And bad fences make bad neighbors?

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November 3rd, 2010 · 51 comments

At least three New Yorkers have independently spotted and submitted this sign in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, so I figured it’s time to give it a proper showing. (Submitter Adam took several photos from a variety of angles, so you can a picture of the whole scene.)

Amanda also provided some color commentary. “The ‘plants’ in question are the small jungle encroaching from the right of the photo,” she says. “Honestly, without the sign, the property would have just looked abandoned. Now it looks more like the home of a crotchety hermit.”

And our anonymous submitter, who happens to live less than a block away from these two houses, even did a little extra detective work. “I’ve tried and tried to find out the back story,” he says, “but so far all I have been able to find out is that the feuding neighbors are also brother and sister.”

I think that pretty much explains it, no?

FILED UNDER: Brooklyn · flowers, trees, houseplants & gardens · neighbors · siblings

51 responses so far ↓

#1 Ang

Brother & sister…no explanation necessary!
My dad and aunt have had an ongoing silent treatment feud for about 25 years now, I don’t even think they know what it was over after all this time. Sad.

Anyone got a match??

Nov 3, 2010 at 8:19 pm rating: 2

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#2 Nuki

I don’t understand why the sign is on the fence builder’s side… he should definitely put it on the neighbor/sibling’s side to remind them of how they fail as relations.

Nov 3, 2010 at 8:30 pm rating: 5

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- #2.1 park rose
  
  When involved in a dispute, never cross the picket.
  
  Nov 3, 2010 at 11:36 pm rating: 6
- #2.2 pony girl
  
  @Nuki, it’s a feud between a brother and a sister. So, it’s a tattle-tale sign.
  Possibly the other side of the fence has a sign saying, “Neener, neener, neener!” or something equally thought-provoking.
  
  I suggest to the non-fence person, a flag that says “Mom likes me best!”
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 1:21 am rating: 24
- #2.3 The Elf
  
  Exactly, Pony Girl! Any time you throw sibling rivalry into the mix, you throw out logic and reason. FWIW, if my brother moved next door, I would so totally install a fence. Possibly also a turret with machine gun on a motion sensor.
  
  Or maybe this property doesn’t have a matching fence on the other side and is a corner lot, so the sign is easily read by people going down the street.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 6:52 am rating: 7
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#3 REN

put the sign on the neighbors side and what is to stop the neighbor from just taking the sign down?

Nov 3, 2010 at 8:36 pm rating: 3

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- #3.1 FeRD
  
  Constant nuisance calls to the local NYPD precinct! Duh.
  
  Nov 3, 2010 at 8:55 pm rating: 2
- #3.2 pony girl
  
  @REN,
  
  Electric fencing and superglue?
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 1:58 am rating: 3
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#4 farcical aquatic ceremony

Reminds me–horribly–of a recent Cosmo cover that proclaimed that “Untamed Va-Ja-Jays are Back!”

Nov 3, 2010 at 8:54 pm rating: 13

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- #4.1 Canthz_B
  
  Thank goodness, Hair was a big hit for a good reason.
  
  Team Let the Bushes Grow, Don’t Over-Prune!!
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 12:18 am rating: 8
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#5 JetJackson

You wouldn’t see this kind of honesty of purpose on the Israeli separation fence or the Border Fence.

Nov 3, 2010 at 9:12 pm rating: 7

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- #5.1 park rose
  
  Or apartheid wall.
  
  Nov 3, 2010 at 11:38 pm rating: 1
- #5.2 Canthz_B
  
  If we put signs on the Border Fence that said, “This fence was erected to keep illegal immigrants OUT!!”, I don’t think they’d respect it any more than they now respect our borders or international law…but that would make for nice pictures of illegals scaling the wall right where the sign is posted.
  
  I think we’ve been pretty honest about the purpose of the Border Fence already…get a visa, or stay the fuck home. Not rocket surgery…illegally entering another country is, what’s the term I’m looking for?…ILLEGAL!!!
  The wall in Israel is far different than the wall at the US/Mexico border. The wall in Israel restricts movement within Israel…the wall at the US/Mexico border restricts movement between sovereign States (it also saves countless lives).
  Let’s not mix apples and oranges here, OK?
  
  Being a law-abiding, hard working individual who happens to be in another country illegally and in order to get a legitimate job uses someone else’s Social Security number is identity theft, illegal and immoral…not very law-abiding at all.
  
