If one person wants to engage in an activity, and the other does not want to be around that activity, who must yield?
(Think smoking, or loud music, or something similar)
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Whose Rights Weigh More
If one person wants to engage in an activity, and the other does not want to be around that activity, who must yield?
(Think smoking, or loud music, or something similar)
If the activity takes place in a public space, and there is no threat to: life, liberty or property, I would assume that the complainant would yield.
Although, I’ve already thought of examples in which some actions in public would be punishable by law, even though these actions wouldn’t violate someones rights.
This can be a contentious question.
Take for example the smoker who claims the right to smoke in a public space, and the non-smoker who claims the right to avoid smoke in the same space. They are both right, but frequently can’t come to terms, and as a result, people have asked the government for more laws.
Loud noise is another area. If one neighbor wants to play an outdoor stereo or use a lawnmower at 1pm, and the other neighbor wants to sleep because of working the night shift, who should yield?
Smoking is a hazard to other peoples health, so I’m not sure if smoking should even be allowed in public.
As for loud music, unless it’s above a certain decibel level it’s not a hazard, and i don’t know how it could be a threat to “inalienable” (if such a thing exists) rights, so I’m not sure about this one. Is being a nuisance to someone else considered a crime ? In Australia it is.
It is in places here, but it’s almost always a local ordinance. The bigger problem is that if arguments start to the extent that the police are called, it frequently escalates to someone being charged with at least disorderly conduct and spending the night in jail.
The smoking of tobacco has been a hot topic where I used to live in Indiana. I smoke, but I will not smoke around someone who doesn’t, unless they voluntarily and knowingly approach me before I finish, especially if I am smoking an $8 cigar. My problems stemmed from either people who saw me from way too far away to be bothered, but complained anyway because they were so fanatically offended, and from people in designated smoking areas who insisted on smoking where people were eating, which is something I despise personally, because it interferes with my enjoyment of my meal.
Perhaps neighbours should meet and have a contractual agreement in an attempt to respect each other and avoid petty confrontations period. Then If that agreement is broken, someone can be prosecuted because the contract would be a legal document. It’s probably a ridiculous idea but I can’t really think of any alternatives when it comes to one party being annoyed by another, even though the offender isn’t threatening their rights.
I have a right to a good nights sleep dammit !!!
Thanks for the video, it’s one of my favorites!
Personally, I think if more of us would just relearn how to be friendly, some of our miniature little feuds would go away.
Contracts would work, but it seems like it would be terribly cumbersome. I don’t know if there is anything between contracts and manners, though.
looking at the way housing estates are being built nowadays, I personally think people need a little more space, and shouldn’t be living on top of each other. That alone can cause friction when you want some peace and quiet. That’s one of the reasons I’ve bought a large block of land.
That’s one of the problems I used to have when I was younger. Working nights while living in an apartment complex was pretty tough on the day the maintenance crew got out the mowers.
I worked nights (bartender) most of my life. My choice, so I dealt with it. Dark room, ear plugs, eye shades, whatever it takes. We’re each responsible for our own choices, I don’t think it’s fair to make the rest of the world adjust to our individual “needs”.
At the same time, a little consideration goes a long way. I tried to be quiet getting home late so as not to disturb the room mates. And they reciprocated.
I know people in that situation but I haven’t had that problem myself. It must suck being a shift worker, body clock all out of whack. Maybe it’s a sleep issue, not a rights issue, lol.
As for rights in a public space, I’m still not sure who should regulate that and who’s responsible for creating the list.
I’ve got the advantage of living in a small town now, and there are very few problems simply because it is a small town. Everyone knows everyone, and if someone does something wrong, there’s no escaping it, except to move away. Much better than in a city.
