AIBU people staring into my house

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

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 😭

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

@BMW6

That really, REALLY made me laugh. Have quite a creepy Venetian mask that might do the trick PMSL

@TeddyIsaHe

Yes, yes they do! We are in a subhurb with a lot of people
Walking past. Maybe you are in TOO busy an area?

[1forsorrow]

I've got a giant plant, no one can see past it. We've had it for 40 years and it is a monster but part of the family.

[Louise91417]

I have this problem because of how my house is positioned..i wave or occassionally give the fingers (or 1) depending on mood

[TeddyIsaHe]

@Wheredidallmytreesgo I don’t know but this would drive me potty.

I’d run out the front door shrieking at them every time I think!

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

@TeddyIsaHe

In my worse moments I have been very tempted to shriek out the window

[Coffeecak3]

@1forsorrow does your plant eat people?

[ShowOfHands]

I bet they aren't looking at you.

I always look at people's houses and gardens when I'm walking. Mostly, I'm admiring their flowers and trees or looking at the architecture. I never look directly in somebody's windows.

Most people look at houses and gardens, they draw the eye.

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

does your plant eat people?

HA!!!!!!

[Jaxhog]

YANBU. We used to have people (women) walk up to our front window and look in. Of course it's rude. But it's also human nature to be curious. I spoke to the 2 women who used to do it to us and asked them not to. They stopped.

If you can't catch them at it and ask them not to, then ignore them. It's only until you have your wall up.

[Laundrywoman]

even privacy film which isn’t always easy to get off

You can get some that clings via static - just wet the window and put
the film [cut it to size] on. It's really easy put up and just peels off, no sticky stuff required .

www.amazon.co.uk/EASEHOME-Adhesive-Frosted-Decorative-45x200cm/dp/B07BK39W2M/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n2_0?psc=1&keywords=window%20film&pd_rd_i=B07BK39W2M&qid=1591208786&cv_ct_cx=window%20film&dchild=1&pf_rd_p=e3a968a9-db34-4cb6-962f-ddcde7323cf7&pd_rd_wg=n1B3S&pf_rd_r=WJ0QB89MGPXQMCXVFGZ4&pd_rd_w=vhi9h&pd_rd_r=93566f1a-944f-4fc3-a06e-438eae573862&sr=1-2-91e9aa57-911e-4628-99b3-09163b7d9294&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Lardlizard]

Maybe they are getting decorating ideas!

[Lardlizard]

Open the window and ask do you want a photo 🤣

[Jaichangecentfoisdenom]

Put up temporary curtains or stop complaining. I will ALWAYS look inside the front windows of a lit, uncurtained house, it's natural curiosity. You can't complain if you won't do something about it. And look, Laundrywoman has an excellent solution!

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

I could do one of
Those living portraits in the window? Perhaps
This?

[Neap]

I've got a giant plant, no one can see past it. We've had it for 40 years and it is a monster but part of the family.

This was my approach when we lived in a raised ground-floor flat in London. We had a monster cheeseplant that must have looked like a Triffid from the street.

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

@Jaichangecentfoisdenom

The house isn’t lit though, it’s summer. Natural curiosity should be weighed up against “not being a nosy Parker” 😁

[acatcalledjohn]

I grew up in a tourist area where the majority of tourists came from a country where curtains were kept closed, so we frequently had people stand still and gawp. We found the best way to deal with that was to smile and wave. It makes people feel very uncomfortable

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

@RiverRush

Ok, both eyes twitching now

[Bargebill19]

We get people walking up our drive (all of about 20ft) and leaning over our gate to look at our patch/‘garden’. It’s brown grass and a few scraggly pot plants.... but apparently it’s the most interesting thing ever for little old ladies .... we have a sign up saying private property and we are right at the end of the village.
Apparently I’m rude for asking them to leave once I’ve discovered they are looking for directions to the main highlight of the village - the post box.
Op... people are plain noisy. Stick posters or newspaper up until the wall is built.

[Ihavenoidewhatsgoingon]

I remember helping my nana clean windolene off the windows after it had dried - was so much fun as a child as you could draw on it

[GU24Mum]

I used some window film from a company called Brume once - it will dim the light slightly but nothing like closing curtains will do and it's also reasonably cheap. Would that work short-term?

[Wheredidallmytreesgo]

@Bargebill19

WE HAVE A POST BOX RIGHT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE!!!! Im sure it’s responsible for so much traffic. Never seen a post box used this much. People are posting a lot of letters.

But yes, that sounds maddening for you. What was the brown dirt for?!

Sure anyone local on here knows who I am now; perhaps they will wave in tomorrow

[Iamnotminterested]

Our living room is at the front of the house, separated from the pavement by a garden of about 2 metres depth, low stone wall (which people will stop to sit on on their way past - we live on a hill - but that's a whole other thread...) and a large sash window with a blind. People do stare in, but tbh it doesn't bother me, and if they REALLY stare I wave at them.

[MissMoiselle]

YANBU. It is annoying. Someone mentioned plants. Could you not buy one or two tall, leafy plants to block the direct view into your living room? Once your wall is up you can always put them in another room. If you have a window seat, maybe put them on top of it, no need for tall pots?