Was this neighbour "entitled to say what he wants in his own garden?"

[MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes]

My friend shared a funny story this morning.

Her garden ends in a six foot fence, which backs onto another garden for the house behind her. They are large, very long gardens.

The man of this house, clearly thinking he had found a secluded spot away from his kids, was having a VERY explicit conversation with his wife on the phone, at the end of his garden, right against the fence. He was describing in great detail exactly what he was going to do to her when she returned home from her trip.

Trouble is, friend and her kids were sat right on the other side of the fence. They have a decking area there with chairs, tables, kids toys etc.

She couldn't let this conversation go on in earshot of her kids (3yo and 5yo) so she cheerfully shouted over the fence "very happy for your wife mate, but my kids are two feet away from you!" To which she heard a fumbled "shit, hold on" and then silence.

She reiterated this story to us, we all laughed, and agreed she did the right thing.

Retold story to husband just now who laughed, but said really, she had no right to tell him anything and embarrass him. It's his garden, he can have that conversation if he wants, and she should have moved the kids away until it stopped.

I disagree and think if you're going to live around other people you need to think of other people.

Who's right?
Reasonable - me and my friends
unreasonable - my DH

Er, the bloke in this situation went "oh shit", and presumably changed his behaviour after.
So, what is the AIBU?

Is your husband usually a pointless contrarian?

I think your hue and had a good point. But I assume I am in the minority.

I’ve voted the wrong way and I think many will because if the descriptions!

I’m surprised the vote is so high for YABU. I bet none of them would want a graphic sexual conversation detailed in front of their young kids. I mean, he didn’t know they were there, so he wasn’t being unreasonable, but she made him aware and he stopped (normal response). Your DH would have carried on and told his neighbour he can say what he wants in his own garden? Who are you married to?

Im pretty sure that no one in their right mind wouldn't want any child to overhear their explicit adult themed conversations.
The guy clearly wasnt aware anyone was listening and stopped as soon as he was informed.

Men like to shove male responsibility on women. This is a perfect example!

Yet she is ALSO in her own yard. Does she and her kids not have the right to freely enjoy their yard? Why is his freedom clearly more important? Especially when he's trying to be secretive?

And said what to you?? I hate smoking too 😂

His freedom is equally as important as hers. But she is the one who had a problem with her kids overhearing something she didn’t want them to. It’s for her to move her kids away - not seek to restrict what someone else talks about in their own garden.

This!

Your DH is talking rubbish.
Your kids are entitled to be in their garden without exposure to sexuallly explicit conversations.
That man would have prefered 🤣not to be heard, I would imagine, also.
Whats wrong with your DH head???😫
His what's right/wrong radar is way off

Must've been a slow day at the police station...

If he didn’t want his own kids to hear then why should anybody else have to listen to it, he obviously wanted a private conversation with his wife and wasn’t wanting anyone to overhear him too

That when the interaction was relayed the opinions varied as to whether or not anything should've been said.

Just like he has a right to say what he wants in his own garden?

Why would anyone put a seating area as close to their neighbours as they can? Surely sitting as far away as possible would be preferable?

Erm...

"In the UK, you are not free to say whatever you want in your yard if it can be heard by neighbours. The law does not recognize an absolute right to privacy or unrestricted speech on your property if it constitutes a statutory nuisance or falls under hate speech"

Good point. 🎾

It's not.

In the UK, you are not free to say whatever you want in your yard if it can be heard by neighbors. The law does not recognize an absolute right to privacy or unrestricted speech on your property if it constitutes a statutory nuisance or falls under hate speech

Sex workers don't allow themselves to be tied up, for obvious reasons. Duh.

The neighbour did not realise he was being overheard, and his conversation was to his wife.... so it is hardly unreasonable, persistent, and substantial interference, and it is definitely not hate speech.

Yes, was just in answer as to whether or not one can say whatever they want.

I do like that you pointed out it definitely wasn't hate speech. Made me laugh. ☺️

I would argue it was the opposite to hate speech 😁

Tell me you don’t live in an overpopulated area without telling me etc. How else are gardens supposed to be configured?