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.

Basketball is a team sport and people do individual practice of different elements of it. From what you've described, he's not playing basketball. He's just repeatedly throwing/bouncing a ball. Which is bloody annoying for everyone else. Get him down the park or sports centre.

Just let it go or you’ll end up with all out war! A bit of music in the garden isn’t that bad.

Theres something called a silent basketball. I don’t play myself so don’t know a lot about it but might be worth a look

13 is old enough to go to a park to play a noisy sport like basketball.

I say that as a parent with teens who play

https://www.amazon.co.uk/YGYZKJSD-Basketball-Uncoated-High-Density-Lightweight/dp/B0CQWYR4HL/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?adgrpid=139063989985&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r7-QT8FbcOqNh7XFpkMm81wghGLX495540_3RxgtfLsdonRDtSZawzX_795GwlN9yj0oNzwLGiCEPOOFYh7ewush_l1msdxLlkVyaMTw9afRzcKDpw_XlewnFs428uBg_FbE8kaCgG5MIEhftzdstPJZDlK6UeWPi4sRHxxm5mBhpZmEvw0qxoZg196Ojsb8sONG4lUFO5DW5kPR4mvxNhaYtT8yPdosUE73bQ_8ps91dgmvbSW1GVZbIfhNu8yzd3j_Th6WlxdA_Mf4INU-Vd6x_XJ8ELhHkTGf1A51Trs.HiIiuVey5pkwdtBSM9a0xmabGhueNmX0LiWf_L1kh_I&dib_tag=se&hvadid=678220772546&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9046229&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5670672091819677085&hvtargid=kwd-359230208625&hydadcr=24890_2271926&keywords=silent+basketball&qid=1723288779&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1]]

As AIBUs go, this one is a slam dunk.

UR Hideously U @OpalBird

how will you feel if they say fine that's how long we will play music for but it won't be at the same time that your son is practicing?

can we just take a moment to appreciate a post in AIBU where the poster has accepted that they are in fact BU. 👏🏻

I had an hour of radio during the week when I was trying to work from home last week.

I had 2 weeks of the neighbours having their roof replaced. Combined with the other side having trees cut down.

The other week DH had COVID and wasn't allowed on site (policy) but wasn't actually ill. He was messing with his project car right outside my office window.

One of my neighbours has his radio on while he gardens.

Over the road like to stand on their drive and squabble.

It's part and parcel of living in amongst other people. One hour of radio is nothing. Imagine trying to work with the thud thud thud of a ball constantly happening. Then tell us you're not unreasonable.

Which is it a few times a day or three or four times a day ?

Your own admissions seem to vary.

Maybe they are using the music to drown out the basketball noise.

Well done for being so gracious in realising your error. Personally I'd look into a quiet rubber area and quiet balls regardless so your DS can hopefully enjoy his sport more without annoying the neighbours.

OP, your son playing basket ball four times a day for 30 minute periods adds to a total of 2 hours a day. If you think that is not excessive, then surely you don't think your neighbours playing music for two hours (the same amount of time your son- which happens everyday), is unreasonable? Give over

Massively unreasonable to play basketball for so long. At 13 he is old enough to go elsewhere to play it. Repeatedly bouncing a ball is a very invasive noise, your poor neighbours.

I play basketball with a team and train and play twice a week. You and your son are totally out of order. It’s a team sport with opportunities to do extra shooting practice in local parks. No one on my team has a basket at home for practicing exactly for the reason you’re getting criticised here.

The very idea of you being allowed to make noise and they're not is hilariously entitled.

Occasional music or radio? You’ve got to be kidding me that you’re thinking about complaining. What if they sneeze, do they need to come round to apologise? Presumably you’ve also asked them to quietly push their car down the road before starting the engine?
Honestly, this place just gets more and more batshit by the day.

As I and many others have said, why is your son doing this AT HOME, in the GARDEN? Why does he not go and practice on a basketball court/in the park etc? As a number of posters have said, you sound utterly self-aware and clueless. Thank God you're not my neighbour!

Not read every single post but if a basketball was banging against an adjoining wall or fence or even in a driveway, several times a day, it would drive me mental. That's a horrible thing to put up with - any bang, bang, bang, sound.

This!

So let them enjoy their garden with music. You sound entitled and selfish.

The basketball is only about half an hour at a time, a few times a day.

Nightmare.

Ball games where you can hear the 'thump' of a ball are a kind of torture.

You are harassing your neighbours. Leave them alone it's only 2 hours of music you sound awful and entitled.

Two hours a day of an annoying thumping noise…you are minimising that yet not their noise.

Apologies if it's already been suggested but is there any sort of indoor area where he could go some of the time to practice? And during school time, maybe a school gym or one to use after school? I appreciate it isn't the same as being outdoors but it does sound excessive, particularly the before school playing.

You're going to tell them to stop playing music. You sound odd leave them alone.