Next Door Neighbor Went Ballistic On Me

[Dillon]

I just had a terrible situation that occurred that I’m extremely upset.

I have a next door neighbor at my apartment complex who invited me to have a couple drinks and chill as friends or so I assume. I do not drink that much at all maybe like twice a month but I decided to have one drink. When I was finished I held it in my hand and was about to set it in the trash but my hand was spamming due to having a both a flu and pneumonia shot earlier today from a medical appointment in which one of the symptoms was having chills and shaking. The can accidentally fell on to his patio and my neighbor went ballistic on me saying how disrespectful that was and if I ever tried to do that again that he was going to mess me up.

I tried telling him that I have symptoms from a couple shots I had from the doctor but he wouldn’t listen. Instead he goes on a long rant about how older people like him are treated sooo disrespectfully and because I have less real world experience than him that I do not know any better. Also mentioned I should stay in my lane and respect other peoples property.

Now after that talk I feel like I am such a bad guy.
I am now afraid to go outside of my house without my neighbor seeing me.
Am I in the wrong here??

 

[DaisyRose]

That was a completely overreaction from your neighbor. There was no reason to yell or belittle you like that. I’m so sorry you had to experience that especially, when you are not feeling well. I hate when people start to yell it triggers me so much. I would give him the evil side eye every time would see him.

Spoiler

 

[Tom]

No, your neighbor is out of line and a little around the bend. I suggest no more drinks with El Stupido.

 

[Dillon]

That was a completely overreaction from your neighbor. There was no reason to yell or belittle you like that. I’m so sorry you had to experience that especially, when you are not feeling well. I hate when people start to yell it triggers me so much. I would give him the evil side eye every time would see him.

It’s not just that but I find it really disrespectful that older people like my neighbor whose in his late 50s literally thinks I don’t know any better because I am in the Gen-Z generation. I felt I have been very respectful to everyone and anyone I meet but I guess not. The dude the other day threw his cans over to my side of my own property the other day but I didn’t say anything about it but instead minded my own business cleaned up the mess and went about my day.

 

[DaisyRose]

It’s not just that but I find it really disrespectful that older people like my neighbor whose in his late 50s literally thinks I don’t know any better because I am in the Gen-Z generation. I felt I have been very respectful to everyone and anyone I meet but I guess not. The dude the other day threw his cans over to my side of my own property the other day but I didn’t say anything about it but instead minded my own business.

Wow that’s so disrespectful. I would be throwing a fit. You are a better person than me. I would be recording him doing said action so he couldn’t say it was him. Then, I would confront him and be like, so why you throwing trash on my property. People these days are so inhumane and privileged.

 

[Dillon]

Wow that’s so disrespectful. I would be throwing a fit. You are a better person than me. I would be recording him doing said action so he couldn’t say it was him. Then, I would confront him and be like, so why you throwing trash on my property. People these days are so inhumane and privileged.

I forgot to mention that there is a maintenance person who works at the apartments and he was over with us and he’s usually really nice but he takes my neighbor’s side in this situation, as I was walking to my apartment the maintenance guy tells my neighbor “he needs to learn better”
Again I freakin had symptoms from two shots. So going to the doctor suddenly turns you disrespectful??

 

[Progster]

Wow. Complete overreaction. If he thought you did it on purpose, he could have just asked you to pick it up and put it in the trash. The guy is prejudiced against young people and has the preconceived idea that all young people are uncouth and disrespectful. So when something happens that is a simple accident, he's unable to leave this mindset and then doesn't listen. Doesn't want to listen.

 

[Rodafina]

I don’t understand what was upsetting to the neighbor. Did he flip out on you because you dropped a can on his patio?

Is there a chance he was extremely intoxicated?

 

[Mr. Stevens]

That would be an overreaction if you broke a glass, but he was upset about a can??? Lol. You should avoid this dude.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

He was loaded. You're probably a little wasted yourself.

Sleep it off. Both of you.

 

[Aspychata]

Maybe next time you are having medical symptoms like shaking etc, curtail visits with random strangers. America is kind of on the edge these days. People seem more stressed out, and more likely to go on a rampage. If l had to live next to them, l probably would pick up a 6 or 4 pack, knock on their door, apologize, offer them peace offering, then never ever step foot in there again. And pray for them to move, or transfer to another apartment in the complex. People get killed just cutting in front of others in road rage in Florida. I moved out of apartments in this state, because of shootings, random robberies, drug dealing. A good deal of apartments aren't the safest to live in anymore. Even the elite country golf club residences have gone downhill where l live with random break-ins targeting cars, people checking if entrance doors are unlocked. These are just really nice areas, but that doesn't mean much anymore. Your neighbor may have anger issues.

 

[ra49]

An apology may help as the neighbor feels disrespected, but as he is not open to verbal explanation, maybe you could write him a note?
Not certain putting more beer in this situation would be helpful sounds like neighbor already has enough if he is tossing his cans on your side

But Aspychata is very correct about being as non-confrontational as possible and not visiting again, for your own safety

 

[MNAus]

Lots of disrespectful accusations going back and forth all over the place here. Slow down. Breath. Stop overthinking about who offended who and who disrespected who.

Did you do this on purpose? No.
Did you apologise and attempt to explain? Yes.
You have your answer. No further mulling over required. No thinking on who is the victim, who disrespected who. You accidentally dropped something ,you apolgised, you tried to make good. He can accept that, or he can choose not to.

Personally I wouldn't be looking to share a drink with him again. He'd be in my "unpredictably hostile" pigeon hole, and would need to give good evidence on why his application should be reconsidered.

 

[Rodafina]

Can someone please explain to me what happened?

An empty beer can was dropped?

Is that all that happened?

I'm so confused here.

 

[Mr. Stevens]

Can someone please explain to me what happened?

An empty beer can was dropped?

Is that all that happened?

I'm so confused here.

Yes. He dropped the empty can when he was about to throw it out. The neighbor went into a rage, perceiving this as a sign of intergenerational disrespect.

 

[Rodafina]

Yes. He dropped the empty can when he was about to throw it out. The neighbor went into a rage, perceiving this as a sign of intergenerational disrespect.

Thank you!

Okay, so the ludicrous nature of the neighbor's outburst becomes apparent. What an odd reaction.

The guy must have been wasted... not an excuse, just an explanation to the strange behavior. Don't take this personally, @Dillon. Sometimes we must be the duck and just let stupid things roll off our backs.

 

[Mr. Stevens]

Exactly The reality of dealing with this guy is scary, but his logic is so comical. It's absurd, this reaction.

I feel like he's someone who can't deal with age and the fact that the world isn't his anymore, as if this is surprising. I feel the invitation was given to cultivate a "friendship," so he'd have an audience for his social ranting and get the validation he feels so entitled to. This guy seems deeply insecure.

 

[Rodafina]

I feel the invitation was given to cultivate a "friendship," so he'd have an audience for his social ranting and get the validation he feels so entitled to.

Good point.

Probably not the best person to share time with any longer (as others have already suggested).

 

[Sherlock77]

This could just show that he has an anger issue, when little things set him off

And I'll add that sometimes in the moment it happens people act irrationally, but a day later they realize how stupid it was... But in the moment people can lose perspective...

I don't think it has to mean the end of any contact with him

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

People can be strange I took A night school classes one got passed over for promotion so decided to take courses on leadership to understand why I could not get promotion even though my skill level would easily qualify me, after class I asked teacher what I thought was simple question, why so few women in class, she got very angry went into feminist ran on how they as a college tried everything under the sun to encourage female enrolment and how nothing worked in front of whole class. What do you say about something like this I touched a real nerve. All I had done was state the obvious.