Man gets unbelievable HOA notice over his guests' black SUVs—his brilliant response sparks an apology
When something feels wrong or unjust, we must voice our opinions or communicate about the issue. The power of speaking out and getting clarity is profound and can often result in a rightful discussion or conclusion. A man who goes by u/Moetheoneandonly shared a post on Reddit revealing an unnecessary HOA (Homeowner’s Association) notice he received after holding a small party. The notice was issued not because the party was problematic or noisy, but because of the vehicles the guests brought to the party. The man refused to put up with it and voiced his opinion, sparking an interesting outcome.
The man shared a screenshot of the email, which mentioned how three SUVs that guests arrived in “startled and unsettled” the neighbors. The man noted that the party was subtle with no loud music or anything fancy. He added that the SUVs were regular vehicles and there were only a total of six cars, all of which were parked decently. The notice mentioned, “It's really concerning to see such vehicles showing up in our otherwise peaceful, family-oriented neighborhood, especially without any prior notice. As you can imagine, the sight of them raised a lot of questions and caused quite a bit of anxiety.”
It was also noted that the neighbors thought something “serious” was happening, causing people to get “alarmed.” Towards the end of the notice, it was suggested that the resident inform in advance about “unusual activity.” “It would certainly help ease the collective nerves of your neighbors, who were left feeling quite uncomfortable by the presence of those vehicles,” the email concluded. As any other person would feel, the man was taken aback. He found the notice “weird.” “Am I supposed to tell those people to rent a Prius the next time around?” he asked. The post blew up, and many people found it unacceptable that such a big ruckus was created, over a non-issue.
Many supported the man through comments and urged him to stand up for himself. u/Beaufort_the_cat remarked, "'As you can imagine…’ No, apparently I can’t imagine being startled by a black colored car. It’s a car.” u/Spoodymen added, “Say that the email from HOA gave you anxiety and they should be disbanded.” Others pitched in with sarcastic, offensive, logical, and even hysterical alternatives of how to respond. However, the interaction on Reddit itself was enough to bring it to the attention of those involved and get an apology. In a comment, the man shared another email he received.
“I'm reaching out after one of our HOA members brought to my attention the Reddit post about the email I sent regarding your birthday party,” the email began. The person further noted that due to the "overwhelming response” the post received, they decided to clarify things. “I can completely understand why my original message was seen as alarmist, demeaning and offensive. I want to publicly apologize to you and anyone else who felt the same,” they noted. The rest of the email spun around how the community should strive to be “inclusive” and how they had failed to do so through their words.
The sender undoubtedly learned a lesson through the criticism from the internet. Their support ensured the man was not unjustly called out over something trivial. u/badpeach wrote, “Your HOA is shitting themselves right now. They thought they could quietly bully you, like they do everyone else in the neighborhood.” u/IWannaBiteAGirlLikeYou added, “This is why it is so important to speak up and not let anyone intimidate you regardless of their title or claimed power.”
