Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 21:44     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:+1. The people suggesting you install window treatments before having a polite conversation/leaving a nicely written note are sad. Talk to your neighbors, folks. If they're d*cks it'll be apparent pretty quickly. If not, well, it's nice to know your neighbors.


I guess. But at the end of the day, the neighbors have the right to do what they want on their property. I have a street light that shines a lot of light into my bedroom and that’s why we have curtains. I am not calling the county and ask that it be removed.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 21:43     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My psycho neighbors are like this. The lights are on motion detectors that I trigger from inside my house. And these are not small lots. They know about this issue and find it amusing.

I installed a huge estate windchime on my tree which is next to their bedroom window.


What in the world is an estate wind chime?


Whatever they are- maybe really big wind chimes?- if they are loud, I would love them because I love the sound of wind chimes. So if they’re trying to somehow “punish” the neighbor, they are wasting their time with a lot of people. For me, I’d be pleased to enjoy what sound like expensive wind chimes without having to pay for them myself.


I don't want your guess...I want to know what they are.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 21:42     Subject: Re:Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:All of the people saying that it is OP's responsibility to buy blackout curtains, just no. Lights on at night, especially silly ones like decorative string lights, are pollution, which cause health impacts for plants, insects, animals and humans. For proper hormone functioning, we are meant to sleep deeply in the darkness and wake with sunlight, which we cannot do if our windows are covered with blackout curtains. And other organisms don't enjoy the option of blackout curtains.

I'm also surprised that people who think that climate change is an "existential threat" would be chill with electricity being used when no one is benefitting.

All of you who are generating light pollution with your random lights on at night are the ones who need to get with the program.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2627884/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001074222003291


OP here. This. It explains all my thinking more clearly then I could. These are not motion sensor lights or a single flood light for safety. They are decorative string lights that go across the entire backyard. They do not need to be on a 2am every single night when no one is in the backyard. It’s disruptive on multiple levels. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try a few.


Maybe they feel secure knowing that there is light on in their backyard.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 21:39     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:We have some neighbors who recently cut down a bunch of brunch and put up backyard string lights. Their backyard backs to ours.

That’s all fine but they leave the backyard lights on all night and they shine into our windows. Even if they did this previously the brush would have blocked the light. What is a polite way to ask them to turn them off? They are very very bright. We don’t know them well and have maybe talked with them three times ever.


Hang curtains. Good God, the obvious escapes far too many of you
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 21:28     Subject: Re:Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:All of the people saying that it is OP's responsibility to buy blackout curtains, just no. Lights on at night, especially silly ones like decorative string lights, are pollution, which cause health impacts for plants, insects, animals and humans. For proper hormone functioning, we are meant to sleep deeply in the darkness and wake with sunlight, which we cannot do if our windows are covered with blackout curtains. And other organisms don't enjoy the option of blackout curtains.

I'm also surprised that people who think that climate change is an "existential threat" would be chill with electricity being used when no one is benefitting.

All of you who are generating light pollution with your random lights on at night are the ones who need to get with the program.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2627884/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001074222003291


OP here. This. It explains all my thinking more clearly then I could. These are not motion sensor lights or a single flood light for safety. They are decorative string lights that go across the entire backyard. They do not need to be on a 2am every single night when no one is in the backyard. It’s disruptive on multiple levels. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try a few.


Are they really that bright?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 21:15     Subject: Re:Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:All of the people saying that it is OP's responsibility to buy blackout curtains, just no. Lights on at night, especially silly ones like decorative string lights, are pollution, which cause health impacts for plants, insects, animals and humans. For proper hormone functioning, we are meant to sleep deeply in the darkness and wake with sunlight, which we cannot do if our windows are covered with blackout curtains. And other organisms don't enjoy the option of blackout curtains.

I'm also surprised that people who think that climate change is an "existential threat" would be chill with electricity being used when no one is benefitting.

All of you who are generating light pollution with your random lights on at night are the ones who need to get with the program.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2627884/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001074222003291


OP here. This. It explains all my thinking more clearly then I could. These are not motion sensor lights or a single flood light for safety. They are decorative string lights that go across the entire backyard. They do not need to be on a 2am every single night when no one is in the backyard. It’s disruptive on multiple levels. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try a few.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 19:59     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
People have lights on at night to see, for safety, etc. What’s the issue?
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 19:36     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
BB gun pop pop pop goes the lightbulbs.

Though if they are those LED abominations, might be harder to bust those diodes.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 19:33     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't anyone seem to know their neighbors anymore?

Knock on the door, mention that since they trimmed the hedge, which looks great, their backyard lights are shining in your window at night and you are wondering if they can turn them off at night.


+1000
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 15:28     Subject: Re:Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
I’d make cookies or something for them, bring with you, knock on the door and ask nicely.

It really is not a weird request among neighbors IMO.



Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 13:52     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
The lights help deter someone trying to break in. I’m happy my neighbors leave them on at night. I have black out shades and curtains, as well. If it was noise, I would talk to them. But lights you can remedy with shades.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 13:40     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My psycho neighbors are like this. The lights are on motion detectors that I trigger from inside my house. And these are not small lots. They know about this issue and find it amusing.

I installed a huge estate windchime on my tree which is next to their bedroom window.


Motion detectors that can see through windows?


Most windows are clear and therefore see through???


Generally, motion detectors are watching for IR changes or use ultrasonics. Both are reasonably well blocked by glass.



By definition, motion detectors are NOT looking for IR changes. That would be a heat detector. Motion detectors detect . . . wait . . . MOTION!


https://www.eufy.com/blogs/security-camera/how-does-motion-detection-work
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 13:29     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
There was a LONG wind chime post on DCUM a while ago...it became an inside joke which is what the poster was likely referencing.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 13:26     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My psycho neighbors are like this. The lights are on motion detectors that I trigger from inside my house. And these are not small lots. They know about this issue and find it amusing.

I installed a huge estate windchime on my tree which is next to their bedroom window.


What in the world is an estate wind chime?


Whatever they are- maybe really big wind chimes?- if they are loud, I would love them because I love the sound of wind chimes. So if they’re trying to somehow “punish” the neighbor, they are wasting their time with a lot of people. For me, I’d be pleased to enjoy what sound like expensive wind chimes without having to pay for them myself.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2025 12:37     Subject: Neighbor’s backyard lights shine into our window at night
Put up bright lights to return the favor!