Help me with my neighbors please! Pro Smartasses need apply (Cel, E, etc.)

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TommyTheCat

Gonzo Scientist
Intro,
So let me preface this by saying that me and my roomates are at fault sometimes. We are loud people - we're student members of the Audio Engineering Society at Michigan Tech. Search for my "Winter Carnival" thread in Computers/etc. for proof of how serious I am.

But a couple times in the last few weeks we've had neighbors come over and basically "talk" to us (me and my roomate). Both neighbors are older men, probably over 50. Two projects have been taking up our free time between classes and etc. I have been installing a meager stereo system into my vehicle while my roomate has been finishing his modest home stereo setup. So for the past few weeks we've been cutting, routing, and screwing together wood outside the house. It gets loud - but we usually stop around 10pm.

Background on location,
We live in a house that is just across MTU campus (in a small town). Most of our neighbors are families, older people, and profs. We live on the main road, so there's only one house next to us and then the rest up the hill beyond that. It (next house) use to have a group of graduate students renting it but recently the "neighborhood" bought the house and most likely has plans to sell it to a family.

First neighbor,
The first came probably two weeks ago, came down the hill around 10pm and watched us installing the stereo in my car. Just before this we had been running some test tones through the subs and obviously made some noise. After a min or two he half-yelled from a distance:

"Are you guys running a business?"
"No."
"You had the whole neighborhood up last thursday night"
[it was probably a day when we came back from the bar, turned on the stereo and had the front door open for too long]
Walks up to us and then basically repeats a mantra of:
"We welcome students, and we know your landlord"
I tried to ask the guy about noise problems, whether they only occur when the house is opened up (windows, doors, etc.) But he just keeps up his mantra and walks away.

Second neighbor,
2-4pm today we had been tuning and listening to my roomates home stereo. Then we worked on my car at around 5pm. So tonight at around 9:30 maybe, another guy walks down to us when we're working in my hatch and asks my buddy:

"You guys seem to be working out here a lot. You got a business?"
"No, this is just a hobby"
[we can't tell whether he's sincere or not - maybe he doesn't know people who have hobbies like me or you. People who build big stereos or fast cars in their own driveways]
"Look at me - do you have a business?"
"No. We've been working on this for a while. This and my stereo - wanna listen to it?"
"No. I've already heard it. We'll talk about that later"
and he walks away.

What to do?
I'm not really keen on this kind of talk between neighbors. They both, to me, seem to be harassing us and berating us to stop doing what we want to do at all. They tell us to our face that we're welcome, but they don't seem to care to listen to us.

I know the first step is to figure out the noise ordiances of my community. I'm going to email my prof who's the former mayor and get the real info (from him or the local police).

But I want to ask you - how do you deal with people like this? I just dont know how to manipulate/counter older people who feel like they can talk to me like a kid.
 
And dont ask me about the stereo setups just yet. I need to get some pictures and then probably start a thread about my car stereo.

Thanks in advance.
 
Well

First you asshole, how could you ever post smartass's need only apply and NOT include my name, fuck you!

that out of the way it just depends on how you want to approach it.

I'm in College Approach

Neighbor: Are you in a business, is that necessary?

You: It is sir, and this electronics project is vital to my grade

advanced I'm in college approach:

Neighbor: Are you in a business, is that necessary?

You: I am sir, I am conducting experimental research on the use of sonic waves to combat prostate cancer.

Neighbor: But it's loud and we can't sl...

You: Sir! Sir, are you serious? We are saving lives here and you're actually concerned about the 15min of sleep you lose? Fuck your wife! Boy I bet that's been about 10 years in the making, and think of all the prostates, and elderly gentlemen, such as yourself, my research will save. I cannot believe that the "greatest generation" would be so unwilling to sacrifice so little for the common good.

Compton approach:

FUCK YOU NIGGA! What?
 
dropping test tones at 10pmn is out right rude IMO. i'd be that neighbor too.

have some respect.
 
I had a neighbor like this last year. Called the cops when we had a party on friday night (the cops told us who called). So then we approach them the next day, apologize, and say that if we are keeping them up to call us and we'll keep it down/end the party. He said ok that will work. Guess what, next party he calls the cops without calling us first. This guy was completely unreasonable.

It sounds like you have a little more to play with. Be straight with them. Ask them when they go to bed and tell them you will wrap everything up by then. And other than the weekend you will try and keep the partying quiet. Old people are old. They like things their way. Try to make it work without further interference from say police, school, etc.

Or the Asshole in me says next time these guys come down the hill pretend to be really gay and hit on them. Old people are scared of gay people.
 
Sorry Silver...I figured you'd peek in here :) And the vibe I got was - "Is this a business? Because this is a residential area and i'll call the cops or your landlord". It really feels like they're going to use anything against me.

B, I'm talking tones for like 5 min doors/windows sealed. The sun was still out or it was still semi-light out as I recall - perhaps it wasn't even quite 10pm. Not quite ghetto-blasting in my driveway (and I already plan to not play the stereo unless I'm on the road or in an empty parking lot - I know its loud).

edit: The real problem I see is that maybe 2-3 times we have had our home setup going when windows and such were open. Now they're just plain pissed that we might use a drill at 9pm. When I say 10pm I mean we're wrapping and cleaning up at 10pm.
 
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I hate to keep interjecting thoughts, but I want to be as clear as possible. By "Smartasses need apply" I dont mean: "How can I go on being an asshole?" I just honestly find that smartasses are clever enough to deal with all types of people. My main concern is that they've never truely seemed to want to talk about the issue. They didn't talk to me like an adult. Everytime I attempted to ask a question they simply ignored it.

