Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
User submission
2.4K
528.1K
Person Refuses To Put Up With Neighbor’s Kid After One Of The Balls He’s Constantly Kicking Over The Fence Hits Their Puppy
Your home is your castle. Unless your neighbor’s kid is a spoiled prince who disregards other people’s — and, in this case, animals’ — well-being.
Recently, a Redditor and probably a Harry Potter fan who goes online by the nickname Slytherin_90 submitted a story to the popular ‘Am I the [Jerk]?’ community, asking its members to help them make sense of a particularly frustrating situation.
The Redditor’s backyard is getting filled with balls and toys, and the kid on the opposite side of the fence can’t seem to stop. It got so bad that even their dog has developed anxiety. So the Redditor stopped giving the stuff back.
RELATED:
Image credits: Kampus Production (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Helena Lopes (not the actual photo)
There’s a saying that goes “love thy neighbor as yourself,” but clearly not everyone has heard it.
In fact, according to one study on people’s relationships with their neighbors, over a third (36 percent) have had issues that escalate into full-blown arguments, with a quarter stating that they have a long-running feud with someone living next to them.
Many of those polled should be able to relate to the couple who had to endure the lawn mower, as the research commissioned discovered the most common reasons for an argument are over parking, followed closely by animal noise, and noise in general.
After the story went viral, the original poster (OP) provided more information on the issue
The data might explain why over 40 percent of Americans try to avoid their errant neighbors intentionally, with Northeast folks more than twice as likely to say their neighbors are rude when compared to the Southwest.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the biggest reason for said avoidance is simply not having the time to stop and chat.
But thinking the people next door are weird, and not getting along with them, or feeling they are too nosy are common reasons many avoid interaction as well.
And most people thought they weren’t doing anything wrong by keeping the balls and toys
Nearly a quarter (23 percent) say they have neighbors who they consider as friends, and 3 in 10 trust their neighbors a lot, while 86 percent rate themselves as either a good or very good neighbor.
However, this story does illustrate a somewhat counterintuitive reality. While a common stereotype suggests people who live in busy urban areas tend to be less respectful of those around them, the results of the survey reveal the opposite: city people are almost twice as likely to regularly hang out with their neighbors.
Some, however, said that they should just let the kid play
528Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
Israel Martinez 2 years ago
F**k those that said the OP was an a*****e for not letting the child "play" ... that's not playing ... that's enabling entitled behavior when you can't respect another person's property and living ...
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
This! It’s one thing if the homeowner has no problem with it. But ASK FIRST! Don’t ever think you can force someone to must put up with anything on their own property. You can kick your footballs anywhere you want in your own yard. But once that football lands in my yard and bothers me—-especially if it hurts or traumatizes my child(ren) or pet(s)—-that football is now MINE. Same as if you gave it to me. You ain’t gettin’ it back.
Load More Replies...
Megzymonsta 2 years ago
My nephew (6) always ended up kicking his footballs into his neighbour's garden as he wanted to kick the ball high as possible and didn't have much coordination. He knew he would have to ask the neighbour face to face for his ball back and apologise - luckily the neighbour on one side was was really understanding. The neighbour on the other had a similar situation with having a dog who loved nothing more than to attack and kill the invading football. My nephew learned very quickly not to kick the ball in that direction because he knew he wouldn't get the football back. No one ever got upset with the neighbour for not being able to return the balls so definitely NTA. Also it might be with looking into getting higher trellises for the fence or some way to prevent item from making it onto the lawn where a dog might mistake it for a tasty snack
Debbie 2 years ago
I think this might be a good idea. Play with the dogs and the ball, teach the dog balls are fun, and it's no problem if he shreds them ;)
Load More Replies...
Winter Eleven 2 years ago
At my old house the neighbor's kids were playing football on the one way street. We had a tall fence separating us from them. We had plants, my cats loved the garden the neighbors from our house (5apartments in one big house) had a baby who they were playing with in their garden (next to ours). The football ball kept accidentally falling into our yards. The kids have a huge football playground next to their elementary school max 15minutes walking distance. In five years I've lived in the same location as them they've broken our trees, our fence while trying to climb it to get the ball, we'd get like 4 a day. At first we've returned them, told them to be more careful (to their parents too) but nothing happened till one day the ball almost hit my neighbour's baby. He went ballistic, yelled how this has been going on for years (they had 2 children the baby and a toddler now) and then the parent threatened to call the police if he doesn't return the ball.
Winter Eleven 2 years ago
Mother of the baby called them the second voices were raised, the parents with kids who kick balls all over the place got fined, and then threatened to poison my cats with rat poison they left in a bag on my doorstep. Because when the police asked us, the witnesses what happened we told the truth. I've moved to attend college and took my cats with me. Parents qre a bit lonely without pets now but the balls have stopped... Because the kids got a big dog that doesn't attend dog school, and goes to the bathroom on our parking spaces... We're selling the apartment now if anyone's interested
Load More Replies...
Israel Martinez 2 years ago
F**k those that said the OP was an a*****e for not letting the child "play" ... that's not playing ... that's enabling entitled behavior when you can't respect another person's property and living ...
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
This! It’s one thing if the homeowner has no problem with it. But ASK FIRST! Don’t ever think you can force someone to must put up with anything on their own property. You can kick your footballs anywhere you want in your own yard. But once that football lands in my yard and bothers me—-especially if it hurts or traumatizes my child(ren) or pet(s)—-that football is now MINE. Same as if you gave it to me. You ain’t gettin’ it back.
Load More Replies... Megzymonsta 2 years ago
My nephew (6) always ended up kicking his footballs into his neighbour's garden as he wanted to kick the ball high as possible and didn't have much coordination. He knew he would have to ask the neighbour face to face for his ball back and apologise - luckily the neighbour on one side was was really understanding. The neighbour on the other had a similar situation with having a dog who loved nothing more than to attack and kill the invading football. My nephew learned very quickly not to kick the ball in that direction because he knew he wouldn't get the football back. No one ever got upset with the neighbour for not being able to return the balls so definitely NTA. Also it might be with looking into getting higher trellises for the fence or some way to prevent item from making it onto the lawn where a dog might mistake it for a tasty snack
Debbie 2 years ago
I think this might be a good idea. Play with the dogs and the ball, teach the dog balls are fun, and it's no problem if he shreds them ;)
Load More Replies... Winter Eleven 2 years ago
At my old house the neighbor's kids were playing football on the one way street. We had a tall fence separating us from them. We had plants, my cats loved the garden the neighbors from our house (5apartments in one big house) had a baby who they were playing with in their garden (next to ours). The football ball kept accidentally falling into our yards. The kids have a huge football playground next to their elementary school max 15minutes walking distance. In five years I've lived in the same location as them they've broken our trees, our fence while trying to climb it to get the ball, we'd get like 4 a day. At first we've returned them, told them to be more careful (to their parents too) but nothing happened till one day the ball almost hit my neighbour's baby. He went ballistic, yelled how this has been going on for years (they had 2 children the baby and a toddler now) and then the parent threatened to call the police if he doesn't return the ball.
Winter Eleven 2 years ago
Mother of the baby called them the second voices were raised, the parents with kids who kick balls all over the place got fined, and then threatened to poison my cats with rat poison they left in a bag on my doorstep. Because when the police asked us, the witnesses what happened we told the truth. I've moved to attend college and took my cats with me. Parents qre a bit lonely without pets now but the balls have stopped... Because the kids got a big dog that doesn't attend dog school, and goes to the bathroom on our parking spaces... We're selling the apartment now if anyone's interested
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
127
125