What to do with a impatient neighbor?

Question

We live in a quite apartment community, and have a good balcony. We used to talk from the balcony occasionally over the phone, and neighbor yells and screams at us for being loud. Not sure how to react to this, any suggestions?

Sorry guys I had not gotten back much quicker. All of you have given me very sensible ideas. The phone conversation was overseas, so I had to go out I think for a better audibility (which ofcourse I'm never repeating). Maybe I was loud then (didnt realise)

Another incident. I just went to my balcony to water my plants and told mom (she was watching TV) something about a new sprout and guess what I heard a loud 'SHUT UP' from my neighbour. That time I was just talking in my own voice (not screaming definitely). So i really dont know what to do. Cant anyone talk in their own balcony? Well one problem is that our balconies are basically attached. BAD LUCK!!!

I was thinking about putting a sign in balcony that says "Dont Speak" to remind me that balcony is a NO SPEAKING ZONE. Good news is I havent gotten yelled for a week.

My plan is to not talk to him (I think that's no use) & I not a person who can go for a war, but I am going to try to keep it down. What do you say?

Answer 1

hit him on top of the head with a shovel

Answer 2

No offense! I think you are in India, simply because the telephone connections are so bad there, that one has to scream your guts out and the reason you go in the balcony, because from the other end is also the same, you can barely hear them, with all the TV noise, servants,family members talking loud and kids playing in the house, its difficult to hear what the other person is saying, and that's the reason you choose to go in the balcony, and you also mentioned its a quiet apt community, so its not them, its you, your phone and the noise inside your apt that is putting you in this awkward position.
Sorry again, just being honest, didn't mean to be rude.

Answer 3

Before finding fault with others (in this case, your neighbour), look into your own behaviour. Aren't you talking really loud to the disturbance/discomfort of others?

I believe, that people, with some remote exceptions, are generally tolerant and if someone shows intolerance then there must be a good reason for it, like, either he is a mad man or your behaviour is frequently unacceptable.

Analyse yourself:

1. Do you talk real loud?
2. Do you use your balcony very frequently for the phone due to bad connectivity or otherwise?
3. Is it mostly odd times like late night or very early mornings?
4. Does the neighbour has some problems - like a sick person in his house, disturbance to his work etc.?

If after analysing yourself honestly, you find that you are NOT at fault, it is advisable to talk to your neighbour calmly and have understanding with him.

Remember, like you have the freedom to talk the way you want to, he too has freedom to a peaceful environment. Have consideration for others.

Answer 4

I had a neighbor for a while whose patio was about 200 feet from my back door. Even while inside listening to the radio I could hear him talking on his cell phone. Every word. So there are three possibilities:

1. Your neighbors are oversensitive.
2. Your voice is carrying much more than you think because of some bizarre acoustical phenomenon.
3. You're talking more loudly into your phone than you realize (a common problem that I've noticed with many cell phone users).

Answer 5

are u talking loudly on the phone? is it at a late time? If so, go inside ur home. If u r convinced u r not being loud, then the neighbour might be a very disturbed person. just pity him, and ignore him.

Answer 6

well, first off all, ask yourself honestly, "how loud "are you but if your neighbor yells at you turn it around and ask for some respect toward you self and offer a CALM solution, if that don't work take it to the Management. but Make sure you yourself stay calm and professional about the problem, cussing and accusing just puts you on his level and makes you look retaliating. of curse there is all ways the don't get mad, get even approach, but i save that as a last resort

Answer 7

lol were you being loud? I know some neighbors are super rediculous, here at my apartment complex one of the neighbors actually went to go complain that my brother had loud music in his car...lol and the apartment manager came a knocking....so dont push it :/ if you were being loud stay inside next time [i know i know its rediculous that in the day people would complain, at night i understand theyre trying to sleep, etc...but daytime Cmon people!] if you really werent being loud tell him to stop harassing you or else youre gonna talk to the apartment manager.

Answer 8

Need more to the story. ARE you talking loud on the phone? At night or early morning perhaps? I'm not going to volunteer my opinion without more info... but it sounds like there IS an issue someplace; either with you or your neighbor, or both.

Answer 9

Well is it actually your fault? Because I know in some areas you do get a bad connection, and it's hard not to yell into the phone to get the other person to hear you, but if it is your fault, your gonna have to go inside to talk. If its not you need to explain to your neighbor that its free space.

Answer 10

I had a neighbor that did that, I went straight to his door and told him the world does not revolve around what he may or may not want or think is right. IF he felt it was too noisy out side, he could close his windows and go inside. He did not bother me again.

Answer 11

Talk on the phone inside the house.