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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Elderly male looking through my window.

369 replies

LilOnline · 07/02/2021 16:57

My building is on ta quiet pavement with very little foot traffic, with the living room windows overlooking the pavement (and a nice park across the quiet road). I am on the ground floor and have plantation shutters in the living room. I have the shutter louvers open during the day as its the only source of light for the room. I am a single female and I live alone. This is my main living area and I am in that room the majority of time as I'm working from home.

There is an elderly man (perhaps late 60s) who has been slipping greeting cards through the mail slot on my front door for the last year, at least once a month. The cards are usually blank, though he has left a message and signed his first name with his address and phone number (his address is about 5 minutes walk away). Messages are fairly impersonal - how he likes my shutters and to have a nice day. I know who he is as I’ve seen him out the window walking away from my house after the card was dropped through the mail slot a few times. I generally ignore this. My problem is that he is now looking into my house from the pavement when he is walking by. Although he is elderly and probably harmless or lonely, I am very uncomfortable with this. I value my privacy and although I know a few neighbours, I mostly keep to myself. I do not want to make new local friends in this way.

Am I being unreasonable if I drop a letter through his post (given he gave me his address) ? Could you suggest wording for the message. I was thinking something like this:
“Could you stop sending me cards and looking through my window. I am uncomfortable with this. I’ll raise this with the police if this continues.”
My concern is he may knock on my door to apologise. How do I nicely put in my message that I don’t want to be friends.

OP posts:
Chipsahoy · 08/02/2021 11:32

You’ve done the right thing. There is way too much pressure on women to be nice and to worry about what others think. Fuck that, if he has dementia then it’s best police are involved who can refer to social services. Otherwise he’s likely a creep. He isn’t elderly. But even he is, so what? Elderly implies he probably wouldn’t be scary or a danger. Age is irrelevant. Ever been sexually assaulted by a man in their late 60s or 70s? I can assure you, both men I encountered knew what they were doing and were far stronger than me.

billyt · 08/02/2021 12:29

Lilonline,

Please ignore anyone suggesting nets. If you're like me you have shutters because nets/voiles etc are fugly. Also, why should you have to change anything for a peaceful life?

I have shutters. If yours are separate top and bottom blades then the best way is to have the lower half sloping down from in to out. And the top half sloping up from in to out. It stops anyway walking along looking in unless they crouch down and then their view is very restricted, but the top part lets light in as it 'bounces/reflects' off of the blades.

Also, I'm a bloke in his 60's and if anyone called me elderly I would not be impressed. I still play football (although I'm slower, I play more in goal Grin) I do all my own DIY, I run and enjoy life.

HerdyGerdy · 08/02/2021 12:33

I’m curious @billyt what you think your humble bragging in the final paragraph achieves here? Or is that that you’ve misjudged the terror that some men inflict with their thoughtless behaviour?

gnushoes · 08/02/2021 13:08

@herdygerdy he's making the perfect valid point that late 60s ISN'T ELDERLY. So much casual ageism on here.

UpSchittsCreekWithoutAPaddle · 08/02/2021 13:13

I'm in my twenties, and a man in his sixties posting notes through my door and expressing romantic interest would be elderly to me. He might not strictly be elderly, if there is some recognised definition of what elderly means, but in romantic terms, I would classify him as elderly, because he would be well outwith the age group I would consider.

So not elderly in general terms, but elderly in romantic terms due to the age gap in the person he is targetting. By comparison, I wouldn't think of my female neighbour in her sixties as elderly at all.

littlepattilou · 08/02/2021 13:21

@lighteincastlewindow

what is wrong with people on this forum. You go out and tell him, that you don't want messages through your door. You don't call the cops (which aggravates everything) you just say stop doing it. No interest in neighbourly relations' OP come on FFs.
Worst advice I've seen on this thread.

Do NOT do this FFS @LilOnline

littlepattilou · 08/02/2021 13:29

@Googlebrained

The person who asked why these lonely men never seem to approach other men had it spot on. It's always younger women that they seem to fixate on. I haven't had any men befriending me for years. Wonder why that is Hmm...

