What should i do about my annoying neighbour ?

Question

Ok so I'm 14 year old boy and i love to play football. I live in a residential area and my one neighbour next door is really annoying. So me and friends being 14 years old boys like to play football and skateboard outside 'my house' on the road. And we are not those kind of teenagers which all you old people here about (the trouble causing ones) we do nothing wrong, all we are doing is having a bit of fun cause that's what kids do. We pick up the ball in advance before a car comes and go on the pavement. So recently, my neighbour has started coming out and saying go away and don't play here, when there is clearly no where else to go and we are outside my house not his. So m one friend said politely, The ball isnt going anywhere near your car or house and we are hardly making any noise. So he starts shouting at us , cursing and threatening to call the police when we have done nothing wrong! Now this is happenning every time i go out now and he is constantly watching us threw his window, he has even come out and taken our skateboards! Grr sometimes old ppl can be so annoying. So wat should i do??

Answer 1

Ignore him. Let him call the police. What are they going to do? Arrest you for playing in front of your house?

He COULD claim that you did something, but he'd have to prove it.

Plus, if the police are called, you COULD tell the police that you feel threatened by this person.  

Answer 2

You know he has been set off in anger about the situation.  So you must have been doing it alot and making quite a bit of noise.

He feels that the part of the road outside his house is still his domain.  Having kids outside whether REALLY LOVELY GOOD BOYS or not WILL anger him because he has a certain expectation of how his life goes on inpeacefull surroundings.

What you have to do is prove to him that you mean no harm.  And this may mean you have to limit your football directly outside his house and say sorry.

Buy him a box of Celebrations and say sorry.  Tell him you will try to be quieter and that you wont get the ball near his car or plants.

You know life is a risk and this might not work.  BUT you could if you do this be responsible for changing this mans mind about young people and your ability to be approachable and make an effort to respect his feelings.

TELL YOUR PARENTS what you decide to do and don't go in his house.

Answer 3

an elderly person wants peace and quiet in their own home and rightly so in fact its anyones right not just the elderly. The laughing and yelling will no doubt annoy after a while. As you are 14 you are all big enough to 'play' elsewhere.  There must be a park or playground nearby.  If not maybe one of your parents could drive you.  I think more respect for the elderly should be given

Answer 4

Another vote for telling your parents. It is illegal for him to harass you!!!

I admire you and your friends trying to handle the situation respectfully.

Rule of law: it is a public road. If a police man or woman came out and had a talk with HIM it would be a good idea. Hopefully you have a parent or guardian who will stick up for you. If he were my neighbour and I your guardian, I would not go talk to him myself--he could start a fight or call police and say I was tresspassing. I would simply ask the police to have a word, and any whose skateboards are not returned, then press charges against him, if he wants to be a complete git.

Stealing your skate boards is just that stealing!

Good luck, mate. Don't let the old sod get you down!

Answer 5

Only one way; communication. You need to go over and talk to your neighbor with your parents and the other boys and come to a meeting of the minds. You give a bit, he gives a bit, you can reach a compromise if you talk to him like an adult and be very respectful and conscientious.

Answer 6

Try to get your parents involved and work with this guy. If that doesn't work, sue him. That will keep him busy. Before you sue him for harassment and confiscating your skateboards, check or have an adult check if there are any restrictions in your neighborhood for playing on the street. People hate to be sued it really gets their goat.

There is negotiation as well, and maybe helping this guy with his grass, washing his car or house chores. But if you can't reach a middle ground, take him to court. That's what the Justice of the Peace is for.

Answer 7

I think the first answer has the right idea. You and your parents should probably go over and have a talk with the man. Make sure it's not immediately after one of his outburst because you and he may both be a little too upset to talk rationally. If you and your dad or mom were to catch him off guard and gently confront him with his actions, you might stand a better chance of finding out what is really behind his peculiar behavior and maybe come to a compromise that would allow you and friends to play and him to have his way at the same time.

Good luck and don't let the old guy push your buttons to the point that you really do something you shouldn't.

Answer 8

it may be that you are in his line of vision and he finds it annoying

Answer 9

FIRSTLY DON'T IGNORE HIM AND CARRY ON! TELL YOUR PARENTS THE SITUATION ,ASK YOUR PARENT TO GO WITH YOU TO TALK TO THIS ELDERLY NEIGHBOUR,HE IS YOUR NEIGHBOUR YOU DONTWANT ALL THAT FALLING OUT AND GETTING THE POLICE ,DONT BE RUDE TO HIM OR CHEECKY,IT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE NO RESPECT,HOPEFULLY HE WILL SEE YOU IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT IF YOU GO AND SPEAK TO HIM .

Answer 10

They have no right to do that.  Obviously the old f**t has nothing else to do with his miserable existence.  

You have a right to play on the street, and it's none of his business so long as you aren't damaging his property or anything.  Have a cop go to his door and tell him not to harrass you guys no more.  

That ought to shut him up.

Answer 11

it's so sad when an innocent 14 yr old gets picked on by a geriatric - yeah right!

Answer 12

Tell your parents what is going on.  If the neighbor takes your skateboard, immediately run to your home and tell your parents what he did.  He is harassing you, and he needs to stop.

Answer 13

Wow if you aren't making any loud annoying noise to disturb him then I'm wondering why he is getting mad?  You need to get your parents involved to find out why he is so upset.  If you are quiet then the police can't do anything to you guys.

Most older people loose patience as they age and hopefully your parents can reason with him.  

Answer 14

As a person who lived next to a boy who loved to play football in his back yard, I can see partly, your neighbours point of view. He used to bash the ball against my fence panels endlessly and keep shouting etc late at night. However, I know that children have a right to play too and think that this could easily get out of hand. You should be aware that if your ball damages any neighbouring property or you cause a car accident on the road, even if it was an accident, then you, or if you are too young, your parents, can be held liable to pay compensation. You could even have an anti social behaviour order imposed on you in an extreme case. I suggest you ask your parents if they would be willing to speak to your neighbour, to come to some sort of agreement. You should consider that this neighbour has the right to a peaceful life though and regardless of his age, he may well have the law on his side.  

Answer 15

Have your parents go over there and get your skateboards back. Or have them call the police to go and get them back.

Your parents could even press charges for harassment against him.

Answer 16

you should tell your parents to talk to him and see if he has a bad past like a deaf of a wife or a wife cheating, it could be anything like bugs in his house or like he is g*y or something. or maybe he just has a grudge on you. idk i'm only 11.