People’s lawn decor can be a bone of contention.
What people display on their front lawns can cause neighborhood chaos.
That is why HOAs were created.
But without a governing body like an HOA, neighbors fighting neighbors over outdoor ornaments can get nasty.
A deleted Redditor wanted to discuss their experience and get some feedback, so they came to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subreddit.
They asked:
“AITA for not taking down my yard flamingos after neighbors complained?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I bought a house a couple of years ago and I have been working on making it look nicer.”
“I spent a lot of time redoing the front gardens, trying to make it neat and nice.”
“A few weeks ago I was at a greenhouse buying some plants for the garden and I saw two-yard flamingos marked down on clearance.”
“I knew they belonged in my garden.”
“They’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think they’re a lot of fun.”
“I set them up when I got home and a couple of days later my neighbor was knocking on my door.”
“She was demanding I take down my flamingos because they’re ‘extremely gauche’ and ‘lowering the property value of the neighborhood.'”
“I told her I was not taking them down because I like them, and the property value isn’t going to be hurt by two-yard flamingos.”
“I also don’t live in an H[ome] O[wner]’s A[association], and as far as I am aware, there are no town ordinances about yard flamingos… lol.”
“She has posted pictures of my house, the street I live on, and a close-up of my flamingos in our town’s Facebook group to complain about them.”
“Some people agreed I should take them down.”
“After that, another neighbor came over to tell me to get rid of them.”
“My mom also agreed I should take them down to keep the peace with my neighbor.”
“I like them, I smile when I see them when I pull into my driveway.”
“I have no plans to take them down.”
The OP was left to wonder:
“AITA for not taking down my yard flamingos after some neighbors complained?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed in on some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors believed OP was NOT the A-Hole!
“NTA. Start theming them for holidays.”
“For Mother’s Day, give one of them a skirt and a bouquet of (fake) flowers.”
‘For Father’s Day, give the other one a tie and a hat.”
“For Memorial Day and Independence Day, put them in some kind of patriotic or reverent or whatever kind of situation.”
“Masks and bags of candy for Halloween, Pilgrim getups for Thanksgiving, Santa hats for Christmas (and lights that follow their contours.”
“All of this assumes that you’re in the US, of course.”
“If somewhere else, you get the idea.” ~ Beneficial-Ad4047
“This is the way.”
“Also, OP, tell them if they stop bugging you about the two harmless flamingos, you’ll promise not to add to the flock or embellish it with gnomes, cutesy fairy houses/lanterns, etc.”
“Make it clear that it could be so much worse for them but you’re not unreasonable so you’ll leave it at these two as long as – and only as long as – they stop trying to get you to remove them and that includes all of the public social media posts and any other actions they’ve taken to try to shame you into removing them.
“Good luck and by the way, since they’re already in the public domain, where’s the flamingo tax here?” ~ geckotatgirl
“NTA, it’s your yard, you can do what you want.”
“Although the only appropriate response is really to bulk order like 500 pink flamingos and absolutely cover your yard with them, so you should get on that.” ~ hatterson
“NTA. She and her buddies need to mind their own business.”
“Check FaceBook rules to see if she violated any. If you believe she did, report her.”
“Ask your mom why she isn’t telling the neighbor to be the one to ‘keep the peace’ and why she doesn’t have YOUR back.”
“‘Keep The Peace’ – – – Sheesh.” ~ Travellingone777
“NTA. Why do people think their aesthetics get to apply to their entire neighborhood?”
“Style is dead because these nags hate a hint of personality.” ~ ameinias
“NTA. Your house, you do what you want.”
“If she’s posting your house online tho I would consider calling the police.” ~MyPath2Follow
“NTA- Get a camera though.”
“We had a sign with bells that our neighbors hated and eventually they started throwing it in our lawn. I’d start adding more flamingos every time they complain.”
“Maybe some frogs. Gnomes.”
“Have a little party.” ~ Skyward93
“I had lawn flamingoes for years.”
“Some I painted in a black-and-white cow pattern.”
“I had others I painted bones on for Halloween (they also had glowing red eyes).”
“Sometimes they wore hats or spotted neckties.”
“And when my (very tight a**) neighbor complained, they would line up near his driveway and stare him down for days or weeks.”
“Your neighbor is getting off lucky.”
“There is nothing wrong with having a sense of humor and living life with a smile.” ~ duxallinarow
“In what f**king alternate universe does the presence of two movable yard flamingoes bring down property values?”
“The woman is a nutter. NTA.” ~ ZippyKoala
“Years ago, my aunt had an objection to the appearance of a neighbor’s front yard.”
“She wouldn’t say anything, because they were always complimenting her morning glories.”
“So, one night, in a silly mood, she crept over to their fence and planted the same morning glories.”
“When they grew, they grew up, over the fence, hiding the ugly yard.”
