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Loud Neighbor Gets Schooled On Urban Etiquette

Jen Carlson

Published Feb 5, 2014

Modified Feb 5, 2014

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Jen Carlson

Published Feb 5, 2014

Modified Feb 5, 2014

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via EV Grieve

Neighbor noise: whatareyougonnadoaboutit, right? Since Mayor de Blasio isn't cracking down on upstairs neighbors who stomp around too much, we are left to the passive aggressive note approach... or, whatever, having civilized conversations. (At least we don't have to deal with flood lights?) The latest, which is actually kind of polite, aims to remind a neighbor in a different building that voices carry in our city—a classic lesson in Urban Etiquette. It was found on East 1st Street by EV Grieve, and reads:

"Hey, I love Russell Brand, too. But if I can hear his voice coming from the stereo in your apartment—which isn't even in the same building as mine—even with my windows closed, it means one of three things:

a) You're playing your stereo too loud,
b) You need to shut your windows, or
c) You need to turn down your stereo AND shut your windows

This is barely tolerable when you're blasting Russell Brand. But it's much, much worse when you're laying saccharine pop ballads at top volume, or perhaps having a little sing-a-long to your favorite Adele song.

The enclosed space between our buildings amplifies even the quietest sounds, which is why we can hear Nicolas splashing around in his hot tub at 3 a.m., notwithstanding the filthy tarp he optimistically erected as a sound barrier (he's ot good with the general principles of sound, apparently.)

So, do us all a favor, and remember that, even downtown, voices carry*. And how.

*This is a reference to the lyric from a 1980s Top 40 hit by 'Til Tuesday. If you like, I can blast it out my window repeatedly to help familiarize you with it."

Are YOU a neighbor? Please be aware of how loud you're being, and maybe take it down a notch? Together, we can abolish unnecessary noise! And about that song... we'll include that video here, since it's amazing and confusing and that guy is really creepy and it features some NYC shots. Just don't listen to it too loudly, or better yet: wear headphones.

Tagged

etiquette

neighbors

noise

notes

urban etiquette

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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