I wonder if someone could advise, please. I'm normally a calm, rational person who tries always to see the best in people but unfortunately despite this, our neighbours, since they moved in a few years ago, have gone out of their way to fall out with us.
We tried so hard to welcome them to our small town, inviting them over, helping them with out when their garden fence fell down, other bits and pieces, their DC played with our youngest etc. But suddenly and out of the blue, they became very hostile to us and were even verbally abusive to our eldest DS, then 12, when he asked to retrieve a frisbee that he had accidentally sent into their garden. My DH and I tried to work out what had gone wrong, but we then found out that they had also fallen out with another couple who lived close to them so concluded it wasn't just us in their firing line.
We accepted that there was no law that said they had to like us but have always remained cordial and civil in any of the very few interactions subsequently. However, their hostility has not diminished and has latterly focused on an issue to do with the fence on our boundary. We have tried to do all we can to accommodate their demands, even at our own expense, as I'm a believer in live and let live and I feel sorry for them that they are so perpetually angry at the world.
However, this has now taken a new turn as they have begun to post comments on our local FB page that are libellous as they explicitly state blatant lies about us. It is highly personal and very distressing; they have a platform and are making the most of it. Unfortunately a few people innocently responded to their initial remarks and it has escalated as they are obviously now fired up. No one has subsequently commented or liked the posts so clearly people are stepping away as it is pretty distasteful stuff but it has left us and our DC feeling really exposed and uncomfortable in what is a pretty close-knit community.
Some of my friends are lawyers and always advise to adopt the maxim of never go to the law about your neighbours as you will only end up losing your house. However, this is toxic stuff and grossly unfair. Would there be any merit in sending a solicitor's letter to them requesting they desist, or am I able to contact someone at FB to ask them to remove the posts? I am pretty clueless about social media so it could be that I have no recourse.
I appreciate that in the real world this is small fry and pathetically petty, particularly when you see what is happening in the Ukraine and Afghanistan, but it is very hard to stomach seeing untruths - not opinions - which are fine, everyone has that liberty - but lies written about us that many, many people in our community will read. Do I walk round with a placard stating that I have been wronged, do I post back, or do we just ignore it? I know that is probably the best option and this will die a death but the injustice of this is really making me feel both impotent and full of rage. Fortunately my DH is away with work or I think he would be marching down to their front door to have it out with them as we are both so sick of this idiocy.
Sadly I don't think they will ever more as they said to us in the past that this is their forever home. My eldest DD tonight burst into tears about it all and said she wanted to move. My DH telephoned me just and asked if I wanted to put the house on the market. Neither of us are given to histronics but this has really shocked and sickened us. It is something we would never ever contemplate doing ourselves so I am really struggling with it all.
I need to step back and ignore, don't I, and let them stew in their own mire of misery and hatred? Or do you think a measured solicitor's letter is a middle way? I'd be really grateful for any advice, or suggestions of what people have done in similar circumstances.
My apologies for this epic post; just needed to vent. Thank you.