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To resolve neighborhood noise, we typically follow these steps:
1. Communication
2. Alarm
3. Sound insulation
The simplest yet most difficult step is the first one: good communication leads to peaceful coexistence; poor communication escalates the conflict. Frankly, many people fail to resolve neighborhood noise issues because they get stuck at this communication stage. Below is a positive example of #neighborhoodnoise# communication that recently went viral on a social media platform:
The person who posted the picture disturbed the person upstairs from downstairs; the picture is a letter written to him by the person downstairs.
Netizens' comments on this letter:
Judging from the feelings of the person in the building and the comments of many netizens, this letter was a complete success. Can we also extract the positive elements from it and achieve success in our first communication? Below are four favorable factors I've summarized from this letter:
Four key elements of communication
Use polite language to build rapport with your neighbors.
For example, the letter included the following: We may be neighbors for decades; cherish this opportunity; please forgive any inappropriate words...
Although neighbors may be strangers, they are still neighbors, and are generally more familiar than complete strangers. Bridging the gap with neighbors fosters mutual understanding and tolerance.
The focus of the conflict should be shifted to the quality of the floor slab, rather than blaming the neighbors for their lack of manners.
For example, in the letter: because of housing quality issues.
Many people, when they first approach their upstairs neighbors, immediately say things like, "Your apartment is too noisy, can you please be quiet?" "What time is it? Who's still awake so late?" "I've never encountered anyone like you before!"... Regardless of who's at fault, in the first conversation, we should focus on the building's lack of soundproofing. This allows us to save face for the upstairs neighbors, even if their behavior is indeed rude. Because when people are exposed for their rudeness, they don't feel ashamed, they only feel angry.
Express your current troubles and the efforts you've made, so that your neighbors don't think you're deliberately causing trouble or being overly sensitive.
For example, the letter mentions: buying noise-canceling headphones; having elderly people and children at home; staying up until midnight; headache and chest tightness; having no other choice...
Similar practical applications include: filming relevant videos and showing them to neighbors to help them develop empathy.
Mutual concessions should be made, allowing neighbors to be mindful of their actions during designated rest periods, rather than demanding that neighbors remain quiet all day.
For example, the letter says: "Please walk quietly and minimize noise, especially around 10 pm, which is close to bedtime."
This is the most important point: many unresolved neighborhood noise issues stem from a lack of mutual understanding and unwillingness to compromise. Downstairs neighbors expect the upstairs neighbors to be quiet all day, while the upstairs neighbors feel the downstairs neighbors are being unreasonable. This is impossible in normal life, and it's precisely this petty squabbles and unwillingness to yield that escalates the animosity between the two families.
Below is a template that I have edited based on the four elements mentioned above:
I. Initial Communication Template:
Our upstairs neighbors are still up at 11 PM, walking around and moving tables and chairs. We said this:
Upstairs neighbor:
Hello!
I'm your downstairs neighbor. Although we live in the same building and have never formally met, I think that since we've met, it must be some kind of fate. As the old saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, our close neighborly relationship will likely continue for several years to several decades. My family and I are all easygoing and like to be kind to others, but recently we've encountered some problems. I'm afraid that if we don't address and resolve them, it will only damage our relationship, so I reluctantly wrote this letter. My intention is to resolve the issue, and I hope you will forgive any inappropriate wording.
Due to issues with the thickness and quality of the floor slabs, sound insulation problems are very common in our building. I understand that other residents in our community have also experienced this problem, and some neighbors have even gotten into fights, moved out, or sold their homes because of it. Recently, we've also been hearing footsteps, furniture being moved, or objects falling from your apartment late at night. The sounds are very clear and loud. I learned online that due to the solid-borne sound transmission through the floor and the box-like structure of the building, the decibel level downstairs can be even louder than in your own home. You can come to my apartment and listen sometime. This noise is understandable during the day, but we usually go to bed after 10 PM, and being suddenly woken up by a "bang" makes our hearts race. Over time, this could potentially lead to neurasthenia and other health problems. I've tried earplugs and white noise methods before, but the results haven't been ideal. Therefore, I had no choice but to ask for your help and wrote this letter. I hope you understand.
