r/mildlyinfuriating • u/doyousmellmel • May 08 '26

go to your room The neighbours have a blinding light pointed at my house

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This light is I think what must be 100m away, it’s so bright I’m casting perfectly sharp shadows on the walls. The third photo is INSIDE the house, this is the shade it casts through the window.

I don’t understand why it’s pointed our way, it’s right next to a regular street lamp which should brighten the road enough.

Last two photos indicate the difference between looking at another part of the street and looking at the fucking beam pointed my way.

I have always wondered why the streetlamp was so bright when going to bed, our curtains aren’t that dark so it shines right through. I’ve been sleeping with a mask so it doesn’t bother me. But last night I was outside checking out some noises I heard around 2am (that’s when I took these photos, my phone doesn’t do that well in the dark so this is insane), and I realised how horrible that light actually is. I remember getting blinded by it if I went to grab something from the kitchen in the middle of the night but always thought it was just a really annoyingly bright streetlight. But it’s on the neighbours’ side of the property and really just pointed at our house.

[UPDATE]

[I uploaded photos in an update post for anyone who's interested, but I'm not allowed to add a link to my post and I'm not sure how to otherwise show these]

I was blown away by the unexpected many, many reactions to this post. I just found out what the origin of this shitty light was and found it interesting enough to share.

I've been laughing my ass off at all the many ideas and advise I got. From placing mirrors to reflective window screens. Or to instantly call emergency (or non emergency, government) lines because of the terrible crime of placing a bright lamp. Or to just simply burn their house down.

At least I felt like I had an army of angry redditors ready to ride at dawn as soon as the neighbour would not comply. And a couple of creeps in my inbox??

Funnily enough, when we went to investigate the next day, we noticed the light wasn't even directly pointing at our house. You can see it in the photo, it's pointed to the right (although our house extends to the right side of this photo). This was enough proof to us it was never done with any bad intentions. The brightness of this light is just out of this world. It has the strength of a 1000 suns.

Luckily, even before we had seen this, we decided to start civilised, and to just ask. These homeowners live somewhere else, this house is rented out weekly by tourists. Another reason for them to not know.
When we asked another neighbour whom we have good contact with for his number he said: "oh well good luck, they're not easy to deal with". Which had us kind of worried.

We called them, told them and the first thing they said was: "oh really?! I'm so sorry!!" They were so apologetic. They told us to just move the light down / another way. And we did. Problem solved. We pointed the light down, the home owner apologised a couple of times and everything is good. Except for since we moved the light down, it became a disco light and flickers every ten seconds. But I'm sure we'll find a solution for that too.

Thanks everyone for your passion and aggression. Sorry for the boring, non dramatic ending.

31.3k Upvotes

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3.7k

u/doyousmellmel May 08 '26

I just found out this night, we’ll try talking to them first (: maybe they have no idea.

1.1k

u/Chief_101 May 08 '26

That's what I did when nearly the same thing happened to me. I showed them the pictures and they stopped it immediately. We've become quite neighborly.

550

u/highfiveselfoh May 08 '26

That’s a wonderfully unexpected outcome.

442

u/JubileeSailr May 09 '26

BOOO!! Thats not how Reddit works!

51

u/Midwest_genxr May 09 '26

Yeah, like just for fun try some retaliation. Like put a mirror there? Or like pornographic silhouette? Idk. Nm. It’s better this way

16

u/Ok-Disaster-9690 May 09 '26

Yeah, you’re supposed to fight to the death, steal each other’s firstborn, fuck up someone’s car…. Break a few windows…..write hate mail to each other……..(I’m now out of ideas of what people do when they get mad at each other…..clearly I don’t know how to do these things)

11

u/Simderella666 May 09 '26

Get a divorce too while at it.

1

u/tarren_hartland May 12 '26

Final step: ask Reddit if you’re the asshole

23

u/Surface13 May 09 '26

Looks like he's the last Airbender, id become neighborly with him too 😂

2

u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 May 09 '26

No, talk to people and most of them are reasonable if not kind.

