What would you do?

[sony_apm_fan]

So, we have a neighbour opposite us.

Frequently he drives his trucks down our nature strip, has been verbally aggressive in the past. Generally not a nice guy.

In our area, it's bushland and people can burn off dry material to reduce fire risk, on certain days.


Usually he only burns green waste, sometimes furniture, sometimes other stuff.

This neighbour burns off anytime it suits, but today he burnt a car tyre.

This filled our house with acrid smoke.

This is against every local law in the book.

So, do I report him to the council?

Problems - he would know we did it, and it would inflame him....risking reprisal.

Let it go? This time?

Serious answers please.

 

[alfie]

Let it go this time then it won't stop him doing it again :annoyed:

I'd report him. The consequences might suck but you can't have your neighbor making life hell for you

It's a tricky one

 

[vladi123456]

Well, it's hard to say.....I used to have a situation with my neighbor where he had several dogs living in his backyard and barking pretty much 24/7 - which is also against of any local laws here. I wanted to go kick his butt because I'm bigger than him, but in the end I decided to wait it out and let the other neighnors report him to the cops - which eventually what they had done.
In your case though - the acid smoke is not dog barking - it's dangerous, so I would not hesitate and report him. What I would also do though - get a camera and videotape him breaking the law - then you'll have a much better case against him. And who cares if he gets upset - don't you guys gave guns in Australia? I have mine by my side at all times, but I'm in Texas, so we're all cool like that

 

[MasterBlaster84]

with Vladi, videotape this jerk breaking the law it can't hurt and it might help.

Didn't Australia confiscate some or all guns years ago?

 

[redbenjoe]

with Vladi, videotape this jerk breaking the law it can't hurt and it might help.

thats a good idea -
and agree with the 'dont let it go' plan

 

[sony_apm_fan]

Discussed with the boss (my wife)....we'll let this one go.

I know, I know.

Trust me, "I'm as mad as hell....."

 

[Master Z]

Burn some tires of your own when the wind is heading in your neighbors direction.

 

[hfaltermeyer]

Discussed with the boss (my wife)....we'll let this one go.

I know, I know.

Trust me, "I'm as mad as hell....."

I gotta say, man - before you let this go, go tell him about it. You point out that he's been verbally aggressive, so the conversation you have may not be comfortable, at all. Your voice may waver, you may be shaky for a while after. And it may not stop him from burning tires. But it may help you. Especially if you're mad as hell and you're not going to take it any more.

This conversation, however, does not mean to:

1) threaten him with cops (council, in your area?)
2) tell him what a knucklehead he is for burning tires
3) or really, tell him anything at all about himself, what he is doing, or what he should do

Seriously, just tell him about you. "When tires are burning, they make my house smell bad, it makes me cough. I wanted to let you know."

Notice there is no "When you do this" or "You are making my house smell like smoke." While this may be true, as far as he is concerned, he just needs some tires burned up.

Yes, it is kind of a tightrope walk, because you're mad. You want to blame or threaten or force him to do something, but it doesn't ultimately help you much, even if you go over there with a gun and he says "I am so sorry and I will never do that again." At that point, you would create someone who will always be watching for a way to get you - and get away with it. And yes, unfortunately, you are the one who has to step up in this situation - possibly because he's an asshole. Also, I guarantee that it will be better for you to talk with him. Even if he slams the door or threatens you - it will be better for you, because you will have taken what is happening to you, and sent it out to the one person that can do something about it.

 

[Gluecifer]

(just moved this to off topic, Rich)

Want me to come up and have a chat to him, Rich?

I can be persuasive!



Rock On.

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Discussed with the boss (my wife)....we'll let this one go.

I know, I know.

Trust me, "I'm as mad as hell....."

Hey Brother, In the real world, it's hard to deal with stuff like this. From barking dogs to burning tires. But when you live, for the most part WITH this person and any complaint will point straight towards you, then your in a tight spot.

I have next door neighbor who is a contractor and his house is PILED front and back with construction materials. I live in a Home Owners Association and technically, he can't do that. But I am the only guy on the block! If there is a complaint, he will know it's me, so I have left it alone in an attempt to be civil with my neighbors. But it still SUCKS!

BTW, here in Cali, we got guns too, but I'm sure that even in Texas, killin' a man over a burning tire still might get you locked up for a few years!

