Internet users have hailed the “petty revenge” a Generation X couple got on their neighbors who continually report them for violating city code.
In a now-viral Reddit post, user u/SeaUtopia wrote that she and her husband bought their home in Kansas 13 years ago, and it quickly became clear that they were “the black sheep” of the neighborhood. While the Reddit user is aged 53 and her husband is 52, most of their neighbors are 10 to 20 years older than them, and they are incredibly particular.
“We are Gen X with long hair and tattoos, and our neighbors are Boomers who wear button-up shirts, even when doing yardwork,” u/SeaUtopia told Newsweek. “Other than the initial welcome to the neighborhood, they don’t speak to us directly and ignore even a friendly wave.”
As nature lovers, the couple have always allowed their yard to grow naturally, and they don’t pay for a lawn service either. But that doesn’t necessarily fit in with the rest of their neighbors, and it has led to countless complaints from them.
When the couple kept a compost pile in the yard, it was reported as “untamed overgrowth.” The neighbors also complained about vines growing on their garage, and reported the couple for having “too many volunteer trees” in their yard. To top it all off, any time their lawn is over 6 inches tall, the neighbors call the city code enforcement office and report it.
“We decided that we had to respond to the complaints without breaking any laws after the city code enforcement officer agreed that the complaints were getting too numerous and ridiculous. They were literally calling on a weekly basis, if not more,” the Reddit user said.
“We rely on family to help with the yardwork and, if it’s not down to the neighbors’ standards in a timely manner, then they file another report. The city no longer contacts us every time they complain because it has become a nuisance to them, too.”
Although the couple aren’t sure who specifically is reporting them, they do have three suspected neighbors in mind, and one who they believe is “the ringleader” of the operation.
A year after they moved into their home, the Reddit user became disabled as she has an idiopathic disease that paralyzes her internal organs. To date, she has had to have nine organs removed, and she is mostly bedridden. Her husband also needs a walker to get around as he has a degenerative spinal disease. The physicality of gardening is far too strenuous for them, and keeping on top of the yard is the least of their concerns.
Despite that, the neighbors continue to report them, so the Reddit user decided it was finally time to get some revenge on the “neighborhood lawn police.”
She wrote in the Reddit post that she asked for a copy of the city code to find out what you can and can’t put on your lawn. The regulations are very thorough, but the Gen Xer found that there was one very random omission: flamingo ornaments. Now, her lawn is filled with plastic statues of the bright pink bird.
The Reddit user’s lawn is filled with pink flamingos. The statues don’t violate city code, so the neighbors can’t report them for any wrongdoing.
u/SeaUtopia / Reddit
“We giggled to ourselves about how much the neighbors probably hated it, and the petty revenge began,” she told Newsweek.
“We haven’t noticed any response from the neighbors, but they don’t interact with us anyway. Our kids, who are grown with their own families, come to visit a couple times a month, and if the weather is good, they will tackle yard work or chores we are unable to do. They absolutely love the pettiness of the flamingos and have suggested costumes we can add during the holidays.”
How Did Social Media React?
At first, u/SeaUtopia didn’t set out for any type of revenge, as she said the couple are not confrontational people. However, she felt they were continuously pushed into it by the incessant neighbors.
She posted about the idea on Reddit, and the post instantly went viral with over 7,700 votes and more than 560 comments so far.
“I was surprised by all the positive responses on Reddit,” she said. “It was the pettiest of petty, and I didn’t expect it to get as many upvotes as it did. We are looking into some ideas that were suggested for other things we can do that are within city code. We are seriously considering adding native grasses and flowers, as well as clover and dandelion to replace the sod grass that was added before we moved here.”
After it generated so much attention online, u/SeaUtopia even hopes one of the Boomer neighbors might see the post and finally understand their side of the story; she says they have never “offered any help” or tried to discuss the situation with them.
Internet users can’t get enough of their creativity, and many have even offered suggested for what the couple could do next.
One comment on the Reddit post reads: “Buy more of them. Every time someone reports you, add ten more flamingos to the flock.”
Another person wrote: “Just out of curiosity, what’s the largest flamingo lawn ornament available? I wonder if a person could get one seven feet tall. With red LED eyes.”
“Revenge is a dish best served pink,” posted a third.
Another comment reads: “Just amazing they never offered to help you with lawncare.”
Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
