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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU people staring into my house

190 replies

Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 18:16

Having the front garden wall redone. Living room at the front of the house, exposed. Fairly sizeable driveway but still, several times a day (and worse, evening when I’ve got my slobs on and stuffing my face with snacks 😁), people stop outside my house, gawping and pointing at the work being done and shamelessly staring into my living room/at me. For actually what’s a very uncomfortable amount of time.

AIBU? I feel like I’m in a zoo. Don’t people realise that this is quite rude?!

Any ideas of how to respond? I usually duck and hide but this evening tried just hard staring at one couple, as they were really pointing and discussing the house/looking straight at me. Didn’t seem to do anything though. Maybe walking around naked should scare them off.

PS, we don’t have any curtains because it’s a great window with a window seat, and there was/will be a nice high wall so this problem won’t last forever. But just to say we can’t draw the curtains 😭

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ChoosingHim · 03/06/2020 19:06

I feel your pain OP we have no front garden at all we step from our front door straight onto public footpath and there's always people walking by gasping in, sometimes directly into our eyes! So flipping rude, I don't know why they think it's ok to do that.

Slave2love · 03/06/2020 19:05

My sister used to have this problem at her previous house. We couldn't understand why people would stare in so blatantly, but in the end we did wonder actually how well they could see in from where they were stood. We could see them clearly but maybe the glare from the window meant that they actually couldn't see in to the house much at all and therefore couldn't see us staring back at them!

C152H · 03/06/2020 19:04

You can temporarily cover the glass with a cheap 'frosted window film'. If you google it, lots of options will come up. It's a sticky back plastic - you peel the back off and stick it to the window. Once your wall is built, you can peel the film off without marking your windows.

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 03/06/2020 19:04

Just wave enthusiastically at them - I find it unsettles people if they don't know you.

Batshittery · 03/06/2020 19:02

Sorry OP. I've no real advice other than what has already been said, but this thread has really made me laugh.
Someone banging on the window finished me off.

Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 19:00

@ProfYaffle

THIS IS GENIUS!!!!!!!!!

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RedRed9 · 03/06/2020 19:00

I live by the beach and lots of people go for a leisurely walk past our front and causally look in the front garden. It doesn’t bother me - I do it too!

I also love looking into people’s front rooms in winter when it’s dark and cold outside and cosy looking inside, as I rush past.

Side note: in the evening do you not feel uneasy/cold never having curtains up? That black glass staring back at you when you’re inside with the lights on makes me feel freaked out!

ProfYaffle · 03/06/2020 18:58

Like this

AIBU people staring into my house
ComDummings · 03/06/2020 18:57

Also have you thought about getting curtains, I can’t imagine anyone else has suggested it...

ComDummings · 03/06/2020 18:57

Defo moon them

ProfYaffle · 03/06/2020 18:57

"Isn’t windolene just a clear spray?!" - No, it's the old fashioned cream you need. It dries an opaque white. Years ago people used to put it on their windows while they were decorating and the curtains were down as it stops others staring in.

AIBU people staring into my house
AdoptedBumpkin · 03/06/2020 18:57

You could always try waving at them (apologies if this has been suggested already)

allmycats · 03/06/2020 18:55

As previously said, old fashioned pink windowless in the windows, it dries to an opaque white .

Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 18:54

The babestation thing: do you have to pay for that? Maybe he was doing a service to the street - people who didn’t want to pay could also watch?

@CuppaZa

It would take me too long to scoop them out of my trousers 🤣

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EmmaA91 · 03/06/2020 18:54

What about spraying water on the windows and putting tin foil on the top? That should last for six weeks, just for some privacy!

CaptainButtock · 03/06/2020 18:53

Oh right... I was beaten to it Blush

Still, great minds and all that!

CaptainButtock · 03/06/2020 18:52

How about printing an A4 sized sign (so they have to really peer at it to read) with 'Stop being so bloody nosy'.

CuppaZa · 03/06/2020 18:51

I’d honestly flash my boobs.

Batshittery · 03/06/2020 18:50

@PeppaisaBitch

I once looked through a window and saw someone watching babestation. Shut your curtains.
PMSL 😂
Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 18:49

@cheesyrats

Im a donkey on the Edge; I can’t take any more comments about curtains

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Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 18:48

@Andylion

Maybe a smaller sign underneath that saying “it wasn’t a fucking invitation, now sod off my property before I get the water pistols out”

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Andylion · 03/06/2020 18:47

Maybe just a classical “if you can read this sign kindly stop fucking staring at my house” ?

What if they can't read the sign and come closer to see what it says? Grin

Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 18:47

@Catsrus

The pressure there is making sure I use the “correct”
Newspaper for the area

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cheesyrats · 03/06/2020 18:47

Just put some net curtains up and be done with it. That's what they're for. Smile

Wheredidallmytreesgo · 03/06/2020 18:46

I don’t want to buy curtains or blinds because we don’t need them when the wall is up/not going to put up something permanent on the wall that I will never use/don’t want.

Maybe this is a use for all of DH’s old movie posters he insisted on keeping but is never going to be able to put up in the house because we are not 12 anymore 😬

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