I think letting it go and preparing the camera for next time as well as calling the cops when he fires up a tire or a fire on the wrong day is your best bet. You can tell the operator your story and ask them to tell the responding officer to tell him HE SAW THE FIRE and came over to investigate. You never know, they might do it!

Best of luck.

 

[sony_apm_fan]

Thanks Guys,

Chris I feel that you really get it. Ultimately I have to live across the road from this loser, he is a loose cannon for sure.

Deep breath....

 

[sony_apm_fan]

Listened to all of the advice......


Approached the neighbor this morning, light hearted conversation about stuff. Going well so far...

Then I casually ask for one small thing....that my wife mentioned our house was full of tyre smoke last week.....and we look over at the 8 more tyres he has there near his burn off pile.

Still going well......

But!!

An acknowledgement that it was a bad thing to do, created too much smoke and he won't do it again.

Phew.

Perhaps there is a shred of decency here.

Faith in human kind restored, just.

 

[71spud]

I just saw this... and I have had similar situations, both with a-hole neighbors and with neighbors burning things. Not both at the same time though. But this is how I would handle a situation like yours. I would buy a 12 pack of his favorite beer (I am sure his lawn is littered with cans so you can probably make a good guess) Make sure it is good and cold (like fridge cold + 15 min in the freezer cold (no more or it will start to freeze) ) and put it in a paper sack. Then go over and be as friendly as you can be and get right to the point. Ask him to do you a huge favor... and help him get your wife off your back... that the next time he is going to burn something could he give you a heads up so you can shut your windows (I know smoke smell will get in anyway, but the point is the heads up) Say that the wind must have shifted or something when he burned that tire, because your house smelled for days inside. Say all you want is a heads up and that it would be cool. Then take the 12 pack out of the bag and hand it to him. Give him a big "thanks man!" and be on your way. Then give him one of those "one hand up" waves when you see him drive by from now on. I can pretty much guarantee he will be cool to you from then on. If he puts up a bit of a fuss when you are talking about it, just repeat the wind shifting, the wife on YOUR back, and the heads up. You just spoke his language and paid him in his currency....

 

[theorangecouch]

Explain to him the your house was filled with smoke and ask him not to do it again. If he does it again, report him. Thats what I would do.

J

 

[Reli]

Sounds like one of those morons who burns stuff because he thinks it's cool. Does he think he's still 16 or something?

 

[sony_apm_fan]

I just saw this... and I have had similar situations, both with a-hole neighbors and with neighbors burning things. Not both at the same time though. But this is how I would handle a situation like yours. I would buy a 12 pack of his favorite beer (I am sure his lawn is littered with cans so you can probably make a good guess) Make sure it is good and cold (like fridge cold + 15 min in the freezer cold (no more or it will start to freeze) ) and put it in a paper sack. Then go over and be as friendly as you can be and get right to the point. Ask him to do you a huge favor... and help him get your wife off your back... that the next time he is going to burn something could he give you a heads up so you can shut your windows (I know smoke smell will get in anyway, but the point is the heads up) Say that the wind must have shifted or something when he burned that tire, because your house smelled for days inside. Say all you want is a heads up and that it would be cool. Then take the 12 pack out of the bag and hand it to him. Give him a big "thanks man!" and be on your way. Then give him one of those "one hand up" waves when you see him drive by from now on. I can pretty much guarantee he will be cool to you from then on. If he puts up a bit of a fuss when you are talking about it, just repeat the wind shifting, the wife on YOUR back, and the heads up. You just spoke his language and paid him in his currency....

Sounds like a good idea. But maybe I'd be wasting good beer..

 

[wildknees]

i'm glad that worked out okay.

i could write a book about this weird house next door to me and all the shenanigans that's happened over there. lots of passive aggressive stuff where they ignore basic common sense, and then if you mention it to them, they act like you are being the jerk. the odd thing is, every tenant seems to have the same MO, very strange.

my thinking is, it don't matter if you live in a shack, or a palace if you have a d-head for a neighbor, you got a bad deal.

i liked the way the folks came up with some really good ideas. especially gluecifer haha.
you folks are alright.

 

[docs]

You made the best resolution out of the situation, glad it worked out... this time...