OP you did exactly the right thing. Please ignore all those people suggesting you contact him. If he has any stalking tendencies that will just feed into his fantasy. And if he has dementia, it doesn't mean he's harmless as PP have suggested. If anything it can mean he's more dangerous as he may have lost his inhibitions.

I'm not suggesting you feel scared in your own house, but just be aware that it doesn't escalate. And if anyone speaks to this guy it should be the police and not you.

Thanks GB. That was me who said these weird kind of men NEVER engage with other men. Unless someone else said it too!

The man I know (who I referred to at 18.31 yesterday) is a bit like that... chats away, and tries 'banter' with most women he meets (usually ones who are 20 years or more younger.) But he never engages with men. He just ignores them.

When any woman he 'hits on' ignores him, he waits til she's out of earshot, and then says 'miserable cunt.'

Because she had the AUDACITY to ignore him, and not smile sweetly, and simper, and giggle at his 'hilarious' quip, apparently she is a miserable cunt. Hmm

Some men are even worse, and get angry and aggressive if they are rebuffed, and the woman's life can be in danger. Some men don't think ANY woman should be rejecting them. It's like they assume all women are there ONLY for the entertainment and pleasure of men.

It fucks me off so bad, the amount of shit women have to endure, during their lifetime. MUCH of it caused by men. Hmm

CSIblonde · 08/02/2021 13:36

His age doesn't make him harmless. My neighbours vulnerable 15 year was befriended by a man in his late 60's at our bus stop at the end of the road . That progressed to giving her money & offering to buy her booze on the condition she drank it at his house, stating " I know you're not 16 but it's ok if it's at home". He was obviously grooming her & luring her to his home. Also, sex offenders start of with peeping Tom behaviour & stalking etc then usually escalate to worse , according the the Police woman who took my statement after a groping incident with a repair guy a few years back.

Christinaismyperson · 08/02/2021 13:38

There’s nothing wrong with describing someone in there late 60s as elderly, it’s within the NHS parameters and past retirement age. However it would be wrong to assume elderly means frail. A man in his late 60s and beyond is just as dangerous as a younger man. Maybe more so as he has the benefit of maturity life experience and still hasn’t figured out this behaviour is not ok.

Elderly male looking through my window.
CandyLeBonBon · 08/02/2021 13:39

Also, I'm a bloke in his 60's and if anyone called me elderly I would not be impressed. I still play football (although I'm slower, I play more in goal ) I do all my own DIY, I run and enjoy life.

Tinder is that way >>>

billyt · 08/02/2021 13:47

@HerdyGerdy

I’m curious *@billyt* what you think your humble bragging in the final paragraph achieves here? Or is that that you’ve misjudged the terror that some men inflict with their thoughtless behaviour?
Certainly not mis-judging or minimising anyone's thoughtless behaviour. No-one should feel frightened, worried or terrified by another's actions at any time.

And hardly bragging, for crying out loud. As gnushoes said, I was just clarifying a point that several posters have made.

Whatflavourjellybabyisnice · 08/02/2021 13:58

Totally agree with the people on here telling the OP to call the police or deem it as harassment.
I grew up in a family that sex shamed me and I was given no idea of what to expect or what boundaries to enforce.
When a man in the street recently pulled his penis out in front of me, I told my family and my narcissistic mum's response was to tell me I should have walked a different way..... because of course I would have known he was there.
Standard response from her.

o8O8O8o · 08/02/2021 14:04

His age doesn't make him harmless
indeed and he will be aware that a sweet old man act is a good way to get people to trust you, this is the first and most important part of grooming, if you can get someone to trust you then you have an open goal and you can do what you like

BigRedBoat · 08/02/2021 14:20

To the people saying he might be friendly, or might be romantically interested in the OP - do you make friends by repeatedly posting cards through strangers doors and staring at them through the window? Do any of your friends and family behave like that? I highly doubt it.

