How can I ask my neighbour to speak more quietly?

[DayOutInRome]

I know I know, I probably can’t but any ideas or nicely phrased requests would be welcome!

My new neighbour has a voice like a fog horn. he’s out in the garden now with his wife and kids and some friends. They are all conversing and it’s totally normal, I can hear they are chatting and having a nice time. I can’t hear what they are saying and anyway I have no problem with people enjoying their gardens and socialising. But my god the man is just LOUD. Every word, every joke, every thought (and he has many) uttered at top, carrying volume. We are in a rectangle of terraces so the back gardens are all quite close and boundaried by the back walls of houses so noise echoes. All I can hear is him commenting on their BBQ, asking for drinks, talking about football, his work. It’s really intrusive and I don’t know how his family are putting up with him. I’m not looking forward to hearing this all summer if the weather stays nice!

He's possibly slightly deaf. DF does this.

You can't possibly ask him to speak more quietly - whether he's deaf or just an arsehole, however.

We have a similar neighbour, nick named the Drone, I have a radio placed near the back doors, specifically because of him, when it really gets to me, it goes on and dilutes his voice.

My neighbour isn’t deaf and has proved himself as an arsehole on more than one occasion.

Our ndn has family in another country who must all have extreme hearing difficulties.. She spends hours at a time outdoors on loudspeaker to Thailand.. Can't imagine the costs!

We have one like this you can hear him coming from half a mile away!!!

We had a neighbour like this. While WFH during lockdown she seemed to spend most of her time outside (right next to our patio) bellowing at her Teams/Zoom meetings. Thank goodness they’ve moved on!

Maybe sent a note in the post saying -

"To the nice man in the house with the very manly voice - we can hear you all the way to XXX Street! We would all be so grateful if you could talk a little less loudly. Best wishes. All your neighbours."

Then sign it with lots of false neighbour names and he might turn it down without having been insulted.

Even if you ask, I don't think he would be able to change his voice. Whether he is slightly deaf or just doesn't hear himself, that is his natural volume and he will tend to return to it.

We had one like this. We used to hear all about his divorce and financial stuff as well as his work issues.

My neighbour is like this, especially if drinking! Can't hear anyone else but him!! Best evening was when he was staying very loudly what a great neighbour he is.....

This is the problem with summer - noisy neighbours and barking dogs. 😬

My father does this and it's because he's partially deaf and refuses to wear a hearing aid. It's so bloody annoying.

Ah at least I’m not alone! He’s not old but I appreciate he could still have hearing difficulties. We get the barking dogs too but they are just background, it’s the fact I can hear All. The. Words. that is so irritating!

I'd shout a reply to him, he enquires if his burger is ready, you shout 'not yet, it's still red in the middle' and so on. He might get the hint

Our immediate neighbour and her neighbour on the other side like to chat. From inside their own kitchens. By shouting at each other through their open windows. Yes it is as annoying as it sounds. Some people are just selfish.

I think this is your only recourse really!

Urgh we have a neighbour like this, he lives maybe 5 doors down and back to back gardens yet still I can hear him instructing and performance parenting as the day is long. Literally nobody else’s voice in the whole neighbourhood is even audible. Total selfishness and entitlement!

I have a neighbour over the road, several doors up, not opposite. This time of year, with windows open, I can hear every word of every telephone conversation!

We have one of those then he will go inside and absolutely scream at the children!

Gawd, these people seem to have no idea of appropriate speaking volume. The number of times I have to suffer idiots practically shouting at people sitting two feet away from them. Why, why why? No they don't all have hearing problems. Usual complete oblivion to anything happening around them, I guess. Rant mode off.

I have no solution for you. Just want to say I feel your pain.
My neighbour has conversations with her kids while she's in the kitchen (which overlooks our garden). Trouble is, one kid is in up his bedroom on the first floor and other kid is in attic bedroom on the second floor.

When she briefly lost her voice due to covid I was 😃

I'd just have a polite word and explain you're often on Zoom/Teams for work and could he keep his voice down a bit please because the entire meeting can hear his every word.

I feel your pain OP. My NDN has been on the phone to (I think) her DIL for at least two hours. On speakerphone naturally and she has the most jarring, grating loud voice imaginable.