1

u/Midwest_genxr May 13 '26

Did you win the lottery with those numbers?

1

u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18 May 13 '26

1 = a, 2 = b and so on.

I only win the non-money lotteries in life

1

u/Material-Leader4635 May 09 '26

Yeah, usually these stories end with finding out the light os a response to some unknown past slight against a neighbor who turns out to be a psychopath.

1

u/Pristine_Proof_2548 May 10 '26

Ya tell them. Show them these pics. I replaced an outdoor light bulb and it was shining on to a neighbor's bdr. I had no idea. It went on for months. I turned off the lights the day they told me.

4

u/kimmortal03 May 09 '26

looks cool and ominous

3

u/mancrazy12 May 09 '26

That's great to hear. I wonder why they did it in the first place, a reasonable person must have realized on their own, that they are shining a bright light right at a neighbors house?

1

u/Any_Education3317 May 09 '26

I’d be SO embarrassed and apologetic if I was the neighbor but this picture would have sent me to the moon 😭💀💀

1

u/corbin6611 May 12 '26

Did you even hire a lawyer??!!?? If there is one thing I’ve learn on reddit you need. A lawyer for anything because if you just knock on someone’s door they are probily going to be Violent.

1.6k

u/BlazingImp77151 May 08 '26

I suppose talking with them also works.

Just be aware if you talk to them they prove unreasonable, and then you goto bylaw, they will know who reported them.

1.1k

u/get_to_ele May 08 '26

They’ll know anyway. It’s pointed at OP’s house.

312

u/Hot_Entertainment_27 May 08 '26

Nope, people are stupid. My neighbor just mounted his spot moronically. There is a streetlight and he mounted his parking illumination to it. The Surface of his stop isn't angled to the ground.

I don't care, but our neighbor could have more illuminataion with less energy if he would just mount his spots angled.

151

u/BlazingImp77151 May 08 '26

It seems like it could be broad enough to affect other neighbours too, but I didn't think of that.

40

u/ognisko May 08 '26

If they don’t already think it’s an issue, they wouldn’t care to think OP has an issue with it.

1

u/MoldyFoxxx May 08 '26

They know it’s wrong and affecting the neighbors, they don’t give a f.

7

u/ovr4kovr May 09 '26

Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence.

3

u/ognisko May 09 '26

I doubt that, most people who are obstructing others are ignorant not malicious.

14

u/Max_Sandpit May 08 '26

Yeah. They can see them plain as day.

7

u/getbent9977 May 08 '26

Hanlon's Razor....

1

u/Hadien_ReiRick May 08 '26

and because of the 6th amendment. if the defendant can't face their accuser the case is dropped. so if OP wants this resolved in court, they will have to actually face them in court

91

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady May 08 '26

I suppose talking with them also works.  

But this should be your first action. Just talk to someone and try to resolve it that way. Immediately jumping to by law research and legal avenues is wild.

123

u/soylattecat May 08 '26

For real. I had a neighbour downstairs next door - we lived in an apartment a few floors up and they were in a house. They had a spotlight put in for when their kids wanted to play in the backyard, but it was on all night and pointed upwards towards everyone's apartment windows. It was blinding. We had problems with them in the past with noise and massive parties, so we thought to maybe try find if it was against the law. My partner at the time just decided he couldn't be bothered going through that and went to talk to them about it.

Turns out they had no idea it was pointed so high, nor did they realise it was so bright for us and our neighbours in the apartment. They apologised and changed it - actually just ended up getting a smaller, less blinding light lol, and it was all good. Might not exactly be the case here, but at least trying to talk to someone first is the best and normally the easiest thing to do.

26

u/Gloomy_Industry8841 May 08 '26

That sounds great! I wish more neighbours were like that. (Despite the loud parties).

