Well, my neighbors were at it again last night. This time, they decided to go sledding in their driveway at 11:00 p.m. I was willing to ignore it until they started whooping and hollering and woke up my 5-year-old son. So I decided to address the situation.
I'm not sure I handled the situation correctly and I'd like some input. Below are two dialogs, one of which is the actual situation. I'd like to see which one you think was most appropriate.
#1
ME: Hi, I was wondering if you could shut it down. It's 11:00 and you just woke up my 5-year-old son.
THEM: But we're just sledding.
ME: I know, but your driveway is only 30 feet from my son's bedroom window and he can hear everything. I'd appreciate it if you could go in the house.
THEM (getting angry): I don't see that we're doing anything wrong. We're on our property and if we want to sled on our property that's our business.
ME: Well, that's true, but it IS after 10:00 and I know the village ordinance says being loud after 10:00 is disturbing the peace. If I have to, I'll call the officer on duty and ask him to cite you for it. I don't want to do that, and I'm sure you don't want it either. If everyone heads into the house, then we're done.
THEM (as they go into the house): ****ing ***hole
#2
ME: I need you to take it in the house or take it somewhere else.
THEM: We're just sledding.
ME: It's 11:00 and you've already woken up my son. That's his bedroom window right there (pointing).
THEM (getting angry): I don't see that we're doing anything wrong. We're on our property and if we want to sled on our property that's our business.
ME: You're going to take it in the house or take it somewhere else or I'm going to have you cited for disturbing the piece. Are we clear on that?
THEM (as they go into the house): ****ing ***hole.
So, which one would you have used, which one is probably the best to use in the situation, and why?
I'm not sure I handled the situation correctly and I'd like some input. Below are two dialogs, one of which is the actual situation. I'd like to see which one you think was most appropriate.
#1
ME: Hi, I was wondering if you could shut it down. It's 11:00 and you just woke up my 5-year-old son.
THEM: But we're just sledding.
ME: I know, but your driveway is only 30 feet from my son's bedroom window and he can hear everything. I'd appreciate it if you could go in the house.
THEM (getting angry): I don't see that we're doing anything wrong. We're on our property and if we want to sled on our property that's our business.
ME: Well, that's true, but it IS after 10:00 and I know the village ordinance says being loud after 10:00 is disturbing the peace. If I have to, I'll call the officer on duty and ask him to cite you for it. I don't want to do that, and I'm sure you don't want it either. If everyone heads into the house, then we're done.
THEM (as they go into the house): ****ing ***hole
#2
ME: I need you to take it in the house or take it somewhere else.
THEM: We're just sledding.
ME: It's 11:00 and you've already woken up my son. That's his bedroom window right there (pointing).
THEM (getting angry): I don't see that we're doing anything wrong. We're on our property and if we want to sled on our property that's our business.
ME: You're going to take it in the house or take it somewhere else or I'm going to have you cited for disturbing the piece. Are we clear on that?
THEM (as they go into the house): ****ing ***hole.
So, which one would you have used, which one is probably the best to use in the situation, and why?
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