Is it rude to tell your neighbor to wash their dirty car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just came back from a ski trip, so our car is pretty dirty after a long 5-hr drive. While we were unloading, our neighbor happened to be parking his car too. Then he came over to talk to us and told us about a car-wash place several blocks away. He even said it would be cheaper for a sedan car like ours (because he drove a SUV) and then our car would be shiny again.

I got pretty annoyed by it because it is not his place, but I'm even more upset because I said nothing back other than okay, good to know. My husband doesn't care because he thinks it bothers our neighbor more than us, so we don't need to get upset. Am I too sensitive? We are not even that close with that neighbor. I just need to vent it out.

It must be exhausting to be you, going through life constantly assuming the worst about everyone around you.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if you know this since were so southern here, but the salt is corrosive and not great for your car long term. So maybe that’s why your neighbor mentioned it? There’s a big difference between a dusty car and salt covered car in terms of effect on your paint

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you guys and I was probably being too sensitive after a long trip. He could just trying to be friendly and helpful...need to think better of other people

Get your car washed and buy a card for one basic car wash and drop it at the neighbor’s house. Add a “thank you for suggesting XYZ car wash. Thought you might like to try them too.”

Rise above your neighbor’s awkward comments with kindness. It will help both of you.

[Anonymous]

If you feel he was harassing you, I would call the police. He sounds like a real bully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Humm.. good for him. You are seriously taking a ski-trip during a pandemic and don't think your tone-death and yet complaining about a tone-death neighbor?

Tone deaf. It’s tone deaf. Did you seriously go through life up to this point thinking it’s tone death?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like he was trying to be helpful and making conversation. It’s not as if he walked up to you and said your car is dirty you need to wash it.

[Anonymous]

OMG OP. Are you always this socially inept? He was making small talk since you obviously just returned from a trip. It wasn’t tone dead or rude.

[Anonymous]

I love all the auto corrects for tone deaf. Tone-death and tone dead 😂

[Anonymous]

Say "thanks" and go on with your life.

[Anonymous]

Agree he was trying to be helpful. Your car was clearly covered in road salt, which most people would want to get off the undercarriage because it's corrosive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you guys and I was probably being too sensitive after a long trip. He could just trying to be friendly and helpful...need to think better of other people

Get your car washed and buy a card for one basic car wash and drop it at the neighbor’s house. Add a “thank you for suggesting XYZ car wash. Thought you might like to try them too.”

Rise above your neighbor’s awkward comments with kindness. It will help both of you.

Unbelievable. Go all passive-aggressive on him? He won’t get it because he was just trying to be nice. Can you imagine the concept? You’re as bad as she is. His comments weren’t awkward! Nice neighbor making small talk- that’s all.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure your neighbor thought they were being helpful. Most people would want to wash the snow and snow removal products off their car and you aren't going to be doing it in your driveway this time of year. I think a good many people would actually appreciate this information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound overly sensitive- neighbor was trying to be helpful

+1

He didn't tell you to wash your car! He just provided a recommendation for something he thought you might want. Stop taking offense at nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not worry. Maybe he just mentioned it to be nice? Life is too short to think the worst of everyone.

Possibly he mentioned it to help get the salt off your car and keep it from rusting? Although you know your neighbor and I don't. If he's just a picky guy, that's annoying.

[Anonymous]

I thought this was going to be about someone who had a filthy old car sitting around for weeks when the neighbor's house was for sale or something.

You came back from a ski vacation and everyone knows that salt can damage the finish of your car, he probably thought you would want to get it washed ASAP to get it off and was trying to be helpful. You are being WAY too sensitive.