HELP Crazy Neighbors! (house, fence, yard)

[pinetreelover]

If everyone involved was really interested in maintaining home values, this email chain and post have probably done more damage than icicle lights, irresponsibly parked cars and a shoddy air conditioner combined.

[spacelord75]

I used to live in a townhome development where residents were encouraged to NOT contact neighbors directly regarding covenant issues, b/c I think the HOA wanted to maintain the veil of anonynimity. It seems like the first issue here was the fact that this email was actually shared with you, instead of the HOA simply giving you a notice telling you to take the lights down and stop illegal parking. I did not really think the initial email was very abrasive at all...simply factual and matter-of-fact. You seemed to kind of fly off the handle and take it personally, when it sounds like you were at fault any ways. I agree with the neighbor that lights shouldn't be up past, say February, b/c it looks red-neck, trashy, and lazy. Parking is a serious problem, as it can hinder emergency vehicles from entering a street (this actually happened at my old townhome dev't where someone almost died b/c it took so long for the ambulance to get through all the cars on both sides of the street).

[tom72]

yikes! I read your post and I am BLOWN AWAY that with all the issues we are facing in this day and age people would be that hung up on Christmas lights (and yes I agree with you that icicle lights are a far cry from tacky colored Christmas lights) and Parking!!! WOW! very very sad that these two men obviously have NO LIFE whatsoever!!!! IF parking behind your garage has not bothered the people you share your common drive with then why would someone on the other side of the neighborhood have any right to make such an ordeal out of it. It is also very clear that no one else in the neighborhood agrees with him!

I am also appalled by other posts that agree with such an obviously angry and self absorbed individual. Needmojo, i wish you the best but I would advise you to get away from such negative individuals. I hate that you have to experience this at a time when more important issues are obviously facing our nation.

[aanderson22]

well said Tom
These people (the ones with enough time to worry about who has thier christmas lights up when and parking) seriously need to invtigate some volunteer organizations where thier time could be better spent. sad very sad that we have people petty enough to be so ugly over such minor non-essential issues.

Amy

[Valerie-Lydie]

If there were no HOA, you would probably speak to eachother face to face.

If there were no HOA, you would probably approach eacother and ask politely or put a note on the window of the cars to not leave their cars there at night

If there were no HOA, you would have probably found the solution already

If there were no HOA, you would not become obsessed with what others do or don't, what they can do or can't, what they should do or should not,

If there were no HOA, then you would be happier

To summarise, most HOA are just upsetting people and their privacy.

[joanne_r734]

It is sad that people feel the need to resort to writing nasty emails instead of politely approaching each other. These two men in the original post sound like they need anger management classes

[godawgs78]

I agree completely that the email sent in regards to the Christmas lights was very offensive, to call someone a "lazy ass" is not the way to handle a situation and since when did clear icicle lights become tacky and redneck - wow! i better start being careful with what I hang up in my own house. Used to be that we considered the flashing colored lights and blow up santas as tacky!

and who the heck gives a da** (pardon my french) but are there not more important things to worry about? seriously people!!! and since when did parking behind your driveway in such a way that does not and has not ever impeded neighbors and emergency vehicles become illegal? Sheesh! you people scare me, i am glad I don't live in your neighborhoods

NeedMojo, i feel for ya man, I really do

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Valerie-Lydie

If there were no HOA, you would probably speak to eachother face to face.

We do that anyway. The HOA in our neighborhood doesn't change our relationship with our neighbors.

For someone who hasn't actually lived with an HOA, you seem to have a lot of very strong (and in my experience, inaccurate) opinions.

[jfulcher]

Originally Posted by Valerie-Lydie

If there were no HOA, you would probably speak to eachother face to face.

If there were no HOA, you would probably approach eacother and ask politely or put a note on the window of the cars to not leave their cars there at night

If there were no HOA, you would have probably found the solution already

If there were no HOA, you would not become obsessed with what others do or don't, what they can do or can't, what they should do or should not,

If there were no HOA, then you would be happier

To summarise, most HOA are just upsetting people and their privacy.

If there were no HOA and you couldn't work things out face to face you would have ZERO way of resolving the issue short of some sort of violence.

[Valerie-Lydie]

No I admit, I kind of feel myself become softer on the issue of HOA. After all, they seem to be fun, always something happening there. I am becoming less reluctant, but some really are very expensive...

I also agree that it might not be easy to resolve violence with a particular neighbour if every one is scared by that same neighbour and if there is no HOA.

It's true I have no experience of HOA, my negative thoughts about these were about them limiting me having a pink or yellow house, not about the other stuff that can promote a healthy neighbourhing relationship