The battle lines of suburbia are demarcated by white picket fences, the battleground itself littered with landmines of leaves, grass, porches, and other ticking bombs set to square off neighbor against neighbor. Hey, asshole, why don’t you try painting your shutters so our property values don’t go down? And really, a bonfire on a Monday night? Some of us have to work, dickweed. And I like sleeping with the windows open, but all I smell now is your dumb fire pit.
This is how wars start, brimming with passive aggressive taunts and muffled vulgarities. All it takes is one spark to set off the fuse, and in suburbia, early-morning mowing is perfect tinder.
Let’s go out to Ashtabula County via the Star Beacon and check in on two neighbors whose disagreement over some A.M. grass trimming might end up in court.
The victim said he was cutting grass around 7 a.m. when a neighbor approached, grabbed the grass-cutter and told him to stop mowing because his 4-year-old daughter was sleeping, deputies said. As the mower was returning home, the neighbor returned, pushed the victim aside, shut off the tractor and then threatened harm if he didn’t stop mowing, according to a report.
Deputies spoke to the alleged assailant, who gave a different story. The man said his neighbor began cutting grass around 6 a.m., and ignored his request to delay mowing until 7 a.m. The man admitted shutting off the neighbor’s mower and making remarks, but denied issuing any threats, he told deputies.
We’re no history buffs, but we’re pretty sure this is what started the Hatfield and McCoy feud.
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 5, 2012.
Haha, when you don’t get up at the crack of dawn, someone mowing right outside your window is not fun. But that’s just how it goes! You don’t control your neighbors, just mind your own business I say. But if you really have a problem with it, just talk to them like a normal human being, don’t be all aggressive.
There are noise regulations and laws concerning these problems on the books in every state, city, village etc. They list the times when you can start and when you must shut down. Where’s the problem?
If you have someone that starts earlier than city regulations say, call the police and they’ll shut it down. Otherwise, just find out how late at night you can make noise, and then go ahead and do that in reply to your neighbor. If they get up that early, they must also go to bed early.
Nothing better than being woken up by the sound of a mower!