  One just cannot do under-handed deeds and be simultaneously considered salt-of-the-earth material in my humble opinion. If you’re shifty and take shortcuts, you’re a shifty individual any time it would inconvenience you not to be.
  Sure, people want to come here for a better life, but the ends do not justify the means, so put a Band-Aid on the bleeding hearts. Or, better yet, take a few million (estimates range from 13 to 25 million) illegal immigrants into your own country if you care so damned much about their quality of life in their home countries.
  
  I guess if you steal a whole continent from the indigenous people, you don’t have borders and so no need of fences. That’s why there is no discrimination against indigenous peoples in some countries, right?
  Or maybe sometimes arguments can boomerang.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 12:22 am rating: 12
- #5.3 grevillea
  
  Look what a pretty red leaf that bush has! Do you suppose it is a type of honeysuckle? Tra la la… I bet the birds love hiding in there. And once it grows, you won’t even notice the fence. Anyone for a cup of tea?
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 2:14 am rating: 14
- #5.4 Canthz_B
  
  Yes, because if it’s effective but not pretty, it should be scrapped.
  
  Bitch when we pretty it up with guard towers maned by soldiers armed with carbines and orders to shoot to kill. Until then, chill. It’s not the Berlin Wall, or anything like it.
  The better analogy would be the Great Wall of China sans the armed guard towers…built to keep outsiders outside, not to keep the populace within contained.
  You know, like Hadrian’s Wall. Nothing personal, just stay the fuck out beyond this point.
  If other countries don’t have clearly marked border crossings and border boundaries that they have a right to enforce as they see fit, please let me know, because I’d like to do some international travel, but don’t want the hassle of obtaining a passport or other documentation legitimizing my right to be on foreign soil.
  
  I’ll have that tea now, thank you.
  
  Nov 22, 2010 at 3:12 am rating: 0
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#6 Madrias

But one could still destroy the plants. Let’s face it, there’s a problem that could easily be settled with the proper and careful application of explosives. Or perhaps with fire.

Nov 3, 2010 at 10:02 pm rating: 4

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- #6.1 jadefirefly
  
  Or the right kind of bugs. Or the carefully-targeted use of extra-strength weedkiller.
  
  Nov 3, 2010 at 10:09 pm rating: 1
- #6.2 catburglar
  
  Or the prudent rental of a bulldozer, or, hell, why not the strategic use of a tactical nuclear weapon? Or maybe it would just be best to get some kind of a life that doesn’t revolve around the state of your neighbors garden? *Sigh* I know, too much to ask.
  
  Nov 3, 2010 at 10:58 pm rating: 4
- #6.3 Wordtinker doesnt smith
  
  SALT. It works for witches, too.
  
  Nov 3, 2010 at 11:20 pm rating: 5
- #6.4 pony girl
  
  @wordtinker,
  and slugs.
  
  (Salt & Slug, a romance doomed from the beginning.)
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 1:38 am rating: 3
- #6.5 Scribbles the Monkey
  
  Let us not overlook our friendly goat pals to solve this problem.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 11:27 am rating: 3
- #6.6 The Elf
  
  Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that. As far as I can tell, kids just seem to make a problematic relationship worse.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 12:59 pm rating: 4
- #6.7 Mo®
  
  They smell funny too.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 1:52 pm rating: 2
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#7 shwo!

This sign was installed to prevent me from having friends.

Nov 3, 2010 at 11:02 pm rating: 13

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#8 mugqbo

so, brother and sister just ended their sexual relationship?

I admire the commitment to making the point.

Nov 4, 2010 at 12:11 am rating: 0

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#9 Nack

I’m betting the sister is the plant owner. And the sign owner.

And bro is just doing what all brothers do, annoy their sister with obnoxious behavior.

Nov 4, 2010 at 12:14 am rating: 2

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- #9.1 The Elf
  
  I figured it was the sister who was the plant “destroyer” because OMG her brother just can’t be bothered to maintain the yard and it’s hurting her tomatoes and her kids might get bitten by a wolverine that’s set up camp in that tangle and God know what else and the other neighbors are going to LAUGH AT HER and not invite her to their tupperware parties because her brother is such an embarrassment.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 6:59 am rating: 7
- #9.2 Scribbles the Monkey
  
  I’m going to go the distance here and say The Elf is the sister in question. Wayyy too much insight into the sister’s mind, there…
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 11:29 am rating: 0
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#10 Jenn B

should just flicked a match on the whole shittery

Nov 4, 2010 at 12:48 am rating: 2

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#11 Canthz_B

Sign on the other side:

This fence is greatly appreciated, as it prevents my neighbor’s plants from invading my pristine, Better Homes and Garden runner-up, lawn.