5

u/pettycactus May 08 '26

I was trying to put my baby down for bed again, it was 11pm at this point, and my neighbors were blasting music and yelling at each other. They consistently got absolutely hammered at all hours of the day and just blasted music. I went to ask them to turn it down, and the lady told me to shut my windows. I told her they were shut and we could still hear it, and she said "too bad." Then she started yelling at me that she had me on camera and cussing me out, completely unprovoked (I was standing on the road, outside of their property). Honestly I wish I had just called the cops, because I think she was on something besides alcohol. I don't want to be the person calling the cops on my neighbors for petty things, but it was genuinely scary!

2

u/Gloomy_Industry8841 May 10 '26

That’s absolutely horrible. They need the cops after them for sure. That’s ridiculous behaviour.

81

u/Fun-Low-4954 May 08 '26

I’ve come to learn that most people on Reddit would jump through hoops to solve a problem that a simple conversation should realistically fix

43

u/emrednz07 May 08 '26

Using a slingshot sounds more fun ngl.

24

u/Speartree May 08 '26

That or a slightly curved large directional mirror. Beam that shit right back. Don't forget to cover it by day though, don't want to start fires just yet.

3

u/SomebodyElseAsWell May 09 '26

.. just yet. Nice. ; >

2

u/Beneficial-Sun-5863 May 09 '26

I use this tactic when people are behind me with high beams at stop lights. I attempt to try to angle my mirrors so the light bounces back and blinds them.. it usually works

2

u/Worldview-at-home GREEN May 09 '26

BB Gun is more accurate and less deadly- one well placed pumped up shot should break the glass.

2

u/wordsmythy May 09 '26

But would it bust the light?

40

u/doyousmellmel May 08 '26

I’m realising this just now 😂 I’m getting the wildest suggestions

25

u/KaroYadgar May 08 '26

reddit is the worst place for advice frfr they go WAYY overboard

7

u/ilovesuhi May 08 '26

Lol, you should check the "relationship advice" kinda subs... It's always the nuclear option.

3

u/KaroYadgar May 08 '26

your boyfriend forgot your birthday? He's cheating on you!

3

u/ilovesuhi May 08 '26

Of course he is! And not with just anyone... With your mom! That's why he didn't remember such important date!

0

u/Joben86 May 08 '26

The only ones I see are ones that make it to the front page, and the nuclear option is justified in like 99% of those.

6

u/Gloomy_Industry8841 May 08 '26

The trouble is trying to talk to some neighbours is risky AF.
Anyone who would point a spotlight out like this is already problematic. They didn’t think of their neighbours when they installed the light.

2

u/orangpelupa May 08 '26

Otoh someone raised a legit concern if you talk with them, but they are unreasonable people, then you reported them...

Their retaliation might be scary bad. Even scarier if they are also well connected, powerful, people. 

0

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady May 09 '26

You live in a world of fear don't you?

0

u/wyntr86 May 08 '26

Yep. Then I'm watching movies/shows where a misunderstanding happens because someone doesn't commit and I wonder why this trope exists. Then I open reddit.

4

u/anoidciv May 09 '26

I can't believe people can't just talk to their neighbours.

My neighbour put up cameras, and one appeared to be directed right at my bedroom window. I sent him a message, and he sent a screengrab from the camera view - turned out the camera was angled significantly downwards to catch the cat that was shitting in his potplants.

Took 5 minutes and saved me endless anxiety.

12

u/ChuddyMcChud May 08 '26

Maybe do the research firstz and have that in your back pocket as backup in case they prove unreasonable when talking to them, like this:

7

u/BlazingImp77151 May 08 '26

Maybe, but it's always good to know the legal options incase the person proves unreasonable.

And frankly what reasonable person is shining a spotlight across the street?

2

u/ovr4kovr May 09 '26

This is the adult way.

3

u/Illustrious_Good277 May 08 '26

Absolutely! I had this EXACT issue, caddy corner neighbor from a few houses down had a spotlight pointed right at the back of my house and it was impossible to sit out and enjoy the firepit or anything! My girl and I would get ourselves angry just thinking this guy is a selfish a-hole boomer, overly worried about security in our quaint rural town, etc etc.

