Quiet neighbours now making noise.

[OpalBird]

My neighbours talked to us about the noise coming from our property. OK, my son has a hobby that does make an annoying noise. Since then we have made sure he's doing it less but we obviously aren't going to stop him completely. They haven't said anything since and I think we've been considerate in reducing the number of hours our son does his thing.

It seems like they've now decided that they are allowed to make more noise. We've been neighbours for years and they've always been quiet. Now we get occasional music or radio in their backyard. When I asked them about it they said they have always worn headphones to be considerate but they don't really like listening that way, so they thought it was fair they got to have their hobbies the way they enjoy them best as well.

Would I be unreasonable to complain to them again? There is a difference between children playing and music when they have the option of headphones.

He plays basketball 2 hours a day, they play the radio for 2 hours a day. It'll be winter soon , does he still play.

Thank you.

Four lots of half an hour is two hours, so you’re equal!

When the weather allows.

Totally agree.

I’m with you on this. The repetition is like Chinese water torture. I have a neighbour who constantly smashes a ball against a fence and it really gets to me.

So he plays pretty much all year and all they've done is sit out in the garden for a couple of hours listening to the radio while the weather's been good. Is this a wind up ..

Brits are really precious about basketball noise. Almost every driveway in the US with kids has a hoop. Or they drag it into the street. Honestly, it's fine.

Suspect the difference in proximity of houses to one another makes the difference.
That and the average size of houses which makes it harder to escape a noise which is starting to irritate.

Yes, because you say it's a noise that is very common, expected and accepted in the states.

And one that people probably make themselves if most homes with kids will have a basketball hoop.

Over here it's not nearly as common, so is a lot more grating and intrusive for people to have to listen to.

Three or four times a day of the basketball bouncing for half an hour at a time and you're getting pissed off about their radio playing for a few hours a day? Are you serious?

Do you realise that they can probably hear the bounce of the basketball above their tv?

You are definitely being unreasonable and antisocial too. Why can't your son go and play basketball at the park?

Petition the council/local park authority to add a basketball hoop to a existing court.

To be honest, I'd probably do the same if I were them.
The high-pitched thud thud of a basketball is a really irritating sound. I'm not surprised they decided to reduce their own attempts to live quietly.

I think the noise caused by your son and the noise caused by your neighbours both fall within in the realms of normal, acceptable noise. If it was 2am every night then this would be unreasonable.

Please could some one tell me what "this is a reverse" means??

OP the best thing to do is your first suggestion. Pop over, say hello and be warm, say you want to check in re the basketball noise - how is it working for them etc. Go from there. My neighbours son occasionally plays and it is an utterly jarring, irritating noise that you can help but tune into. Though I completely understand children are best playing outside and the sport of choice cannot be helped.

And at least most radio stations are decent and tolerable.

A ball being bounced repeatedly is one of THE most annoying noises. Ant your son go to a park?
If I was your neighbour I would make much less effort too.

OpalBird · Today 10:31
OK I'm going to suggest we limit it to half an hour a day and one hour a day on the weekends. That's a huge reduction for our son and I think it's got to be within reasonable.”

It doesn’t matter how much of a reduction it is. He shouldn’t be repeatedly bouncing a ball at all.

You sound entitled and selfish.Good job you don’t live next door to me I would be blasting out Eminem for hours on end.Stop trying to twist that it’s inconsiderate and selfish not to allow a child their hobby when that hobby is anti social in the extreme.

I imagine the basketball noise interrupts their day when they're watching tv, reading, having a bath etc.

Would I be unreasonable to complain to them again? There is a difference between children playing and music when they have the option of headphones.

haha, if i were your neighbours having to put up with half an hour of basketball multiple times a day, and you complained about my music in my garden - depending on mood i'd laugh at you and carry on or tell you to get to fuck. I can't believe you have the utter gall to think they should use headphones.

Children don't get to annoy everyone and everyone just has to suck it up. If you don't want neighbour noise, move to where you don't have any.

A little music is normal everyday noise in a house, the issue is, you have become accustomed to your neighbour being extremely considerate, and very quiet.

I'm very tolerant to noise, living surrounded by other houses, but one of the neighbours plays basketball once in a blue moon, and the noise drives me insane.

Well done for taking this on board OP. I'm sure you'll come out the other side of this. Good neighbour relations are gold.

I dont get you OP - your son is now playing with his basketball for approx 30mins 4 times a day (ie 2 hours in total) but you are objecting to your neighbours having their radio on for 2 hours.
Tbh both behaviours would annoy me as a neighbour. But.............. it IS good that your son is keen on playing out, exercising etc. That is a good thing but if its fine for you to make noise its fine for you neighbours to also.

Do you live in some weird world where people don't get up before 10? You might be the outlier on that one