Am I committing a sin when I get annoyed at noisy neighbors?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Holly3278
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Holly3278

Guest
Hey everyone. Sometimes the neighbors in my apartment complex can be rather loud out in the hallways and such. I also sometimes hear their children shrieking and screaming. It really gets annoying because I love my peace and quiet. I can tolerate hearing talking out in the hallway but not for long periods of time. As for shrieking and screaming children, I can’t hardly stand that. I will often say “shut up” in a tone of voice that is too quiet for anyone to hear. I am afraid I might be committing the sin of being uncharitable towards them.
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. Sometimes the neighbors in my apartment complex can be rather loud out in the hallways and such. I also sometimes hear their children shrieking and screaming. It really gets annoying because I love my peace and quiet. I can tolerate hearing talking out in the hallway but not for long periods of time. As for shrieking and screaming children, I can’t hardly stand that. I will often say “shut up” in a tone of voice that is too quiet for anyone to hear. I am afraid I might be committing the sin of being uncharitable towards them.
Click to expand...
I am guilty of “similar” behavior, but it isn’t children. I discussed it with my priest and he said that it was sinful, and to work it out. I am getting better at it, if for no other reason than he pointed it out to me. Hope this helps, but I am sure there will be good advice shortly.
 
I have a similar difficulty, but it is loud music nonstop for hours which I have to deal with from my next door neighbor. In fact, at this very moment, I am being subjected to it.

Apartment living can be very hard. I remember when I lived in one.
 
Just wanted to add that some people aren’t bothered by noise. I am not one of them. I thrive on peace and quiet.
 
Lormar said:
I have a similar difficulty, but it is loud music nonstop for hours which I have to deal with from my next door neighbor. In fact, at this very moment, I am being subjected to it.

Apartment living can be very hard. I remember when I lived in one.
Click to expand...
I totally agree with you on this… i have been in a simular position… Noise can be actually harmful to a person… In my situation I suffered sleep deprivation because of it… I had to call the police every night so they could build up a file on the noise levels… There is an unacceptable level of noise when it interfers with normal living and espicially sleep… I don’t believe its a sin if you complain because it is causing you health problems… There is such a thing as noise pollution and people should not have to put up with that… espicially loud music and roaring and shouting… This is unacceptable… I would speak to either your landlord and or a noise pollution agency or simular body… I was able to go to the council and I had to keep a diary of times like starting and stopping… effects of the noise… like vibrational effects and effects to me… I was desperate at this stage… so I can empthize with anyone who suffers this … I would seek advice Holly 🙂
 
Well…“righteous” anger is okay if they are being inconsiderate (although we must remember that children don’t always realize they are being noisy).
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. Sometimes the neighbors in my apartment complex can be rather loud out in the hallways and such. I also sometimes hear their children shrieking and screaming. It really gets annoying because I love my peace and quiet. I can tolerate hearing talking out in the hallway but not for long periods of time. As for shrieking and screaming children, I can’t hardly stand that. I will often say “shut up” in a tone of voice that is too quiet for anyone to hear. I am afraid I might be committing the sin of being uncharitable towards them.
Click to expand...
I don’t think so. Keep in mind that children shriek and scream. As a parent of a toddler, I know this–it comes with the territory. Of course, that doesn’t make it less annoying. I think that by saying “shut up” softly enough that no one hears it, is OK if it helps you deal with the frustration. Just don’t let it escalate beyond that. If the behavior of the children really is more than just “kids being kids,” please keep in mind that it’s not really the fault of the children, but of the parents.
 
Ysara said:
I totally agree with you on this… i have been in a simular position… Noise can be actually harmful to a person… In my situation I suffered sleep deprivation because of it… I had to call the police every night so they could build up a file on the noise levels… There is an unacceptable level of noise when it interfers with normal living and espicially sleep… I don’t believe its a sin if you complain because it is causing you health problems… There is such a thing as noise pollution and people should not have to put up with that… espicially loud music and roaring and shouting… This is unacceptable… I would speak to either your landlord and or a noise pollution agency or simular body… I was able to go to the council and I had to keep a diary of times like starting and stopping… effects of the noise… like vibrational effects and effects to me… I was desperate at this stage… so I can empthize with anyone who suffers this … I would seek advice Holly 🙂
Click to expand...
Ysara, I am afraid that the police in my country in general and in my town in particular would laugh me to scorn if I called them. They are not even interested in investigating household thefts. The only thing they are concerned about is generating money for the police force via speeding tickets and other traffic violations. The vibrational effects bother me too, especially the incessant drum and/or bass beat that never seems to change from song to song.

I agree that noise levels can be harmful. We must also bear in mind another thing. I am a much older woman who remembers when people were thoughtful and considerate of others. That no longer exists. Many of the “younger generation” are inconsiderate and thoughtless. Not all, but a lot.

What I try to do is offer it up for my sins when it happens during the day. However, when I am trying to sleep at night, it is a different story.
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. Sometimes the neighbors in my apartment complex can be rather loud out in the hallways and such. I also sometimes hear their children shrieking and screaming. It really gets annoying because I love my peace and quiet. I can tolerate hearing talking out in the hallway but not for long periods of time. As for shrieking and screaming children, I can’t hardly stand that. I will often say “shut up” in a tone of voice that is too quiet for anyone to hear. I am afraid I might be committing the sin of being uncharitable towards them.
Click to expand...
But, back to you, Holly…no, I do not think it is sinful. You are, after all, only human. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

And don’t forget that it is a sin to cause someone else to sin - so the inconsiderate people are actually more guilty of sinful behavior than you are in reacting to it.
 
Holly3278 said:
Hey everyone. Sometimes the neighbors in my apartment complex can be rather loud out in the hallways and such. I also sometimes hear their children shrieking and screaming. It really gets annoying because I love my peace and quiet. I can tolerate hearing talking out in the hallway but not for long periods of time. As for shrieking and screaming children, I can’t hardly stand that. I will often say “shut up” in a tone of voice that is too quiet for anyone to hear. I am afraid I might be committing the sin of being uncharitable towards them.
Click to expand...
You haven’t done anything to them so you aren’t being uncharitable. I don’t think having a polite talk with them would be uncharitable either, as long as you are polite.
 
I have been in your position before, MANY times. I don’t think I had as much issue with the children as I did with their parents who knew they were up at the crack of dawn or really late at night, screaming like banshees and playing very loudly while people were typically still trying to sleep at that hour. Kids are just naturally loud, but I feel like it’s the parents who need to help keep it in check at certain hours of the day, ya know?

I never confessed to my priest about being so irritated with them all, but maybe I should have! 😉
 
Apt. living can at times be difficult and if I lived in an apt. with small children, I would go out of my way to keep them quiet so as to not disturb my neighbors. Holly, what I would do in your situation that if you encounter your neighbors in a commons area, like by the mail boxes or in the laundry room, I would say something to them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top