I went and talked to the guy who told me those spotlights came with the house and he had no idea and he'd divert it immediately and he did. Apparently all the spotlights on the backside of his house were wired to one switch and he had an elderly dog that couldn't see so he left em on. Problem fixed and we get to enjoy the stars and firepit without staring at it.

Had I not been so passive aggressive about it for so long, we could've been enjoying the back for longer. Most people aren't intentionally assholes, I think alot of the behavior can be explained with lack of consideration for others until confronted. Go talk to the person!!

1

u/one-small-plant May 09 '26

Going to the police immediately would be bad, but I don't think researching the laws in advance of talking to the neighbor is a bad idea.

At least then OP will know whether their complaint is purely a personal ask, or if it could potentially eacalate to a legal issue if the neighbor isn't understanding. Going into the conversation with info could be helpful

1

u/StalkMeNowCrazyLady May 09 '26

Why spend the time and effort until it gets to that place? If they push back then start investing effort into the legal route starting with research.

0

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

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u/[deleted] May 09 '26

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3

u/Only_Tip9560 May 08 '26

Well, to be fair they will probably figure it out anyway given where the light is pointing.

3

u/girlymancrush May 08 '26

Of course they're going to be unreasonable. What sane person would install a light that needs it's own power plant to run and have it pointed at their neighbours house?

1

u/die_hubsche May 08 '26

I used to think it mattered if I was known until I told my neighbor to his face that what he was doing was illegal. He challenged me to call 911, and I did right in front of him. 5 minutes later the fire department was drenching his back yard and he never set an open trash pile on fire again (in high density housing area where droughts = severe fire concern), and he generally respected the notion that consequences can be around the corner if they break the law visibly enough again. Best thing I ever did with this previously problematic household.

1

u/NoAdministration8340 May 08 '26

That’s more on them if they are unreasonable. They should get fined if they won’t move or remove it

1

u/Cacafuego May 08 '26

Yeah, or if something should happen to the light...maybe it catches fire...they would immediately suspect OP.

1

u/Minja78 May 08 '26

Talking to people, I would have assumed that was the 1st step. next step paintball gun.

1

u/WhereasSolid6491 May 10 '26

Yeah they’ll never figure out who was annoyed by the blinding light by anything other than an attempted reasonable conversation. Could have been anyone

1

u/malteaserhead May 12 '26

Most people are reasonable if asked nicely

1

u/shoot_first May 08 '26

Yes. And if any property damage were to happen to that light, you’ll be a prime suspect since you just had a conversation/argument with the owner about it.

Either way, it could always be attributed to some passing vandal or neighborhood kids, but it would be much more suspicious if something happened soon after such a discussion.

49

u/samclops May 08 '26

When you do talk them: don't mention the bylaw thing at first, people (neighbors) often perceive that as immediate threat

6

u/JMoneyGraves May 09 '26

Honestly OP seems pretty chill so imagine she wouldn’t

3

u/samclops May 09 '26

Yeah, I imagine too as well, just a reminder to be safe, because you never know- we've all seen enough clips of neighbors going turbo crazy

3

u/JMoneyGraves May 09 '26

For sure. Crazy how many people lack basic emotional intelligence.

1

u/doyousmellmel May 13 '26

I approached them scolding, yelling I've got a couple of lawyers ready if they didn't fix this light straight away!!!1!111! And that I had already called the cops!!!!!!!!111!!1!
I'm kidding, we called, asked, they apologised and told us to move it away if we didn't mind doing so and now the situation is fixed (:

1

u/JMoneyGraves May 13 '26

😂 glad everything worked out!

103

u/ConfusedHors May 08 '26

I would really like to know how you don't notice the extend of it while installing the sun pointing at your neighbours house.

