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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

AIBU to ask the neighbours to open the curtains?

434 replies

cocostrawberry · 21/01/2015 14:41

A youngish couple with no children bought a house on our estate about a year ago. They don't get involved with any of the activities such as the summer bbq and basically seem to isolate themselves from the rest of us, their loss. However my main bug is that they NEVER have the living room curtains open and quite often leave the other ones shut also, today every single one of them are shut and I know they are home.

I've hinted a couple of times that it would be best for them to leave them open, the girl mumbled something about a projector and watching films, but they can't be watching films all the time.

AIBU to just point blank ask them to open the curtains during the day, it really depresses me to look across to their house with all the curtains closed, it doesn't look inviting and it looks odd compared to the rest of the estate, we all manage to open their curtains everyday, so why can't they? My DH thinks I'm BU and should just leave them to it but I think when it effects other people I have a right to say something?

OP posts:
AlorsMeh · 21/01/2015 16:08

How old are you? 44

Er excuse me, ageist Grin

I am 44 and I never open my bedroom curtains during the day because I prefer the room to be dim and I can't abide electric light. DH thinks I am bonkers.

I keep the living room curtains closed during the day because I like to smoke my bong in the nude when I'm watching Jeremy Kyle.

Idontseeanysontarans · 21/01/2015 16:08

I've got it!!
OP you are so wrong! They don't know how to open curtains because they are too used to having staff to do it for them!! They are in fact landed gentry come to mix with the poor people and are currently trying to master the complexities of curtain mechanics.
SmileSmile

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 21/01/2015 16:08

Hello

We're not quite sure about a few things here so you may not be hearing from the OP for a bit. But as this whole thread has been most enlightening on the important area of curtain etiquette, we will leave the thread for now.

chrome100 · 21/01/2015 16:10

WTF? YAB (very) U.

We don't open our curtains as we live in a ground floor flat and can't be arsed to go around hiding our valuables and also it keeps the heat in whilst we're at work. You've got far (far) too much time on your hands.

Ohfourfoxache · 21/01/2015 16:11

Rowan

Can I suggest an area for curtain reviews on the site?

Or a YouTube video on the art of curtain opening?

wewishyou · 21/01/2015 16:11

it makes me really sad to think that it might be a real thread and we missed an opportunity to have a good laugh. We should all have told OP that it was indeed a good idea to go talk to her neighbours about the curtains. Oooh, the good laugh we could have had.

Bakeoffcakes · 21/01/2015 16:11

Can you imagine if a neighbour came and asked you to open your curtains?!ShockGrin

You're mad OP, bloody mad.

Notso · 21/01/2015 16:12

BIL and his wife live on a family estate, when they go on holiday they get MIL to go to the house twice a day and open and shut the blinds. Their curtains are just for show.
They also won't have a coloured front door even though they really want one because everyone else has a naice white plastic one.
They are incredibly dull, OP you'd love them.

notnaice · 21/01/2015 16:13

One of our neighbours always had all windows covered at all times, even the bit of glass in the door. I must admit we went through all the possible naturist, drug etc scenarios Grin Wouldnt have crossed my mind to actually ask them to open them though. was a talking point with the other neighbours as we all wanted to know if anyone knew the reason WHY

I thought they were unusual but it appears there are a lot of you about...

GraysAnalogy · 21/01/2015 16:14

The woman who lives above us has just stuck a note saying 'can you please ensure the door is closed when entering and exiting'

We're the only other people in the apartments so this must be aimed at us. But I'm not pleased as me and DP wait and watch the door to make sure it closes properly. every time because this has been a bone of contention with us because SHE keeps leaving it open.

OP can you come and give her a talking to for me?

GoringBit · 21/01/2015 16:14

Uh-oh, sounds like Coco is getting the soundproofed-room waterboard treatment.

LiviaDruscillaAugusta · 21/01/2015 16:14

Oh I just realised - it must be the OP's gardens and that of her committee friends that have the pampas grass - that's why the curtains are shut!

SistersOfPercy · 21/01/2015 16:15

My bush needs trimming as well.
nothing to do with this thread whatsoever

Mousefinkle · 21/01/2015 16:16

are you my Grandma? Grin. She has an issue with people who keep their 'drapes' (as she calls them) closed all day too. She thinks it's slobby and looks lazy Hmm.

I don't have 'drapes', just blinds and I rarely ever open the main window ones, I slightly tilt the side window blinds though to let some light in (bay window.) IDGAF how it makes me look and couldn't care less what others do either. Some people have issues with sunlight- migraines and such forth and others just don't like the possibility of strangers peeking through their windows, I can totally understand that.

GallicIsCharlie · 21/01/2015 16:19

Right, this has motivated me to put up the blinds I bought months ago. I keep my curtains closed because I live in a goldfish bowl. I'm not having nosey bastards watching my every movement!

I am not a young couple, though.

ghostinthecanvas · 21/01/2015 16:22

Curtain etiquette. Minefield. Just ask micky flanagan.

MsBojangles · 21/01/2015 16:22

I haven't opened my curtains since 2007 and I don't intend to start now.

squoosh · 21/01/2015 16:24

My bedroom was without curtains for nearly a year as I dithered over choosing new ones. In this time two roofers saw my bare bazookas.

I suspect this doesn't pass muster either.

ispentitwithyou · 21/01/2015 16:24

You lot are hil-lar!

NancyRaygun · 21/01/2015 16:24

I keep the living room curtains closed during the day because I like to smoke my bong in the nude when I'm watching Jeremy Kyle Ha!

I confess I keep mine closed as I like to snort MDMA off the back of the Argos catalogue before indulging in a game of Grand Theft Auto. After the DC are at nursery natch.

squoosh · 21/01/2015 16:24

Mousefinkle love the word 'drapes', think I'll start using that.

hesterton · 21/01/2015 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Seff · 21/01/2015 16:26

Why on earth would it bother somebody that people didn't open their curtains? I rarely open mine because it seems a bit pointless at this time of year. It's so bloody dark all the time that I need to have lights on anyway, whether the curtains are open or not.

I am slobby and lazy though, which clearly explains it.

hesterton · 21/01/2015 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hatespiders · 21/01/2015 16:28

Our bathroom has frosted glass, and at first we didn't put a blind up as I reckoned you couldn't see anything. Then one evening I was down the garden filling up the bird feeders and there was dh just got out of the shower drying this and that. There wasn't an inch of him you couldn't see.
We studied Curtain Etiquette and I put up a little curtain on a rod.