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Comment by JumpCrisscross | Hacker News Reader

> One night I just went a back there and put a small green sticker on the plastic case

Did you try talking to them about it first?

Depending on the neighbours, may be asking for more trouble.

Sure, but we don't know that. Besides, it's becoming increasingly common to avoid confrontation. A lot of people might consider it too much trouble because they don't know their neighbors. If you don't go in angry/"swinging" then people are usually pretty reasonably

> Depending on the neighbours, may be asking for more trouble

Idk, I’d consider it highly provocative if a neighbour installed anything on or tampered with my property without not only my permission but even the decency of notification. At that point, they not only lose the benefit of doubt but the benefit of civility since I’m not sure what other social conventions and laws they may be comfortable casually violating.

Yes, I'm not advising, just an idle thought.

Yeah at that point you are almost obligated to confront the person who was trying to avoid conflict. Like, dude, just say something. Assuming the worst is a very bad habit and very antisocial.

It should be noted that trespassing near a residence at night, is often different than during the day. Where I live, at night it's criminal.

Where I live it’s criminal day or night, but certainly the likely reactions differ.

People know their neighbors. Consider that the neighbor might have been known to be anti-social instead (e.g. had one of the subtypes of narcissism) and resolving the issue directly was more likely to lead to a satisfactory outcome for both sides than confronting them because they were likely to escalate / not let go.

Assuming the worst at first is a bad habit but assuming bad intent after a bad track record is established is healthy and helpful.

OTOH, if you talk about it first, then you forfeit the option to do the sticker thing later, because then the neighbor will know it was you who tampered with device. If you do it like OP did, then the neighbor will not be sure who was responsible, if anyone at all - they might assume they're just imagining things, or not even notice at all, because they're not paying attention. Asking first is a guaranteed way to make them pay attention.

Not advocating any course of action, just gaming out the options a little.

Exactly. People usually know their neighbors enough to know whether they'll get a reasonable response or not.

If the neighbor had antisocial personality traits (narcissism is most common), trying to talk to them would only trigger a conflict which cannot be resolved.

Umm, but didn't you already "casually violate a social convention" and perhaps a law or local ordinance when your green led shined through your neighbour's kitchen window? Then perhaps you should not complain, since you forfeited the benefit of civility by your own terms.

This is more important, you have to give people a chance to rectify the situation.

Seems the authorities were here already.

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