Would you call this inconsiderate??

Question

This morning my very rude and self centred next door neighbours decided to cut firewood with an EXTREMELY loud chainsaw (it's winter in New Zealand where I live) at 7am!

The noise was very loud because they were cutting it outside my bedroom window.

So I got up, when to the fence and I said "Excuse me, you're being extremely inconsiderate."

The man had no idea what I was talking about

I said "Do you really think it's appropriate to be cutting firewood with a chainsaw at 7am in the morning?".

He replied saying they'd run out of firewood. I believe this was an ridiculous excuse.

I asked him if he was going to stop now as he was probably waking our neighbours and my brother with the flu.

He replied f*ck off. My final words were "Will you be saying the same thing when I've called noise control?"

He stopped after 10minutes. This isn't the first time their noise level has been inappropriate for the time of day.

I didn't call noise control. Did I act appropriatly?

I actually offered him our axe to cut the wood with because that would have been quieter.

It's school holidays and this morning I was ment to be woken up at 7.30 by my alarm because I had a University Open day, so don't be telling me that I should be awake at 7am

M.C. I think last night was 2degrees celcius. Not cold enough to freeze the pipes. Should we (his neighbours) have to suffer because of their stupidity (not checking the woodpile the night before).

This isn't the first time, like I said. They often drop glass bottles into their rubbish bins at 2am-5am in the morning. My mother gets woken up by this.

VanHammer- My brother has the flu and we also have other people living very close who were more than likely sleeping at this time too. I was angry because of that.

Btw I offered him an axe to cut the wood with. It's not my fault he didn't check the wood pile yesterday afternoon.

Goodpoint!! I'll go and check haha.

Papaw- You make me laugh. I was actually already up. I was actually concerned about the health of my brother and our next door neighbours. My lazy time table? I was up at that time, getting ready to go to University, in the school holidays. That man should have thought about the fact that his fire pile was low the night before and been prepared. I do understand the purpose of a chainsaw. How naive of you, I am actually a Scout, and have been since I was 8. I have spent many nights in the bush where I have had to cut wood (WITH AN AXE) to keep myself and OTHERS warm and feed ourselves. Trust me, I'd have no confusion which was the correct end if you head was on the chopping block. I think you're been far more inconsiderate than I was to my next door neighbour.


BTW! My next door neighbours have been very quiet since that morning!

Answer 1

Best to call noise control and not engage in rebuking your neighbor. That only makes him more apt to do it in the future.

Answer 2

Yes, he was inconsiderate ! However, as you saw by his response, your chastising him, was not effective in dealing with the problem. Noise, is a chronic source of conflict between neighbors. It is best handled, with diplomacy, exceptional respect and courtesy.

Ultimately, when that doesn't work, your only alternative is to seek enforcement of applicable anti-noise ordinances. However, your complaint, could result in counter complaints by your neighbor, i.e., anytime you engage in a deminimis violation of any ordinance, e.g., your dog is running free, or your television is a bit loud in the evening. The U.S. colloquialism, for this state of affairs, is called a "pissing contest".

In regard to an actual solution: I have found, gasoline chainsaws, to be smoky, noisy, a nuisance to operate and maintain, and exceptionally dangerous. They have no place in a residential environment. I currently cut wood with a large bow saw; it is good exercise. Another option would be an electric chain saw; they are quieter, less of a nuisance, and smokeless. However, they are still quite dangerous. If the manual saw, makes for too much work, probably a good compromise would be a reciprocating electric saw. An axe, is not an appropriate tool for this task.

Answer 3

Yes, it is inconsiderate. Sooner or later though everyone has inconsiderate neighbors. The guy behind me has an open fire next to a wooded area almost every day! Also he mowed our very small yard after my son said we had someone else to do it, then he came by and asked for the money. Yes, I paid. Like many people, I guess I'm afraid that if I complain, the neighbor will retaliate in some new way.

Answer 4

You gotta be kidding... You and all these other morons that think you acted appropriately.Where do you get off thinking everyone else's world has to revolve around your lazy timetable? Most of the working world is up and working at 7:00 AM. but you have to sleep in. Where is your compassion The man said he was out of wood. What does he do? wait in the cold til you decide you want to get up and tell him its OK to cut his wood now? Evidently you don't understand either that chain saws were invented to speed up production and to make the work a little easier. I seriously doubt you would even know which end of an axe to swing; I'm surprised you even have one. I know you'd never use one, much less a chain saw. You impress me as one of those people that expects the whole world to operate on your schedule and at your every whim. WAKE UP, S-F-B, LIFE HAPPENS and the world doesn't need you for that to happen!

Answer 5

I understand why you were pretty upset to be woken up especially when your brother was unwell and am guessing things are different in New Zealand, as 7am to me (in the UK) is not that early as i leave for work shortly after that.

You don't want to fall out with your neighbours, but you obviously need a few extra hours sleep to him. If he does it again, go around and ask politely again for him to stop so early in the morning and if he doesn't, then call noise control.

Answer 6

I think you handled it beautifully. I too have a neighbor that uses his power saw. He has started a business in his garage.
The noise usually starts before 7:30 in the morning, every day of the week. Asking him to be more considerate just brought a lot of cursing and it didnt stop the noise. I finally called our county zoning commission and reported that he is running a commercial business in a residential area. A violation costs a lot of money and I'm looking forward to some peace and quiet. Good lucky with your situation.

Answer 7

I think you acted inappropriately. 7am is not that early no doubt you would be getting up soon anyway. Theyhad run out of firewood and its winter. It only lasted for 10 minutes. To be able to call noise control tghe noise would have to go on for some time so I don't think they would do anything either. If you had waited 10 minutes you would not have had to venture outside. I think it seems as though you are both inconsiderate and a bit rude. Maybe there is history between you.

Answer 8

I would have been ticked about that. In the future do not go out there just call noise control. personally i would rather have him doing it at 7 in the morning rather than at like 11 at night, and they guy should know better than to leave the woodpile get low and make that kind of noise, he sounds like a jerk so i would be calling noise police next time.

Answer 9

I think you could have handled it a little better to be honest. Some people just get up very early, say he is a 4am riser...to him 7am is mid morning, so he maybe didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing. You should have talked to him, invited him for a coffee and had a chat. Then decided what to do but I think you may have just burnt your bridges there. Try appologising to him and letting him know when you rise, ask him if he has ever had any problems with your noise and try to make a 'pact'. It is much better to have a civilised relationship with your neighbours, you never know when you might need them.

Answer 10

7am is WAY too early to be making that much noise. Nobody is suppose to mow their lawn, or cut their wood so early in the morning when they have neighbours that live so close by.

Yes, you should totally call noise control and have him fined!

You are right to stand up for yourself, hun!

Maybe if this guy has to pay an expensive fine, then he'll stop disturbing you.

Cheers and *hugs*

Answer 11

Of course you did. That is so annoying it happens here in Colorado all the time. At 7 am in the morning people should be more considerate. He could have waited until 9 am at best. I would have done the same thing!