Noise Annoys, Rugrat Edition
The most frequent noise complaint real estate lawyer Stuart Saft hears nowadays concerns kids. “Fifteen years ago or so, it used to be that the noise complaints were all about loud stereo and TV equipment,” Saft is quoted as saying in a Times story about the pitter patter of tiny feet driving neighbors crazy. “Now…
The most frequent noise complaint real estate lawyer Stuart Saft hears nowadays concerns kids. “Fifteen years ago or so, it used to be that the noise complaints were all about loud stereo and TV equipment,” Saft is quoted as saying in a Times story about the pitter patter of tiny feet driving neighbors crazy. “Now it’s kid noise more than anything else, and I think it demonstrates the changing demographic of the city. You have more kids living in the apartment buildings, and parents who feel their children have the right to be children.” The story focuses on people like a Slope couple with two kids who try to keep their children from running around before 8 a.m. because their downstairs neighbor finds the tots’ noise “exhausting. Even my boyfriend doesn’t ever want to come over — it’s so horrible.” Another Slope mom says she “probably tried a little too hard” to keep her kids quiet and not upset neighbors when, at the end of the day, “They were not doing anything outrageous. They were just doing normal kid things. But small children, especially toddlers, have this clumsy flatfooted walk. It’s impossible to control.” The article says noise carries in a lot of prewar construction, especially in smaller buildings, and when apartments are renovated or combined, the end result is often the loss of some insulation. Some co-op boards install sound meters in apartments to determine if neighbors’ complaints are warranted, though the most frequent solution appears to also the most time-trusted when it comes to New Yorkers and their tight quarters: Compromise. “We do indeed walk on eggshells, and I find myself on tiptoes if I have high heels on, even when I’m not home,” says another Brooklyn parent.“I’m a trained monkey. But my 19-month-old is not.”
The Noise Children Make [NY Times]
Photo by Joey Harrison.
first parents start bringing babies into our bars, now they’re bringing babies into our homes. the nerve. i hate people who like babies.
Haters!
2:52 – I’d also take a misbehaving 3 year old over an intolerant, childless 30 year old any day.
But I wouldn’t automatically assume that a childless 30 year old is intolerant if they have a complaint. The childless 30 year olds I know are hoping to have kids soon!!
In asking “why shouldn’t kids act like kids?” and assuming childless people are just intolerant makes it sound like you are one of those problem parents – the ones who think that whatever their kids do is OK, because, hey, that’s what kids do. It isn’t so.
i own a store in park slope and witness children behaving badly and parents doing NOTHING about it on a daily basis if not several times a day. i do have a videocamera, but choose not to end my business by making those videos public. look at what happened at union hall when they posted a “no strollers” sign. you would think that the parents were going to lynch the owners. more than half of the parents that i have witnessed either know nothing about disciplining their child or they are just plain inconsiderate. if you can’t believe it’s happening, i guess you just don’t get out much or you are one of those asshole parents.
Well, I liked 2:26’s post.
1:02, thanks for calling me an idiot, that really hurt! i am going to go cry now. like your fat baby cries when you let him do whatever you let him do.
They better pay my Social security, I pay for their schools!
“I’m not anti kid -have many nephews/nieces and friends kids who are cute, smart, funny and delightful…”
This is what always cracks me up about discussions like this. You can always count on someone who has “nieces and nephews” and therefore is an authority on raising kids.
It’s like a man telling women how they should deal with sexism, because he has “a mother and sisters” and thus knows just what it’s like.
1:42 Stick to the argument. We are talking about people with children with and without manners. We are not using this post to attack older people. I am 28 it is clear to me that you have absolutely no manners. The person was comparing her exprience with what she observes today. What is wrong with that? Who is to say that this observation is wrong or right. Are here any studies? No. Do you have a better argument than “you are old and senile”? No. Nothing warrants your crass comments below.
“1:21 – Your nerdy childhood not withstanding – you grew up in the 60’s and 70’s – were you so sheltered or are you already so senile to not be able to recall what “kids” were like then.
Arent you at all embarrassed (or at least upset) that you have become that person who says “kids today!!!”, “when I was young…..” etc…. obviously not realizing that it isnt kids (or parents) who are different – it is YOU. You have become OLD”
I’ll take a misbehaving 3 year old over an intolerant, childless 30 year old any day. Why shouldn’t kids act like kids?