# Neighbors from hell **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 24, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127 "2019-02-24T18:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/41 "2019-02-25T21:48:43Z")
I live in a San Francisco neighborhood where the houses are built up against each other. They’re esentially common walls, if not technically so. When we first moved in, an elderly couple lived next door. We never heard a peep out of them. Sadly, she passed away within a year. A couple years later, his son moved him to an assisted living home and sold the house to a group of five 20-something guys. We were worried, but they have proven to be great neighbors. Friendly, respectful, decent guys. Sometimes they play loud music on weekends but always turn it down by 10:00. We’re very lucky. The guy two doors down, though, likes to start up his Harley every night and just rev it for a half hour without actually going anywhere. Annoying as hell. ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/42 "2019-02-26T00:04:39Z")
I don’t know what the answer is but as far as the trash bags? IF there is a next time, I’d take them (quietly) back up the stairs and slash them right in front of their door. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/43 "2019-02-26T00:26:24Z")
Why, exactly do people rev their cars and motorcycles? Is it for some purpose that people like me are not aware of? My husband & son are both millwrights and mechanically endowed . They laugh when I ask these questions. There must be an inside joke. Hmmm? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/44 "2019-02-26T01:52:33Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > My husband would, but I just don’t like the buzzing. We often play “sleep music” on youtube, but not experiencing any silence for weeks is draining. I have terrible problems with insomnia, so the best environment for me to sleep would be very, very quiet, which we can’t get. Have you tried using earplugs? I’ve used them before when I’ve lived in noisy places and the help. It’s not a permanent solution, but it might help with the insomnia and stress enough that you can work on finding a better long term solution. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/45 "2019-02-26T04:16:23Z")
I wear earplugs all day long… sorta. I wear snug-fitting earbuds that cut a lot of sound. If I need to block even more noise out, I play music or (even better) an audiobook. If I can focus on a good mystery while I get my chores done, I won’t even notice the jerks next door. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/46 "2019-02-26T04:20:32Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why, exactly do people rev their cars and motorcycles? Is it for some purpose that people like me are not aware of? My husband & son are both millwrights and mechanically endowed . They laugh when I ask these questions. There must be an inside joke. Hmmm? They just like to hear the noise. :rolleyes:They even pay good money to make their pipes extra loud. Many bikers have hearing damage due to this. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/47 "2019-02-26T04:31:58Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why, exactly do people rev their cars and motorcycles? Is it for some purpose that people like me are not aware of? My husband & son are both millwrights and mechanically endowed . They laugh when I ask these questions. There must be an inside joke. Hmmm? Perhaps they’re showing off their mechanical, er, endowment? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/48 "2019-02-26T04:37:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why, exactly do people rev their cars and motorcycles? To keep the fuel system/cooling system/battery up. And to keep the neighbors up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/49 "2019-02-26T05:08:25Z")
So the answer is: A bunch of highly engine endowed men like to brag about their loud engines. Or say tooting their own horns. 'Cause we all know that’s what the ladies like. Especially at 6am. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/50 "2019-02-26T05:45:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > So the answer is: > A bunch of highly engine endowed men like to brag about their loud engines. Or say tooting their own horns. 'Cause we all know that’s what the ladies like. Especially at 6am. I live across the street from a bar. (Full disclosure: when we moved in here, it wasn’t a bar; it was a cigar shop. The owner pulled some strings to get the zoning tweaked to let him change the place into a martini bar.) A year or two ago, I made a post here complaining about people leaving said bar late at night, starting their motorcycles, and then letting them idle, loudly, for as long as five minutes before finally leaving the lot. This is particularly annoying on summer evenings, when we have the windows open – sound from the bar’s parking lot goes right into our bedroom. Someone here (I can’t remember who) posted, in reply, that some motorcycles (particularly older Harley-Davidsons with carburetors, apparently) run poorly until the engine has had a chance to warm up, and that, for that reason, riders of such bikes won’t ride off until they’re satisfied that the motor is warm. I know jack about motorcycles, so I’m willing to accept that that might be the case, but if you have a damned loud vehicle, and you know that you need to idle the thing for minutes when you start it cold, if you choose to use that vehicle on an evening where you’ll be starting it up outdoors, in a residential area, after midnight…then you are an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/51 "2019-02-26T18:15:17Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Have you tried using earplugs? I’ve used them before when I’ve lived in noisy places and the help. It’s not a permanent solution, but it might help with the insomnia and stress enough that you can work on finding a better long term solution. I have. Can’t stand 'em. Every pair I tried was irritating and itchy. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/52 "2019-02-26T18:19:57Z")
Update. I couldn’t take it any more and went upstairs to nicely let them know about the noise and ask them to keep it down at night. No problem. The gentleman I spoke to was polite and had no emotional reaction at all. It was very quiet last night, and I slept well. Property manager/landlord told me I need to call the police when they are loud. Apparently he doesn’t watch the news. The noise that filters downstairs during the day won’t stop, but seems to have abated for a while. We still want to move out in the spring. We’re hoping and praying that our finances allow it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/53 "2019-02-27T06:00:45Z")
> [@Newtosite](#): > > I have nothing to offer but compassion. I hope your neighbors decide to move out soon. > > I once lived in an apartment that was so poorly insulated between the floors that when my > neighbors below turned their ceiling light on – my carpet above it got hot. ☹ > When the guy below me snored, it literally sounded like he was in my bedroom. Wouldn’t something like that be a fire hazard? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/54 "2019-02-27T13:34:48Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > When they moved out, they were replaced by another couple, and the guy was a chef from New Orleans. Man, did the hallway smell great when I got home from work at night! So, they’re not all bad… Well, maybe. Did they invite you over for dinner once in a while? 'Cause if not it’s just torture. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/55 "2019-02-27T14:36:03Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > I have. Can’t stand 'em. Every pair I tried was irritating and itchy. I’ve had to use them before for work, so I guess I got used to them then. Hope you manage to get the move sorted soon. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/56 "2019-02-27T15:05:53Z")
The Silly Putty, moldable earplugs feel differently than the typical, “cork in a bottle” earplugs. You DO feel them at first, but as they soften with your body heat, you won’t notice them. They are reusable, but you’ll want to replace them every week or so, depending on how cruddy your ears are. They were a godsend when my son had the tubes in his ears! The standard procedure to protect ears when bathing was to dunk a cotton ball in Vaseline and cram that into the ears. Mess, messy, messy! When I found out about the moldable ear plugs, the angels surely wept! Nowadays, hearing aid places make colorful custom ear molds for the kids who have the tubes. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/57 "2019-02-28T01:49:42Z")
Some of the foam earplugs are much softer and more comfortable than others. You can try swishing them in the packages to test them out. ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/58 "2019-02-28T07:37:02Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Wouldn’t something like that be a fire hazard? Probably. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127/59 "2019-02-28T19:58:47Z")
We had a neighbor that had hookers over when his wife was away. Partying like he was a rock star. Tried to drive drunk, until my husband saw him and took the keys away after he stalled in the driveway. Wifey came home invited me over for tea, and asked me about it. Said she didn’t want to know. Then wouldn’t talk to me. Found out a couple years ago he left her to live the life In Thailand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127.md?page=2)