When a neighbor feels they should be nosey, what I feel needs to be determined immediately is why is a neighbor being nosey in the first place. Yes, we should love and respect our neighbors. Be a good neighbor as much as we possibly can. However, this is the year 2007 and we need to make sure we do not have a killer or psychopath. etc living next door to us.
If a neighbor is looking out for the block, or the area in which they live, that would be considered as being nosey for a reason, and is a useful kind of nosiness. If a neighbor has binoculars trained on various homes, to be a peeping tom,or to scout from afar for a burglary attempt on someone's home, this neighbor needs to be exposed and reported to the proper authorities.
When Richard Speck, John Wayne Gassey, and other fiends were reeking havoc and terror on people, I wonder how many nosey neighbors turned a blind eye toward their activities? Most likely many of them did, and we should in a polite but firm manner let a nosey neighbor know that we are watching them too, keeping them on the straight and narrow and accountable for their actions.
Just remember, keep the blinds drawn while you are getting dressed, coming out of the shower, or other activities you want to keep private. Mr , Ms, or Mrs, nosey neighbor is watching! As the Bible says, love our neighbors. However, common sense tells us also do not have our lives and our privacy invaded by a nosey neighbor. Don't do anything to make a neighbor nosey towards us and quell lies, rumors, gossip by not spreading it ourselves. Then say with vigor, "Hi there neighbor!" whenever we see those curtains twitch!
