Angry neighbor’s “infuriating” note to new tenants: “Have some respect”

Reddit users are chiming in with their thoughts about a note a woman said she received from a neighbor about her using a power tool.

“Just moved into my new house,” read the title of u/regan201937’s post, which amassed more than 16,000 votes since it was published on Friday. “Used my drop saw on the front yard 4 times in 3 months, in the middle of the day for about 2 hours each time.”

The note warned u/regan201937 that if she continued using her power tools, they would report her.

Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and the founder of The Protocol School of Texas, wrote to Newsweek that the person using the power tools is merely looking to complete a job, and the middle of the day is the best time to get that work done.

She said that if the person who left the note is uncomfortable, they should go through the appropriate channels to address the matter or do what they can to drown out the noise.

“We all must do what we can to get along while being as respectful to one another as possible,” Gottsman said.

She added that the neighbor could talk to u/regan201937 to see if they can compromise on a time for power tools to be used.

“Communication is the key as long as it’s respectful,” Gottsman said.

The note was left in a plastic bag for u/regan201937 to find.

“Have some respect for your neighbors,” it read. “This is not [an] industry estate where power tools are used.”

It concluded with the threat of a report to the community board.

Fellow Reddit users flocked to the comments section to share their opinions on the matter.

“Read your governing document,” a Reddit user advised. “Ignore anonymous notes.”

“Not even signed,” another Reddit user pointed out. “I also like the presumption that the author speaks for all the neighbors.”

“I respect people who calmly express views and concerns,” one Redditor commented. “Even if they differ from my own. I do not respect cowards who write notes and slink back into the shadows.”

“Yes, please report me for using power tools. On my house. On my property. In the day time,” a comment read.

Newsweek reached out to u/regan201937 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

Plenty of other posts have gone viral on the “Mildly Infuriating” subreddit, including a photo showing a list of odd rules in a café and an image of a policy that suggested restaurant goers stay home if they cannot afford to leave a tip.

Another post showed a screenshot of a message an Airbnb guest received from his host who told him he needed to be placed in a different unit at the last minute because they “overbooked” the unit he first reserved.