Nov 4, 2010 at 12:51 am rating: 23

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- #11.1 goose
  
  For now, neighbour… for now.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 7:57 pm rating: 0
- #11.2 AlyssaMBB
  
  Yess, i’m going to have to copy Canthz B’s sign beucase this jungle or whatever is going on that side of the fence looks remarkably like my neighbors lawn…
  
  Nov 5, 2010 at 10:26 am rating: 1
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#12 H bomb

Hey now, it takes a lot of effort to get a garden to get that “just rolled out of the (flower) bed” look.

Nov 4, 2010 at 6:30 am rating: 12

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#13 bored@work

Someone hasa serious case of jungle love if they are really trying to protect that blight on their lawn.

Wait a minute, I don’t think I’m using that term correctly.

Nov 4, 2010 at 7:36 am rating: 3

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#14 Woman on the Verge

Who lives on this side? George of the Jungle?

Nov 4, 2010 at 7:49 am rating: 4

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#15 Woman on the Verge

Anybody see the movie The Ruins? Those plants are going to start whispering and climbing over the fence soon….

Nov 4, 2010 at 8:08 am rating: 2

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#16 ruska

Hey! I live in WT: what street is this on?

Nov 4, 2010 at 8:19 am rating: 0

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#17 Yessi

That’s dedication.
I mean, assuming the poster doesn’t do this as a profession, fucker went to a sign shop.
That’s kind of admirable. (As opposed to scrawling it in spray paint.)

Nov 4, 2010 at 8:28 am rating: 2

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- #17.1 Robwill
  
  Agreed. With the dedication of both the sign and the amount of nails and/or screws used to affix it (looks like 32), I assume that sign is pointed toward the neighbor, probably the brother.
  
  You have to guess that with your brother being so negligent with his yard, he is unlikely to attempt to remove the sign.
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 10:02 am rating: 0
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#18 divaandwriter

Singing …

“Come on, people
Smile on your brother.
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now!”

(If I didn’t get that right, don’t blame me. It’s been a lot of years since I heard that song.)

Nov 4, 2010 at 9:25 am rating: 4

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- #18.1 Canthz_B
  
  “Come on people now”, but close enough after a lot of years!
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 9:45 am rating: 1
- #18.2 Mo®
  
  ♪ Sign Sign everywhere a sign
  Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
  Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign
  
  And the sign said anybody caught trespassing would be shot on sight
  So I jumped on the fence and yelled at the house, Hey! what gives you the right
  To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in
  If God was here, he’d tell you to your face, man you’re some kinda sinner ♬
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 11:20 am rating: 12
- #18.3 Kaely
  
  ♪ As I went walking I saw a sign there
  And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
  But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
  That side was made for you and me. ♪
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 5:55 pm rating: 1
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#19 *snerk*

Team neighbor!

Speaking as someone whose neighbor’s trees drop sticky red berries all over our back porch and yard.

Nov 4, 2010 at 9:51 am rating: 1

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- #19.1 Scribbles the Monkey
  
  Don’t blame the neighbour… Blame that negligent, no-good arborial nightmare that can’t stop itself from littering it’s DNA-riddled sexual berries all over your property!
  
  Nov 4, 2010 at 11:47 am rating: 7
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#20 berge

Sign on the other side:

“Please stomp on the plants on the other side of this fence.”

Nov 4, 2010 at 11:05 am rating: 1

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#21 RT

@wordtinker

Bad info you have there.

This little witchy likes salt on her food.

Curious how this post was removed before.

Nov 4, 2010 at 12:34 pm rating: 0

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#22 Alex

On first sight, I thought the person on the OTHER side of the fence would be the fence-builder/sign-poster. They wouldn’t want the giant mess of jungle visible in the picture to be encroaching on their (unseen here) nice plants.

Am I missing something?

Nov 4, 2010 at 1:36 pm rating: 0

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#23 Mo®

Is that rhubarb growing in that urban jungle? Mmmmmmm. My my a rhubarb pie is orgasmically toothsome!

Nov 4, 2010 at 1:56 pm rating: 0

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#24 Savannah

That sign is obviously a liar. There is no way it was installed after those bushes were planted, unless it was done from the other side. It was probably put up so the neighbor didn’t have to look at the ugly plants anymore.

Nov 4, 2010 at 4:10 pm rating: 0

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#25 Walker, "Tex" (a stranger)

I just assumed it was a xenophobe who couldn’t spell. It should have read “This fence was installed to prevent my neighbor from destroying my planets!”

Nov 8, 2010 at 11:35 pm rating: 0

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