Neighbour finds our christmas lights "annoying"...

ab.da54

Amanita wrote: »

Serious question - so whose rights ARE more important here?

I would say, if the lights were affecting the person to the extent that they could not be closed out, then the rights of the neighbour came first, because everyone should have the right to enjoy their own home.

If the solution was to close the curtains earlier, for a couple of weeks, then the family have the right to enjoy their lights.

As always, there no doubt would be a compromise - waiting until 7 rather than 6, not using the flash mode [which the OP has already said, they don't], closing the curtains slightly earlier.

It's whether both parties can reach a compromise so that the OP and family can enjoy their lights and the neighbour can enjoy her home, too.

Amanita_2

bestpud wrote: »

Morally, they have equal rights, surely?

Maybe, but in this case one side's "rights" are going to be trampled underfoot.

coolcait

Cat501 wrote: »

coolcait that sounds wonderful, as a reluctant city dweller I'm always in awe of a clear night sky when I'm down in Devon, it's magical:)

That said, I'd still happily live with Christmas lights for a few weeks, do your neighbours lights stop you sleeping?

Nothing stops me sleeping!! If it was an olympic sport, I would be the all-time, unbeaten champion! :rotfl::rotfl:

Luckily, as I think I said before, these lights don't shine into the living room or into the bedrooms. They assault the eyeballs when I'm in the kitchen or going up the stairs.

And, just as I write that, I've realised another factor in 'why lights might bother one person and not another'.

I'm the only person who is bothered by them in the kitchen - it's down to my height, and the fact that the lights make their way through the curtains at my eye level and no one else's.

Everyone in the house goes "Argh!" or "bl00dy lights!" when they're going upstairs - but at different points on the staircase, depending on their height!

Another set of 'differences' to take into account>

(BTW, I'm an urban dweller, but can still see some stars despite the town lights. Normally).

neverdespairgirl

bestpud wrote: »

As an aside, I can't get my head round leaving curtains open once its dark, especially if the lights are on.

I can only guess these people don't have windows close to the street?

Wouldn't it be like living in a goldfish bowl?

Or you live in a flat. Or your living room's at the back of the house, facing your own garden.

mummyoftwomonkeys

ignore the moody old mare, I love seeing all the christmas lights outside the houses and so do my kids. Sounds like she was just looking to pick a fight with someone to me

bored_at_home

i have to admit to having a grumble to myself when my neighbour put their up last weekend , christmas is still weeks away, and its not for a couple of weeks theyl be up its gonna be for 5 weeks.
in saying that my blinds are shut and i cant see them,its not that i particularly dislike them, i just thought hes a bit previous putting them up so early and was slightly irritated by it.
would i say anything to them? of course not. im just a miserable git when it comes to xmas decorations but it doesnt mean anyone else should be, i dont have any decorations up or a tree as my pets would just ransack it all anyway.
its probably as its still a few weeks til xmas thats all.

bestpud

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Or you live in a flat. Or your living room's at the back of the house, facing your own garden.

I think its more than that tbh.

Our living room is at the back and that makes no difference to me.

My fil lives in the middle of nowhere and still draws the curtains when it gets dark.

neverdespairgirl

bestpud wrote: »

I think its more than that tbh.

Our living room is at the back and that makes no difference to me.

My fil lives in the middle of nowhere and still draws the curtains when it gets dark.

But in those examples I mentioned, it wouldn't be like living in a goldfish bowl, as people aren't wandering by looking in.

We don't usually draw our curtains until after dinner, but opposite our living room is an empty office block. So no-one to see in.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

seriousDFW wrote: »

But she doesn't have a real choice - that's being taken away from her. What she may really wish is that she can look out of her window and see the view she sees for the other 48 weeks of the year. But no, because the neighbour has decided that she can't do that, so she has to shut her curtains instead? Great choice.

Surely the view she would see for 48 weeks a year would be the occasional streetlight, the OP's house, garage door and car?

Hardly a site of exceptional natural beauty (although I haven't seen the OP myself, so she could indeed be such a sight at 7am).

bestpud

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

But in those examples I mentioned, it wouldn't be like living in a goldfish bowl, as people aren't wandering by looking in.

We don't usually draw our curtains until after dinner, but opposite our living room is an empty office block. So no-one to see in.

Yes, I guess the 'living in a goldfish bowl' is a feeling rather than reality?