Nowadays, everyone has spent their life savings to buy a house, and we all hope to live a peaceful and harmonious life at home. This place should be happy and comfortable. But how can life be without any noise? Therefore, we hope that neighbors can be understanding and try to move around as quietly as possible and reduce noise after 10 pm.
Finally, thank you very much for reading my letter. I wish you a happy and fulfilling life!
Your neighbor
(This sample is for reference only; you are welcome to submit your better ideas.)
If you've already communicated with the upstairs neighbor and the results weren't great, here's another example:
II. Sample of unsuccessful communication:
You've already spoken to your neighbor about the noise problem, but they don't seem to have communicated anything about making changes.
Upstairs neighbor:
Hello!
I'm your downstairs neighbor. These past few days, we've been bothering each other quite a bit because of the poor soundproofing in the building. If anything I've done has made you uncomfortable, please let me know so we can sit down and resolve the issue amicably.
We are both reasonable people, and compared to many people who encounter neighborhood noise disputes and end up calling the police, using noise-generating devices, or even fighting, I think I'm very lucky. I hope our two families won't reach that point, so I wrote this letter seeking reconciliation, and I hope you will read it patiently.
1. The Root Cause of Neighborhood Noise: I've often wondered why normal household sounds can become noise pollution. For example, if you were walking around your home, I wouldn't understand it from your perspective. Later, I looked into it and found it's related to the thickness of the floor slab. In my country, floor slabs are typically 8-10cm thick. If the floor hasn't been properly soundproofed and vibration-damped, even slightly loud footsteps, moving furniture, running, and jumping can create disturbances. I once measured the noise level downstairs when a heavy object fell from upstairs; it reached 50 decibels. The "Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China" allows indoor noise levels of 40 decibels between 10 PM and 6 AM. Therefore, even normal household sounds during rest periods can cause noise pollution. The root cause is simply the inadequacy of the floor slab. To solve this, you either need to be mindful of your movements during rest periods or add soundproofing measures to the floor, such as using soft mats, wearing soft-soled slippers, and covering furniture with sound-dampening pads. You might feel uncomfortable doing these things, but they are just our last resort to deal with the problem of leaky roofs. The government is already taking measures to address this issue, but those measures only apply to future generations. We still need to live our lives, don't we? The only solution is for everyone to understand each other and compromise.
2. How many people across the country are suffering from neighborhood noise pollution? In 2020, environmental protection, public security, and housing and urban-rural development departments in prefecture-level cities and above across the country received approximately 2.018 million complaints about environmental noise, with social noise complaints accounting for over 50%. In a 2020 online poll of the top ten annoyances in life, upstairs noise topped the list with 8.0019 million votes. Therefore, I am not an isolated case; the problem is very common, and countless people have taken it to the police or courts. I'm not deliberately picking a fight or targeting you; the problem simply exists.
3. Why is the noise from upstairs so noticeable? The following explanation is based on what I learned from a professional; you can take a look. The sounds of walking, moving tables and chairs, etc., are impact noises. Sound waves are generated by impacts with the floor and then propagate through solids. Because solids have high molecular density, the sound travels extremely fast. Furthermore, the box-like structure of a house amplifies the loudness of the sound waves. Therefore, during rest periods, the impact noise from upstairs sounds louder downstairs than it does upstairs. Our biggest disagreement is that you can't understand what kind of noise bothers me. Most people would think we're just overly sensitive, but actually, if you have the chance, I really hope you can come to my house and listen to the sounds.
4. How to solve this: It's impossible to live a completely noise-free home. The root of the problem lies in the soundproofing of the floor slab, but there's currently no particularly effective, unreasonable solution. The only way is for both of us to understand and compromise with each other. We shouldn't be overly sensitive, and you should try to keep things quiet during your rest time. I think this is the most cost-effective and ideal solution for both of us. You have your difficulties, and I'm understanding; I also have my troubles, and your understanding is appreciated. Being harmonious neighbors will make life happier!
These are my thoughts. If you think they are reasonable, we can discuss and resolve them together. I believe we can communicate effectively.
Your neighbor
(This sample is for reference only; you are welcome to submit your better ideas.)
As the editor, I sincerely hope everyone lives a happy and fulfilling life, avoiding conflicts with their neighbors. If you're also experiencing similar issues, try communicating with your neighbors in this way. If it helps, please let me know!