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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People Looking In Lounge

131 replies

headinhands · 12/04/2018 09:52

Public pavement runs past house lounge. No blinds or nets. People look in when they walk past. Would you put a sign up in the window saying 'please don't look in'?

OP posts:
SillyLittleBiscuit · 12/04/2018 09:54

I'd put up a blind before I put up a sign. A sign would cause people to look longer I think - stalling to read the sign then wondering what we weren't allowed to look at.

YouTheCat · 12/04/2018 09:54

No. I'd put up blinds or nets.

hopelessbusiness · 12/04/2018 09:54

I think it's human nature to look in, I find myself doing it when I walk the dog in the evenings - I don't mean to but your eyes get drawn towards a bare window! If it bothers you, nets/blinds/voiles. Simples.

Littlebelina · 12/04/2018 09:55

I remember having a house like that (although it was a little set back) and getting up from the sofa once to spot a woman staring straight into my front room. She had the nerve to stare back at me for a minute before walking off.

Unfortunately unless you put nets, blinds or frosting up I think you have to put up with it. A sign will catch folks attention and mean you might get more people looking in.

Stringofpearls · 12/04/2018 09:55

I'm not sure if I'd want a sign in my window, people would probably end up looking more closely! Could you perhaps get one of those sheer one way blinds that still lets light through?

ILikeMyChickenFried · 12/04/2018 09:55

I think people do it without thinking. I was for this reason we put up nets.

OneStepSideways · 12/04/2018 09:56

It's natural to look, I would without thinking. A sign would make me want to look more, it's too inviting! Why not get nets or blinds? You can get temporary stick on blinds from Blinds In A Box

ApproachingATunnel · 12/04/2018 09:56

If you want more attention then go ahead with the sign.
Alternatively just put up blinds, simples.

MarklahMarklah · 12/04/2018 09:56

Went past a house on a busy cut-through recently. They had one of those light-box signs (that you create your own messages on) in the window. It said "Nosy Parker!"

polarb · 12/04/2018 09:57

I just wave if they stare too long. Works every time.

Pinkvoid · 12/04/2018 09:57

I look in from the bus sometimes and can see what people are watching on tv.

littlemissalwaystired · 12/04/2018 09:58

Shutters look beautiful and still let light in, whilst preventing people looking in. A blind would either have to be up or down but you could have shutter stats half open.

MakeMineALarge1 · 12/04/2018 09:58

Put up nets or voile, I will admit I am nosey and love a good toot, I do try to be discrete though.

However there is a house near a certain restaurant we go to, they never have any nets etc, light on and they are hoarders, I can't help but look.

IsDaveThere · 12/04/2018 09:58

There is a house on my street (terraced houses, no gardens, front doors/windows open straight into the front room) and in the summer, they always have their front door wide open. Their sofa is right next to the door so every time I walk past, I look in and usually see the householder sat looking straight back at me. I don;t mean to look in, its kind of automatic as you can see the door is wide open so your head automatically turns!

Why they do it I will never know, everyone who walks past probably looks in. If it is for airflow or to cool down (in the UK?) I think I would have to get a lightweight curtain or something put over the door just for privacy!

Slievenamon · 12/04/2018 09:59

Public pavement runs past house lounge. No blinds or nets. People look in when they walk past. Would you put a sign up in the window saying 'please don't look in'?

no, I'd put up blinds like anyone else would. People can't help looking in, you're pretty much inviting them to!

WorraLiberty · 12/04/2018 10:00

Would you put a sign up in the window saying 'please don't look in'?

Haha! That's batshit. Who did this? Grin

lirpaloof · 12/04/2018 10:01

I agree with SillyLittleBiscuit - a sign will just attract people's attention. I'm not a big fan of nets so would opt for frosting the lower half of the windows.

bulgingtoolbox · 12/04/2018 10:01

We have this too. Strangers have even waived through the window at us! We have now used the sticky frosting window cling so its now obscured. We still get the light coming in but people can't nose in.

WorraLiberty · 12/04/2018 10:02

Stick one of these on the driveway.

People Looking In Lounge
AnoiaUnstickMyDrawers · 12/04/2018 10:02

My friend had a house like this. It drove her nuts. Unfortunately it's natural that any movement will catch people's eye, whether that's the TV or people or a pet or whatever. A sign won't make any difference.

You need nets / voile / similar.

TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 12/04/2018 10:02

Putting up a sign would be very odd indeed. Putting up nets or a blind would be normal!

I LOVE dog walks in the dark, just so I can have a look into people's houses, and I'm happy for others to do the same back. I'm always tempted to wave ...

SluttyButty · 12/04/2018 10:03

What are nets like these days? We have the same 'problem', it doesn't overly bother me but I'm considering either blinds or nets. I'm leaning towards nets because I can't be arsed with dusting Venetian blinds, nets can just be bunged in the machine.
I'm just wondering if I've turned into my mother if I put nets up Wink

MichaelKnightsCar · 12/04/2018 10:03

I admit I'm a bit nosey and look in when I'm walking the dog in the evenings and people have their lights on.
All the houses round here are the same (1950s) and I'm interested to see what other people have done with their rooms/decor etc.
It's like an interiors magazine but life sized and I like looking for ideas/tips.
I don't stand and stare though, just a quick glance when I walk past.
If there are people in the room I'm not looking at them, I'm looking at their wallpaper or soft furnishings

AJPTaylor · 12/04/2018 10:09

We have nets. I agree its just human nature. A sign will make it worse.

AlpacaLypse · 12/04/2018 10:10

We had a shared house like this back in student days. We spent a merry afternoon once with one person lurking below the window sill waiting and another on watch. Whenever a passer by peered in the watcher would say 'go' and a sign would be popped up by the lurker which said 'Hello!!!'

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