(no subject)

[bardic_lady]

Dear flist, I need your advice.

I live alone, in that no one lives with me in this space and only I have a key for it. However, the walls are fairly thin and I can certainly hear things from the other part of the house that is rented to other people. I firmly believe that people should be able to say what they want in the privacy of their own homes. In fact, I prefer they say it in the privacy of their own homes. On the other hand, sometimes, the privacy of your home is not as private as it could be.

Earlier this evening, purely in jest I believe, one of the guys upstairs yelled an insult at another of the guys. The word he chose to use was 'faggot'. Maybe I'm being over-sensitive, but I don't think I should have to hear that in my own home. On the other hand, I'm not at all sure how to broach the subject to the guys upstairs, and I certainly don't feel any inclination to come out to them.

How would y'all handle it?

Comments

[heart-of-man.livejournal.com]

My two cents: as much as you have my profound sympathy (that word remains on my dwindling zero tolerance list), I'm not sure you should go up there and say something about it - I think it still falls within the privacy/free speech of their own home, even though it's invading yours. Are these the people at whose place you do laundry sometimes? If you ever hear it when you're actually there in person, I think you can absolutely say, "Please don't use that word - it bugs me even when I can hear someone yelling it through the wall." Without hearing it in person though, I don't think you have a valid opening to go talk to them about it.

[swlangley.livejournal.com]

I agree with heart_of_man while it is offensive, technically they didn't say it while in your presence or in your apartment. I believe that you would not allow them to do so if they actually said it within your physical presence however.
That being said, if it continues and makes you uncomfortable further, and you feel you have a relationship of a sort with these dudes that would allow it, I might mention (without outing myself) that the walls are thin and sometimes you hear more than you'd like, specifically that word and you'd appreciate if they didn't use it because it is offensive.