How I Taught My Neighbor to Keep the Volume Down
Teaching My Neighbor to Keep the Volume Down
- The Setup: In 2007, the author moved to an apartment where Dish Network was the only option. He upgraded to a DVR package that included an RF (Radio Frequency) remote, allowing him to control the TV from anywhere in the apartment without line-of-sight.
- The Problem: A loud neighbor moved in and also acquired Dish Network with an RF remote. Because they shared the same default frequency, the author's remote experienced interference, and he realized his remote could control the neighbor's set-top box.
- The Conflict: The neighbor frequently played his TV at high volume. The author attempted to visit the neighbor to explain the technical interference issue and build rapport, but the neighbor was rude, yelled "I'm not buying," and slammed the door.
- The Solution: Instead of reprogramming his remote to avoid interference, the author decided to "train" the neighbor. He kept the RF remote in his bedroom and established a rule: if the neighbor's volume exceeded a specific threshold (estimated level 15-20), he would use the remote to turn the neighbor's device off.
- The Result: Through "Pavlovian conditioning," the neighbor eventually learned that keeping the volume low kept the TV on, while raising it caused the TV to shut off. The author successfully conditioned the neighbor to maintain a lower volume without ever speaking to him again.
Hacker News Discussion
- Counter-Tactics: The top comment shared a similar revenge story where a user blasted System of a Down's "Chop Suey" at 4 AM to retaliate against a neighbor who watched loud reality TV late at night; the neighbor eventually complained and changed their behavior.
- Technical Warfare: Commenters discussed various gadgets for dealing with noisy neighbors, such as the "STFU" device which purportedly pipes audio back directionally, and directional ultrasound speakers.
- Pavlovian Experiments: Another user described using a fake smoke detector with an annoying buzzer triggered via Bluetooth to "train" a neighbor to stop smoking on their balcony, mirroring the blog post's conditioning theme.
- Skepticism and Meta-Commentary: Several users questioned the veracity of these "tall tales," leading to a debate about whether Hacker News is becoming more like Reddit.
- Morning vs. Night: A sub-thread debated the consideration gap between "morning people" (who make noise early) and "night people" (who make noise late), with users arguing that society unfairly favors morning noise.
- Escalation: Anecdotes ranged from passive-aggressive automated systems to extreme physical confrontations, such as a neighbor throwing a loud stereo through a window.