at many angles including inside my apt...they want to fuck with me, they can go right ahead. I have done nothing wrong and last I heard, spying/voyeurism is pretty fucking illegal.

I am so sick of whiney asshats. I treat people around me with respect and expect the same. Why not just exchange pleasantries and go about yer merry fucking time? I get along with all my other neighbors famously. Some people get so involved with their own shit and just figure that they are the center of the ass-eatin' universe.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » June 20, 2006, 8:15 am

Buy a House problem solved, Lock thread please.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 20, 2006, 11:25 am

I'm sure there's gotta be some privacy law or something that they are violating by mounting a camera that points directly into your home.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » June 20, 2006, 11:36 am

Dregor Thule wrote:
Xyphir wrote:Have you tried talking to them and asking why they slam the window? It might be worth a shot. Does any of your other neighbors know anything about them? How long have they been there? Have they called the cops on anyone else?

Regarding the camera, yeah, that's pretty creepy. You could always put up a barrier on your balcony preventing the camera from 'looking' in your direction. Maybe you could have the whole A Team... Face, Murdoch, Hannibal... I'm surprised I can name that many.

GO GO A TEAM! I always loved how the jeeps would roll over twenty times, blow up, and the guy would crawl out from underneath.
There's Hannibal Smith, Murdoch and Face. B. A. Barraccus you know each one is an ace. They're the A-TEAM!

Now, if you read that sentence to the tune of the jingle from the commercials hawking the figures then congratulations, your childhood was as much of a product of consumer whorism as mine was!

Each is sold seperatly with rifles and gear. If there's a problem to face, you know the A-Team's here.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » June 20, 2006, 8:28 pm

Aside of college, when all noise complaints were seen as awards of a sort, I've only had 1 complaint against me in all my years of apartment living. The girl who moved in below me complained about me slamming the door when I come home. She didn't try the cops, because they would have laughed in her ear, but did call the complex management.

I had a couple little sticky notes from the management about it, and they slid a couple copies of the lease agreement under my door, until one day I went to the office and had one of the workers come visit, to demonstrate my door closing technique. It's not like these were ole fashioned wood on wood, either, these were foam filled steel doors, and the frames all had rubber weather seals. She left agreeing that the girl downstairs was being unreasonable, and bitch moved out next month.

My point is that a lot of people have ridiculous expectations about apartment living.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 20, 2006, 11:35 pm

My neighbor slams his door.. And it's most annoying.

However the only real expectation I have for apartment living is that the assholes not boom their fucking bass through my wall. Regardless if it's within "quiet hours" or not. This is an apartment not a dorm. If they don't know the difference then they're not responsible enough to be out on their own and should go move back with mommy and daddy.

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » June 21, 2006, 1:38 am

My worst neigbor by far was a guy who's bedroom window was close to mine, he would leave it open at night. Then in the morning his alarm clock would go off, which didn't bother me b/c he always hit snooze. Then he would get up and leave for work and the alarm would come back on (from snooze) and stay on the entire day. It was the most fucking annoying thing ever. He would do this regularly. I called the apt. management. He stopped shortly thereafter.

rhyae · Post by **rhyae** » June 24, 2006, 11:03 pm

I'm weird about apt noise, but I wait till 11pm before I start throwing shoes at the wall.

If they don't like smoke coming in the window, they can buy a fan.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » June 24, 2006, 11:27 pm

Indeed.

As far as the camera, it disappeared since I was gone last night. If they decide to fuck around some more, I have photos of the cam position in relation to both the interior and exterior of my apt.

The whole thing was more creepily amusing than threatening or offensive.