I think the biggest problem is, everyone basically living on their own these days instead of treating neighbors like a collective of individuals that can absolutely have life changing consequences for you, if you either get along with them very well or if you annoy each other.
We humans are not build to spend our lives in front of small or big screens. It makes people angry, sad, lonely and weird and sometimes they turn the tv up just so they can have someone come by and make them feel like someone recognizes they are existing, even if it’s just to complain that they are too loud.
If people like you, they will be more willing to go out of their way to not annoy you. It’s basic psychology.
In Aghanistan I could take my helmet and body armor off, sit down next to a teenager on a piece of rubble and share my chocolate bar with them and a good laugh, watching a few guys burn an American flag in sight without being afraid I will get shot or killed.
I fixed peoples kitchen sinks and made sure they could wash their babies in water that would not make them sick, I vaccinated their children from my bonus payments, I played soccer with their kids and treated them like human beings and in return they protected me from any harm while I was in their neighborhood.
If people in a war zone can be decent human beings to each other, why can’t we do the same in our, what we think is a more civilized, superior, society?
There is a ton of stuff you can do to get along with your neighbors that neither costs you extra time or money.
Say good day and good night with a genuine smile if you meet them. Help the elderly out carrying groceries if you’re already on your way up or down.
You have no idea how often people watch through their door spy what is happening in their house, they will see it and respect you for it, even if you don’t see them.
I am a stress baker, so instead of making cookies for my own, I make a whole rack and ask my direct neighbors in the evening if they could take some off my hands so I don’t get a sugar shock. What’s better than cookies after a shit day at work?
If the parcel dude asks me if I can take a package for someone while getting my own, sure thing. If you pick it up same day I will gladly do it again, if you don’t respect my time you can drive to the post office next time. Easy as that.
Need some sugar, eggs or some papers for your joint because your stoned ass is too lazy and you forgot to buy new ones every few months, sure thing enjoy your weed brownies or smoke dude.
I can easily just kill any neighbor that annoys me. But instead I choose to find out why they do stupid stuff. And then I fix it without much noise or help them to recognize themselves there is a solution to their problem.
It might be my military mindset but I swore an oath to serve the people and protect them and that doesn’t end with being a civilian now. I am not perfect and get angry and yell at people on the internet just like any other idiot on here, but I see my neighbors more often than I see my parents and I want to live in peace, and peace is something that requires cooperation.
Dont go to war with your neighbors, try to figure out why they do stuff and offer a solution for their problem if they can’t see it themselves for whatever reason. You’ll be a lot happier and healthier if you get along with the people living in the same house. Or you could fuck with their tv and eventually get shot in the face. It’s a choice.