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Original poster

Would you report your neighbours?

140 replies

BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter · 22/10/2020 23:17

Sorry, another Covid-related thread.

Intrigued to see what the general consensus is on here, especially those of you who are under or are about to go under Tier 3.

If you saw your neighbours with someone in their garden, who you know are not occupants of the house (one, two, ten people, it doesn't matter) would you report them? Or would you leave them to it and crack on with your own business?

Whenever I've had conversations in real life it seems very 50/50, so I'm intrigued to see what the people of Mumsnet think.

OP posts:
calamityjam · 22/10/2020 23:42

No. If they were having a huge garden party I would and have reported, not for COVID reasons but because they made an actual club house in the garden it's huge and were partying every weekend all weekend

1stMrsF · 22/10/2020 23:42

No. I had this experience in lockdown and the bigger problem was how upset my DCs were that neighbours had visitors when we had none. And this caused a rift between DC friends. The neighbours then clearly told their DC that it was OK that they had broken the rules because we were breaking the rules too (had formed an support bubble before that was a thing) and this caused a further rift. So I'd be unhappy, but not shop them, because I can't see how that would ever be a helpful constructive thing amongst neighbours. The assumption in all such scenarios is that people have a flagrant disregard for the rules when in reality they may have reasons or situations that you are just not aware of.

Original poster
BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter · 22/10/2020 23:44

@DeliciouslyFemale

No. I overheard my neighbours slabbering about the fact that one of my adult nephews was in my garage, talking to me. Oh, they were ripping the back out of me. What they don’t know is, he’s a professional plumber and was up fixing a bad leak for me. Not one soul has been in my house since this virus hit these shores, never mind lockdown.
Sorry you had to go through this. A solid gold example of people needing to get the facts right before sticking their oar in!
OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 22/10/2020 23:46

No. We all do what we have to do to keep our sanity. If a neighbour had a couple of friends or family members there I wouldn't turn a hair.

If it was a full-on house party I might take a different view.

DeliciouslyFemale · 22/10/2020 23:50

Sorry you had to go through this. A solid gold example of people needing to get the facts right before sticking their oar in!

Thank you, OP. It didn’t bother me because they’re absolute scum anyway. He’ll will freeze over before I worry about their opinion of me.

CommanderBurnham · 22/10/2020 23:52

In wouldn't judge. I'd break the rules under certain circumstances.

I know and trust my neighbours, and if any of them did break the rules, I'd probably think that they've made a judgment call and they're happy with that, therefore so be it.

I'd like to think that my neighbours would speak to me about it before they called the police. Not sneaked behind my back and reported me.

Likewise I'd say something if I was that bothered.

crimsonlake · 22/10/2020 23:59

Seriously??
I have lived alone since March...followed all the rules...my neighbours have all sorts coming and going. Friends were passing today and phoned me from outside so I went to my door and chatted to them for a while.
Would you report me??

Chloemol · 23/10/2020 00:05

I wouldn’t need to as we all follow the rules

latheritup · 23/10/2020 00:07

Couldn't care less. Not my business.

Leaannb · 23/10/2020 00:10

What people do in their own gardens or yards are not my business. I can't control their behavior. Only my own.

N4ish · 23/10/2020 00:12

No, definitely not.

Leaannb · 23/10/2020 00:13

@1stMrsF

No. I had this experience in lockdown and the bigger problem was how upset my DCs were that neighbours had visitors when we had none. And this caused a rift between DC friends. The neighbours then clearly told their DC that it was OK that they had broken the rules because we were breaking the rules too (had formed an support bubble before that was a thing) and this caused a further rift. So I'd be unhappy, but not shop them, because I can't see how that would ever be a helpful constructive thing amongst neighbours. The assumption in all such scenarios is that people have a flagrant disregard for the rules when in reality they may have reasons or situations that you are just not aware of.
Wait you were mad that the neighbors jad broken the rules while you were breaking the rules? There is a name for that. Hypocrisy
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/10/2020 00:14

No. I actually have a life!!!

fortran · 23/10/2020 00:16

No.

clopper · 23/10/2020 00:17

No

Cabinfever10 · 23/10/2020 00:19

If it was any of my neighbours except 2 doors down no.
If it was the nightmare neighbours 2 doors down yes

Original poster
BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter · 23/10/2020 00:22

@crimsonlake

Seriously?? I have lived alone since March...followed all the rules...my neighbours have all sorts coming and going. Friends were passing today and phoned me from outside so I went to my door and chatted to them for a while. Would you report me??
Absolutely not; I feel awful for single people at the moment (people living alone I mean). Apologies that you may have missed the purpose of this thread; I didn't post this to get on my pedestal, wag my finger and tell you all I will report you. Just asking opinions, that's all.
OP posts:
PhilSwagielka · 23/10/2020 00:23

No, because I live in Manchester, not East Germany.

Original poster
BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter · 23/10/2020 00:28

Thanks to everyone for your responses - interesting to see your different opinions.

To set the record straight I am not in the process of reporting a neighbour, nor have I reported any of them. I sit firmly in the "as long as I do my bit I don't give a hoot what anyone else does" camp.

Simply looking for your views on the subject. Mumsnet never fails to disappoint Smile

Stay safe everyone.

OP posts:
CallmeIT · 23/10/2020 00:33

I’ve followed the rules from the off. My next door neighbours haven’t. Regardless of the law I wouldn’t be reporting them for the “crime” of having family visit and I don’t believe that anyone else should either. The behaviour of Cummings et al seems to have gone unpunished. I’m not sure why Mr and Mrs Bloggs should be. (And for the record I can’t stand my neighbours!)

Anordinarymum · 23/10/2020 01:15

I would not report anyone. What other people do is none of my business and you never know what is going on in someone else's life do you

notanoctopus · 23/10/2020 01:53

I don't feel comfortable with reporting. I may report if they were having a big party or something though.

grassisjeweled · 23/10/2020 01:56

Nah

soffiee · 23/10/2020 02:08

No I wouldn't report anyone and to be honest I won't notice anyway BECAUSE I HAVE A LIFE.

flaviaritt · 23/10/2020 06:19

I’m not a Soviet stooge. Unless they were clearly taking the piss and behaving in a dangerous way I’d mind my own business.

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