'The girl downstairs is insane': Grad student gets back at petty Karen neighbor for nonstop noise complaints

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Mar 9, 2024 2:00 PM EST

If you have a Karen neighbor with a knack for making constant noise complaints, consider moving out of your place as soon as possible. It doesn't matter if you try to reason with her; she won't be reasonable. It doesn't matter if you try to use furniture cups or to get a carpet; she will not budge.  People like that simply cannot be appeased.

This thread was posted to Reddit's r/pettyrevenge subreddit by u/Laserskrivare, a graduate student who is rarely at home anyway. However, when she is at home, she often receives a noise complaint from the Karen downstairs. It started with a gift of furniture cups. The student tried using them, but Karen did not stop. She wound up punching the ceiling every single time the student made a move, including using her tea kettle. 

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions in the comments. For more stories like this, check out this post about a passive-aggressive Karen in the workplace.

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  • 01
    I started studying by night because of the neighbour below I am a student at a university. I am 35 years old and have a house in a different town, but am currently living part time in a student corridor. The house is built 1955. Sounds will travel thorough the building.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 02
    I am a quet type of neighbour. Almost never listens to music, mostly studies on my computer, I read and drink tea. Lots of tea. Most of the time, I'm not even there, only a few days a week/month. In my area, this is the cheapest accomodation you can find, it does its job, I am quite happy about it.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 03
    Then, a new neighbour moved in below. One day, she knocked on my door and asked me if I used the new furniture cups she gave me. "What furniture cups?" "The one I left in your mailbox."
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 04
    I explained to her that my mail comes to my house, meaning I only check the mailbox once a month or so, to get the student newspaper. I get the furniture cups and puts them on my chair. She left them together with a note about me making loud inapropriate sounds. I do not. Whatever. I'll use them, if it helps her.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 05
    Fact about the chair: The chair itself is part of the room, since I rent it furnished. I am not buying an office chair on wheels for her sake, not happening.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 06
    One day later, she finds me on Facebook and is upset my chair is still making sound. She also informs me to "stop moving furniture around". I do not understand she is saying. She also states she want to compromise by asking me to sleep at the same times as her, ten in the evening to eight in the morning. I inform her this will not happen, however, I will get a carpet. She says it's not fair I get to make sounds so that she can't sleep, says that it makes it impossible for her to focus on her lec
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 07
    Next time I am at my house, I take a small carpet with me. When I get back, she still complains about the sound and want me to study sitting in my bed. I inform her I will not do this (Not that she has anything to do with it, but I have an actual permanent back injury affecting my nerves and I will not study in my bed, I need a chair).
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 08
    She starts banging at the ceiling every time I make a move. If I use my kettle. If I use my chair. Even if I use the bathroom. She obviously wants me t be as quiet as I am when I am not there.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 09
    Then she complains to the landlord. They e-mail me about it being prohibited to make loud sounds between ten in the evening to eight in the morning.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 10
    I explain politely to the landlord that the girl downstairs is insane. They are understanding and inform me they will try to speak with her.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 11
    I also check her Facebook profile. It says she is studying law. For some reason I find this kinda funny, because she acts like the "loud sound" rule can be used to interfer with me actually using my room like a normal person, and has quoted the landlords rules about loud sounds after ten like it's Swedish law or something. It is not, and it would take a lot more for the landlord to do anything. She also reminds me about lawyers I have spoken to in my worklife, that tries to use their title to ge
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 12
    Yesterday I got back from my house after three weeks studying from there, because I need to get to some seminars, examination and stuff. Twenty minutes past ten she start making banging sounds at the ceiling.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 13
    I am 35 years old. I normally go to sleep at midnight at the latest. I am not some party animal like some of my other neighbours (Who are nice people btw). I have had no real plans to begin living like when I was 20 and was up all night. Well, I guess I am not studying in the mornings like I plan to, I am going to begin studying by night every time I am here and especially if she starts hitting her ceiling (Usually the course I go to begin quite late on the day, so this is not an issue). I block
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 14
    crunchyyoghurt. 6 hr. ago I don't know if this will affect your back, but I heard physical activity whilst studying helps with memorising content. Maybe you should jump rope while you study at night too haha 369 Reply Share
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 15
    Laserskrivare OP. 6 hr. ago I do believe jump rope would actually count as disturbing for real, however I do walk around sometimes because of this very issue with my back. I do this quietly, I do not use shoes inside, she still hears it. But seriously, I can hear the shared kitchen that is on the opposite side of the corridor.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 16
    She wrote to the landlord I am stomping on my floor. The wardrobe was built in place and makes a lot of sounds as well when I open it to get my nightgown. Yeah, I am totally the nightmare neighbour. (My neighbour upstairs plays the recorder and is not that good at it, she should be considered lucky I am not doing that as well.) 178 Reply Share
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 17
    wlfwrtr 5 hr. ago If you have a camera you can bring into apartment for your nightly routines record what is happening. Next time landlord says anything prove to him that she makes more noise banging on the ceiling than you do throughout night. 98 Reply Share
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 18
    Laserskrivare OP. 5 hr. ago I actually invited my landlord to observe my routine and what I do in my room, but it seems that was'nt necessary.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 19
    grodslukerskan. 5 hr. ago Maybe you could file a complaint on her banging her ceiling after 22:00? She isn't exactly keeping quiet herself... ↑ 90 ↓ Reply Share
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 20
    Laserskrivare OP. 5 hr. ago lol I kinda did in my reply to the landlord, and they were like "We understand :)", with an emoji. I do believe they are finding the situation a bit ridiculous and they surely have more important things to do.
    via u/Laserskrivare
  • 21
    ChronicSassy Redhead 5 hr. ago Leave her some earplugs in her postbox
    via u/Laserskrivare

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neighbors petty-revenge-reddit students neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories petty revenge petty reddit thread Reddit karen entitled people apartment
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