The cause behind his weird behaviour (and it is weird to repeatedly stare into a house blinds/shutters/nets or not) isn't for the OP to identify, it doesn't really matter if he has dementia or is just a creep , his behaviour is not acceptable.

Imloosingmyshit · 08/02/2021 15:10

Don’t respond. And cover your windows. People will look in a window. I do it without realising. Especially if it’s dark and all the lights are in, can’t help but be drawn to look! But he shouldn’t be hovering about staring at you. Maybe he is lonely, but I don’t think his behaviour is reasonable. I would go to police for some advice.

DagenhamRoundhouse · 08/02/2021 17:29

My DH is 72 and I'd be horrified if I thought he was doing something like this!

DagenhamRoundhouse · 08/02/2021 17:30

Could be this man has no idea he's behaving inappropriately but it's good you've reported it.

OVienna · 08/02/2021 17:35

@Christinaismyperson

There’s nothing wrong with describing someone in there late 60s as elderly, it’s within the NHS parameters and past retirement age. However it would be wrong to assume elderly means frail. A man in his late 60s and beyond is just as dangerous as a younger man. Maybe more so as he has the benefit of maturity life experience and still hasn’t figured out this behaviour is not ok.
This, exactly.
ARantADay · 08/02/2021 17:35

I would 100% call the police and get them to warn him off. I've had a few really creepy experiences with men and me being an empathetic woman always felt sorry for them and it escalated (badly). It's really creepy and definitely stalker behaviour. Don't be fooled by him being older either, it doesn't mean he's harmless. I have developed zero tolerance for the creepy shit men like him do from bitter experience and I advise all women to do the same.

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 08/02/2021 17:42

He’s perfectly entitled to look in from the pavement. If you don’t want people to look in it’s your responsibility to cover your windows. The police will do nothing about it as he’s doing nothing wrong and a few kind letters is hardly harassment or anything

I think it’s lovely he’s been dropping little notes off. Maybe he is incredibly lonely, lost loved ones etc.

Pliudev · 08/02/2021 17:42

Without wishing to undermine the seriousness of this (and I agree, ring the police) you people have made my day! I'm (very) late 60s and delighted that I don't need to think of myself as elderly anymore.

Bertiebiscuit · 08/02/2021 17:43

Straight to the police - this is stalking and intimidating behaviour and needs to be stopped - don't engage with him just keep all the evidence and make a diary of it all and then ring the National Stalking Helpline who will open a case file for you and give you advice as to how to proceed. This man is breaking the law and victimising you. Full stop.

Maryberryscake · 08/02/2021 17:44

@Sarahrellyboo1987

He’s perfectly entitled to look in from the pavement. If you don’t want people to look in it’s your responsibility to cover your windows. The police will do nothing about it as he’s doing nothing wrong and a few kind letters is hardly harassment or anything

I think it’s lovely he’s been dropping little notes off. Maybe he is incredibly lonely, lost loved ones etc.

It’s not lovely when he doesn’t take the hint the op isn’t responding. He then ups the game by peering in her window. Creepy
Lulu49 · 08/02/2021 17:48

You say late 60s but he could be a very well preserved late 70s and could think he is just doing a neighbourly thing in this time of isolation for a lot of people. Could it be a case of mistaken identity? How long have you lived there? Could he think you are the previous occupant. Does he put your name on the card? How would he know your name? Could be something very innocent. He could have dementia. Could you seek help from one of his neighbours as he’s given you his address? Did you say you had his phone number? Maybe a call from someone else to his explaining your concerns could clear it up? Your local community officer could pay him a visit, you know, the unofficial police x

DNHandTNS · 08/02/2021 17:49

Ever been sexually assaulted by a man in their late 60s or 70s? I can assure you, both men I encountered knew what they were doing and were far stronger than me.

So sorry @Chipsahoy for your awful experiences, so grim and so yuk for you! :( Not to mention downright traumatising Flowers Thanks for the warning.