This is a case of do as I say, not as I do. At least half, and probably more like two-thirds, of these posts have been written by the same poster who must use an excel spreadsheet to keep all the handles straight. Back to the daily barrage!

but let me tell you, growing up as a whitey in the white suburbs is a great place to learn to feel all superior about being "open minded" and "tolerant" of diversity.

I didn't think Betzee was being racist at all, just feeling a little schadenfreude for some people who weren't very nice to her.

I live in a diverse (and very noisy) neighborhood. I'm still all about tolerance and being open-minded (I have to be, or else I'd move back to the suburbs), but there are indeed cultural differences and people who are simply a-holes from every culture.

Dense residential areas require a lot of people to get along in a a not very big place. So yes, I tolerate the Korean drag queen practicing her karaoke every Friday afternoon loud enough for at least 1,000 other people to hear her. And yes, I find it amusing. If I could figure out where she lived, I'd probably leave her a note asking her to tone it down, but I'd understand if she didn't because she doesn't have to.

I also listen to my neighbor blasting his prayer music (I assume Muslim, but honestly have no idea), and practicing piano (not very well, but I'm rooting for him to improve), at all hours. Honestly, I've woken up at 2am to the tinkling of "Yankee Doodle Dandy."

I deal with it. It's a city. If I didn't like it, I would move - as it is, for the most part it isn't worth my trouble to complain. They are just living their lives, as I am trying to do, not particularly going out of their way to be rude or annoying.

What goes around, comes around. If you are really overly sensitive to noise, you have no business living in a city or a multiple family dwelling. It's not fair to anyone.

..and likes to work out late at night. Keep a log of the times when you are disturbed and ask him what's going on then. If he's any kind of good guy, he'll modify his activities to keep from losing you as a good tenant. If not, you have the right to peaceful enjoyment of your property and he is creating a nuisance that is affecting your health. After confronting him, file a complaint with the local sheriff to document.

In the meantime you might try Mighty Plugs (earplugs available online) and Lunesta.

Thanks, suzeqzee. You said it perfectly

And then ask yourself two questions: why did I never CALL THE POLICE about the illegal daycare at the other place?

And, why did I rent a place from a person who suggested that I throw a shoe if they made too much noise?

Wait. I take it back. One more question to ask yourself: why didn't I just go find a place on the top floor?

Really, of all the reasons to feel sorry for oneself, you may have pick one that belongs in the Top Ten Lamest. Do something about it. Sheesh!

no experience necessary is not the only who noticed how vile your hateful celebration of your former neighbors probable suffering after 9/11. How can you justify that? How is it in any way proportionate to your own suffering? It is not like say, reveling in the fact that your neighbor got a parking ticket or something else annoying but not life threatening.

I was horrified when I saw your comment and your subsequent comments make it much worse. You decry the bigotry your nephew encountered but can’t see how ugly it is that you are celebrating such bigotry against others- bigotry of a far more dangerous and life threatening nature than a cranky old neighbor…

no experience necessary was also right about your over-posting. Certainly that is a subjective thing but your constant droning about your own experiences that are only tangentially related in the most flimsy way show you are simply interested in bloviating about yourself. If you don’t want people judging you maybe you should keep your generally banal thoughts to yourself- that goes double for hateful thoughts against people that merely inconvenienced you.

To the letter writer: some people do not belong in cities – you sound like one of them. Exhaust your options to make sure it is not some medical condition and if there is no medical cause just move to the burbs already. You shoe throwing people don’t realize you are the problem.

I feel for the party who is affected by his or her neighbor's noise. Remember that living in close confines with anyone requires both tolerance and consideration. When intolerant people (who can't stand someone else's sounds) and inconsiderate people (who don't care about someone else's acoustical comfort) come together, you've got trouble in the making.

Remember that what constitutes "noise" and "nuisance" are subjective. One man's symphony is another man's noise. "Loudness" is also subjective. But it is within your power to control or minimize the extraneous sounds you hear without resorting to a confrontation with your neighbor.

Before you move, have a calm rational conversation with the other party. Even if you know they know they are making noise, pretend it is the first time they are being made aware of it. Do not be confrontational, but ask very politely if they help you with "your" problem. Try to calmly and politely come to some agreement. "Gee, Fred," you might say, "I wish I loved Led Zeppelin as much as you do. And gosh, your sound system is the bomb. The problem is I have to get up at Zero Dark Thirty for this stupid job I have. I was wondering if maybe Sunday to Thursday you could turn down this killer sound system just a notch or two? I got this nice set of earplugs to help me sleep, but the sound vibrations come through the walls. Do you think we could try that for a couple of days?"

And if Fred agrees, thank him profusely everytime you see him. And especially in front of other people. (Sure you might think you're going overboard, but winning the war of unwanted sound means making Fred be the hero in the situation and not the villain. He's far more likely to do the right thing for someone who gives him credit for change instead of nagging.

Soundproof your own environmnet. You can't expect people to walk on eggshells just for you. Visit a music store, buy some soundproofing -- cork or foam for wall and ceiling, carpet to help damp the sound. Buy that pair of earplugs and/or a white noise machine (or substitute) to help mask the sound. Recognize that living the "open windows/open air" lifestyle means you'll have unwanted sound from a variety of sources.

We live in a noisy world. Noise is any sound we didn't make and that we don't like. Nuisance is any "noise" we hear more than once. And we're often oblivious to the noises we make that bug the heck out of our neighbors.

You can only run away so far. Face up to the situation, make the necessary changes to the environment around you that you control and learn to ignore the rest. Life's too short to fixate on stuff -- other people's noise -- you cannot control.