“These people believed the birds had brought the seeds.”
“Therefore the flowers were ‘A gift from God.'”
“That was fifty years ago.”
“My aunt still giggles about it.” ~ Agile-Entry-5603
“NTA. If she posted your house number or street name on FaceBook you need to report it to the police.”
“I’m very anti-police, but this is bordering on doxxing, and you need to start a paper trail.”
“It’s definitely harassment.”
“As others have said, get cameras.”
“Someone is going to steal them soon.” ~ chele302
“Can you threaten to add another flamingo with every complaint?”
“Then absolutely do it 🤣 Or move your current flamingos to a new position every day.”
“Dress them up, make them look like they’re having a BBQ or something different so that every time you’re neighbors see it they feel helplessly enraged 🤣.” ~ Mao-Hao-Hao
“NTA, but she’ll likely escalate to removing them herself.”
“Either get a camera that faces your lawn or get even more petty.”
“Get a bag of quick-dry concrete, dig a hole (save the soil with the grass patch though!), set their posts into the concrete, and once it’s dry cover the hole with the grass patch you saved at the beginning.”
“Not the greatest explanation, but hopefully, you get the idea.”
“It would be hilarious to watch her struggle to rip them out of the yard. 🙂 “ ~ lifeoflimes
“NTA. I also think flamingos and pretty much all other yard art is tacky and ugly, but I fully support your right to have as much tacky crap in your own yard as you like.”
“Will I judge you as I drive by? Absolutely.”
“Will I ever say anything? No.”
“Because it is none of my business what you do on your property so long as it isn’t illegal or causing a safety issue for anyone else.” ~ AfterismQueen
“Get as many flamingos as possible.”
“People will loan them to you to assist with the pettiness.”
“Every time you get a complaint, add more.”
“Also, make a police report about the posting of your home and the harassment.”
“They likely won’t do anything, but it’s good to have documentation.”
“Then add more flamingos.”
“They make special ones for different holidays.”
“Have a blast.” ~ Equal-Concept4545
“NTA. Around here, some of the high schools do fundraisers involving lawn flamingos.”
“The group or team accepts donations and in the middle of the night, decorates your chosen house with several dozen flamingos.”
“The easiest way to get them moved is to make a donation and pick some other unsuspecting victim.”
“Everyone is usually a good sport and I think people are careful not to pick anyone who would actually be angry about it.”
“Maybe you should suggest this to your local high school as their next fundraiser?” ~ CornflakeGirl99
“NTA. Not my taste but it’s your property so you should decorate it however you like it.”
‘I feel like your flamingos should start procreating and getting more creative, like wearing outfits and accessories and such.”
“Now, THAT would be gauche hehe.” ~ boringbutkewt
“NTA, but your neighbor posting photos showing your address without your consent is very concerning.”
“You might want to inform Facebook this was done without your permission, or consult a lawyer to get them to cease and desist.” ~ RuthBourbon
“NTA. People care way too much about what other people are doing.”
“I have a neighbor who complained about the sunflowers I grew in my yard.”
“I made sure to plant even more the next year.” ~ ZeroWasted
“NTA – We have flamingos, including Halloween flamingos!”
“Last year, my husband set up a skeleton riding in a cart pulled by the Halloween flamingos, chasing the regular pink ones.”
“We also decorate them for Christmas.”
“And if your neighbor doesn’t like these ideas, I am sure I can come up with some more diabolical ones.” ~ GirlWhoWoreGlasses
“NTA. Good Lord, do your neighbors have nothing else to worry about in their lives?”
“Tell them it’s your property, and you can put out what you like.”
“It’s not like flamingos are obscene or anything.”
“Better yet, go back and get a dozen more and put them all over your yard.”
“Really give those old biddies something to clutch their pearls about.” ~ Enchanted_Falcon
“NTA. I am not a fan of flamingos on the lawn, but this is your house.”
“If you like them, then it’s no one’s business.”
“I would never complain to a neighbor about their choice of decor.”
“Ignore them.”
“This sounds like a typical American situation.”
“Only in the US do you hear many of these types of stories with entitled neighbors.” ~ Entire_Avocado3614
“NTA! Perhaps it’s time to start collecting yard flamingos.”
“There’s such a variety out there.”
“Amazon has a huge choice.”
‘Why not collect and display garden gnomes while you’re at it?”
“Make sure you purchase some solar lights so your neighbor can enjoy them at night.” ~ Total_Bee_8742
“NTA, They should be glad you don’t have enough to pull Santa’s sleigh at Christmas or whatever he should be riding where you are.” ~ nolechica
No HOA? Your lawn. YOUR RULES!
Reddit has your back and lawn, OP.
There is no need to get aggressive, but you can stand your ground.
Maybe buy your neighbor a few flamingos for her lawn so she’ll feel better.
Good luck.