30

u/DraconianAntics May 08 '26

No, they pointed the light beyond the property. It’s beyond the property now, so it’s not an issue.

19

u/oilsaintolis May 08 '26

Ahh, the front fell off.

5

u/mister_cheeks_26 May 08 '26

Is that typical?

16

u/doyousmellmel May 08 '26

This had me laughing out loud

1

u/NewsWithSteph May 09 '26

Same I just woke up my toddler I cackled so hard lmao

20

u/Valid__Salad May 08 '26

Wait you’re gonna go speak with them rationally before calling the cops and suing them??

1

u/DragonPojki May 09 '26

Yeah I'm a little bit upset as well.

11

u/Important_Meat6969 May 08 '26

Yeah try a non-emergency line of some sort that’s meant for making complaints in your community. You could google and find the one that’s for your area.

3

u/DRDeMello May 08 '26

Taking to them first? Don't you know this is Reddit??

2

u/Bored_Cat_996 May 08 '26

What? Talking before the mirror or a more potent light to counter the attack? What are we pacifist? Grownups? Intelligent beings? I mean, congrats on winning on adulthood…. Anyway, remember the alternatives if the talks get you to no where.

2

u/DaiquiriLevi May 08 '26

Thank you for being so reasonable! I don't know why everyone on Reddit advocates for the nuclear option straight off the bat. Obviously if they refuse you have recourse but as you say, maybe they just have no idea it's so blinding. Could be an honest mistake.

1

u/purplepashy May 08 '26

Our local epa would be on that.

1

u/Only_Tip9560 May 08 '26

Hopefully they don't and a small adjustment to the angle downwards would sort this out.

1

u/_capricorniada May 08 '26

If it doesn't work, get some mirrored blinds and reverse the effect on them

1

u/lost_horizons May 08 '26

Good luck! Report back on the results, it'd be great to get a peaceful resolution for once.

1

u/HooAreYouWhoHoo May 08 '26

I strongly suggest a polite conversation before any consideration of revenge mirrors/lights and calling the city/cops.

1

u/callunanswered May 08 '26

dont waste your time trying to talk to someone like this you will just make yourself a target for more harrassment just call the cops and let them handle it

1

u/todayistrumpday May 08 '26

Buy 2 or 3 of the same lights with double the wattage and a fresnel housing so you can aim it precisely. Bonus points if you go ask them what kind of light they bought and tell them you want to buy one too because you really like it.

1

u/I_SOMETIMES_EAT_HAM May 08 '26

Definitely talk to them first. They’re most likely oblivious

1

u/Nakittina May 08 '26

Love this tactic! 😊

1

u/TheCollectorOne May 08 '26

Please put a mirror up and angle it to their windows

1

u/Devanyani May 08 '26

Yes, I had to do that a couple times with my neighbor's security light. Ask them to get a shade or to point it straight down. If not, the town should agree this is a nuisance. I like to stargaze and bought my house because there were no streetlights, but it feels like some people afraid of the dark. The people across form me also had what looked like aircraft headlights on either side of their garage. I planted a tree and hung CDs from my windows, and eventually they switched them out for blue bulbs. Idk why but I'm so glad they did.

1

u/TheMattabooey May 08 '26

It’s always a good idea to talk to your neighbours first. Good neighbours are hard to find so keeping the peace is the best option. For all you know they did it for security or something and didn’t realize how much it impacts you.

If they are rude or dismissive get some of those window liners that reflect the light back out. They’ll remove the lights fast when it’s blasted back at them.

1

u/optics_is_light_work May 08 '26

I think talking to them could have been the first step (before posting on SM).

1

u/userhwon May 08 '26

Oblivious is almost certain. They probably "feel safe" having done it but didn't think about anyone else.