And I am serious about making sure that when we want and have to make noise we do it at appropriate times and levels.
 
That's why you have to go to them. You have to make the effort to show them that you can be mature. They're expecting, as my dad used to put it, "DKFs...dumb fucking kids".

Wouldnt DKFs be ...


Anyway, sounds like your only solution is to kill their dog by blowing out it's eardrums, then place it on their porch with a cheap set of headphones on. They'll get the message.

On a serious note, find out what is the maximum decibel level allowed by law and be sure to stay below it. If they continue to treat you without any respect, ignore them completely. When they walk over to talk to you, pretend like they arent even there. Fuck em. If you're not breaking any laws or ordinances or covenants, fuck em, do what you enjoy doing.
 
Be glad you're not my neighbor.

My neighbor's cats have been disappearing. He wouldn't do something about their spraying, que sera.

I'm sure the cats are ok, living their new lives out.

Anyway, don't make noise after 8:00. There are noise ordinances out there. I used to get the cops called on me for my car exhaust when I got home from work - And the neighbors PRESSED the issue (Of course, they took me to court 7 times)

Your response should be "sorry".

I'm a pain in the ass, but I'm one in the opposite direction of flow. I am very good about leaving people alone.



... Now this asshole on my street with the loud pipe Harley that comes home from the bar everynight waking my ass up.. he's going down.
 
Cookies... are you serious... I can see it now... make sure you dress up like a wilderness girl like in corky romano. "Would you like to buy some cookies".... roflmao. If anything Throw a bar-b-q party and invite the neighbors... works like a charm... everyone loves bar-b-q.

Bottom line, Your attitude should be in place before you try to talk to anyone. Seems to me they are worried about a business moving into their residential neighborhood. (atleast the two you mentioned) As previously stated find out what your local noise ordinances are and abide by them. Cutting and hammering after 7pm is just rude. Older folks tend to like zero noise when they are watching wheel of fortune, deal or no deal, or american idol. They also go to bed incredibly early, and are joyless since they very rarely get to have sex anymore.

After investigating you local laws/ordinances so you have some ground to debate if needed, go and talk to your neighbors. Remember to approach the subject like you would want some annoying individual to approach you. You have to remember while your just renting the house, they OWN theirs and when your gone they get a new set of college kids. They are probably used to having rude typical teenage college kids who throw parties and do stupid shit till all hours of the night, and expect you to be the same. Preconcieved notions are a bitch to overcome, but once you do you'll never lack for a helping hand from the neighbors if you need it.

If after trying to be reasonable doesnt work. Go w/klyphs idea... learn the law... follow it to the letter and ignore them if they try to approach you again. One thing I would be careful of: is it a deed restricted community, if so watch out for the home owners assn. They can force your landlord to evict you weather you pay your rent on time or not.
 
dropping test tones at 10pmn is out right rude IMO. i'd be that neighbor too.

have some respect.

+1.

Find out what the "official quite hours" are in your town. Conduct yourselves accordingly.

Being a smartass will only get you kicked out of your living space and possibly put on probation at school.

Colleges are run by fucktards who do not want to piss off their local communities . . .they have ZERO tolerance for people who act like you and your roomies do.
 
Another method is the counter attack.

"If you keep coming over here and harassing me, I WILL call the police." And go straight back to work. If he ever harasses you again, call the police, get a report, get a restraining order, and smile.

You are dealing with passive agressive people, obviously. So firing back at them like a rabid pitbull will also keep them away. "FUCK YOU FUCK THIS FUCK THAT FUCKING GET THE FUCK OFF MY PROPERTY FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK!!!" At that point they will either assault you or they will remove themselves from your property permanently. Win either way.

Other than that, you aren't kidding anyone when you say you are "tuning" your stereo for hours every day. If it takes you more than 15 minutes you're doing something wrong. And noone changes their setup every day.

Being respectful during the night is a must. Because you can't just be a total ass hat all the time. Follow the noise ordinance. After that, they can kiss your ass.
 
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On a serious note, find out what is the maximum decibel level allowed by law and be sure to stay below it. If they continue to treat you without any respect, ignore them completely. When they walk over to talk to you, pretend like they arent even there. Fuck em. If you're not breaking any laws or ordinances or covenants, fuck em, do what you enjoy doing.

agreed x2
 
[Jim Carey in Liar Liar> Stop breaking the law...ASSHOOOOOOOOOLE![/Jim Carey]

Do you think that anyone other than people interested in music and audio, like yourself, are going to appreciate you making boom boom at any time in the neighborhood?

Its not about the hours that you're doing it, its about the inconvenience and inconsiderateness, created by the situation, to the neighbors at any hour.

When the people pull up next door my college house booming the music at 1p.m. shaking and rattling the music, I'm thinking just as little of them as when they play the music at 10p.m.
 
looks like most of the advice i would have given has already been posted up

go to them and talk to them
apologize for the noise (without putting yourself in a submissive position)
offer up a compromise (offer to keep it down later in the evening, but explain that there will still be noise made, but make it clear that you are offering to work with them)
the BBQ idea is good (but dont throw a raging keger... make it a small civil cook out... have a few friends over... play some classic rock... cans/bottles of beer... burgers/dogs/etc) again approach them and talk with them about the situation
offer to help them out if they need anything done home or car audio related
explain that this is what you are in school for
and the idea about giving them your number so that they can contact you if there is any issues is good too

and if all of that fails and they are still being douches... fuck them then... keep yourself on the right side of the noise laws and ignore the mother fuckers
 
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