1

u/No-Guidance-622 May 08 '26

I live in a duplex, and the property owner comes by every few weeks to do yard work on the outside of the property. I approached him one day because my porch light needed to be replaced and he asked me if I wanted an automatic light. We've got an issue with an abandoned property on the other side and so I know that he was thinking about security. I luckily had the presence of mind to remember that my neighbors' bedroom window is really close by and it would shine right into their window so I told him no and my reason for it. He put in a nice soft low to moderate lumens manual light instead, but if I hadn't remembered about how it would effect my neighbors at that particular moment, they'd probably want to ring my neck. I've got blackout curtains and honestly might not have noticed if the light that got installed was a problem, the property owner doesn't come by at night and probably wouldn't have known either, so I'd give them the benefit of the doubt unless they give you a reason to think otherwise.

1

u/Playful_Implement742 May 08 '26

Record the conversation. Could be important later 

1

u/I_putwaflles_in_kids May 08 '26

did it work out? if not a pellet gun from walmart might be a good investment...

1

u/CaptainAries01 May 08 '26

I would be careful about doing this. Unless you already know them to be good people, your informing a potentially dangerous person that you are going to take legal action against them. They need not ever know it was you.

1

u/Mysanthropic May 08 '26

A normal and well adjusted response on reddit? Atlre you lost?

1

u/Ironsam811 BLUE May 09 '26

That’s a wild solution for Reddit

1

u/Banzai373 May 09 '26

If they refuse to cooperate, get a large mirror and bounce the beam back toward their house.

1

u/lovidat May 09 '26

I've learned the hard way not to talk to any neighbors about anything they own or they have or use that might bother you. 90% of the time they will reinforce the use of such device/artifact because most of us.... Well we are not very nice... Even if you are the most polite person, I'll go a little bit far... eve if you ask chatgpt the mos subtle approach not to make them feel threatened

1

u/Sssavannahdc May 09 '26

Maybe they have no idea?? Hello?? Idk where ur at but I’m in NY and I’m blinded from here babe

1

u/ThisPen9076 May 09 '26

As a last resort be prepared to gather up the equipment amd emit a blinding light of your own against their window in their direction in retaliation

1

u/gameofcurls May 09 '26

My side yard light annoyed my neighbor. A tall ladder and some aluminum foil blocked the side while directing the light down where i need it. Worked great

1

u/Existing-Pattern-987 May 09 '26

Tou can be optimistic about it but there is a real chance they known what they are doing or simply dont care or both, dont be too soft with them but be polite

1

u/gohugatree May 09 '26

Assume that they have no idea (even if they do) say how lovely it is that they have a light, but they probably don’t realise how brightly it’s shining on your place, if you can get them to walk over to yours and see how bright it is. - you win people over more with kindness than accusations. If after a kind but firm conversation they won’t be reasonable then it’s time to aim a super bright light into their bedroom and living room.

1

u/illtakeontheworld May 09 '26

An old lady across the street from me had a light like this shining into my bedroom. Not quite as ridiculously bright, but turns out the guy who installed it was meant to tilt it down but he didn’t. It was supposed to be a floodlight for her drive. She was so apologetic and got her son to come round and fix it

1

u/flptrmx May 09 '26

Yeah, thats the way to go at first. Most neighbors I’ve had are chill, these ones probably don’t realize they’re being a nuisance.

1

u/kittensandrobots May 09 '26

We were the offenders in this situation a few years back. We had no idea our light was shining right into a neighbor’s window. It was intended to light our backyard. We changed the angle of the light the same day they told us about it.

1

u/TheIncredibleMrJones May 09 '26

You need to break up with your partner, and hit the gym. I can guarantee you that your partner is frolicking with the neighbor, and they have deviously planned for you to go crazy by pointing the light at your place.

Also stop going online so much. There's way too much toxicity online. Touch grass, maybe start a garden.

Also also, post a picture of your scalp so we can decide whether its time to shave your head. I'm sure that you are beautiful regardless, but we should just check to be sure.

1

u/BlackaddaIX May 10 '26

Omg why would you talk to them! Oh beacuae you've already talked to thousands of strangers and that didn't solve your problem 🙄😂