Neighbor Demands Person’s WiFi Because It’s “Distracting Her Plants”

Getting along with your neighbors is a challenge and a half. On the one hand, they can potentially become your friends. On the other hand, if you simply don’t click or they keep ignoring your boundaries, things can get pretty awkward. And though a bit of friction is to be expected, some interactions make your jaw drop.

Redditor u/Spitchange amused the EntitledPeople online group with a story about his entitled neighbor. He shared how the plant-loving woman accused him of “disrupting the vibrational energy of her succulents” with his WiFi, demanding that he change his behavior. Check out the full story below. Meanwhile, Bored Panda has gotten in touch with the author, and we’ll update the article once we hear back from him.

It’s important to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs; however, if they start ignoring your boundaries, it might be time to gently push back

Woman with curly hair holding a crystal to her forehead, symbolizing focus amid entitled neighbor WiFi distraction complaint.

Image credits: Olha Ruskykh / pexels (not the actual photo)

One internet user shared how shocked he was when a neighbor, who’s very into new-age spirituality, accused him of damaging her plants’ spiritual welfare… with his WiFi

Alt text: Entitled neighbor confronting about WiFi use claiming it distracts her plants causing a residential dispute.

Text describing a townhouse neighbor concerned about WiFi use allegedly distracting her plants due to signal interference.

Text excerpt about using phone and computer outside, mentioning entitled neighbor and WiFi distracting plants.

Young man using laptop outdoors, smiling while working on WiFi, unaffected by entitled neighbor's distracting plant complaints.

Image credits: Buro Millennial / pexels (not the actual photo)

Person describing an entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi because it’s distracting her plants and showing a diagram.

Text describing a neighbor claiming WiFi disrupts her plants by affecting their vibrational energy through the shared wall.

Text excerpt explaining a neighbor claiming WiFi usage is distracting her plants, which receive no natural light.

Potted succulent plants on a wooden table near a watering can, illustrating entitled neighbor WiFi distracting plants issue.

Image credits: cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt explaining a neighbor demanding control over WiFi usage due to concerns about distracting her plants.

Text on a white background reading I laughed because I thought she was joking, referring to entitled neighbor WiFi distraction claims.

Text on a plain white background reading she stormed off as I was laughing at her, I’m still currently waiting to see what comes out of this.

Image credits: Spitchange

Setting and enforcing healthy boundaries may be awkward at first, but it’s vital if you want to protect your interests

Young woman with red hair on a phone call, upset about her neighbor demanding she stop using her own WiFi.

Image credits: Antoni Shkraba Studio / pexels (not the actual photo)

Nobody enjoys being judged and told what they should or should not do out of the blue. And you can feel really taken aback if someone suddenly starts accusing you of having a negative impact on their plants’ spiritual welfare.

It’s even more frustrating if your neighbors demand that you either turn off your WiFi during certain hours or give them control over your router entirely. That goes beyond neighborly concern and intrudes on your freedom. Having your WiFi on whenever you need to use it is a very different situation from, say, blasting loud music, which annoys the entire building.

If you find that someone constantly ignores your boundaries, whether they’re your neighbor, friend, colleague, or relative, then proper communication is the best tool in your arsenal. You want to be extremely clear about your expectations moving forward after you explain how the person’s behavior negatively affects you.

The key is not to be judgmental (they’ll only get defensive) while also standing your ground. It’s best to go for a mix of firmness, friendliness, fairness, and diplomacy.

Verywell Mind notes that setting boundaries can be hard and uncomfortable at first. So, you could start small and focus on one boundary with one person at a time. If you’re feeling particularly nervous, you could write out what you want to say and practice the interaction in front of a mirror.

Meanwhile, try to keep things clear, focused, and simple. “Less is more with boundary setting. Try not to overload someone with too many details at first. Just pick the main thing that is bothering you and focus on that.”

A person who has healthy boundaries:

• Can say ‘no’ and is able to accept someone else saying ‘no’ to them;
• Clearly communicates their wants and needs;
• Respect the needs of other individuals, as well as their own;
• Respect other people’s opinions, values, and beliefs, even if they’re different;
• Is flexible without compromising their needs in unhealthy ways.

Meanwhile, someone who has unhealthy boundaries usually communicates their wants and needs poorly, has trouble saying ‘no’ or accepting someone else telling them ‘no,’ compromises their values, beliefs, and opinions to satisfy others, overshares personal info, and tries to manipulate others to do something they don’t want to.

Some research actually indicates that WiFi may harm plant growth, but there’s nothing spiritual about this

Person repotting a snake plant indoors, illustrating a story about an entitled neighbor and WiFi distracting her plants.

Image credits: cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)

‘Spiritual disruptions’ and neighbors who ignore your boundaries aside, WiFi may actually have an adverse effect on plant health and growth. However, more in-depth research is needed to study the long-term effects.

One study from July 2016, which sought to replicate previous work conducted by Danish high school students as part of their science fair project, looked at how radiation from WiFi routers affects the germination and growth of several plants, including garden cress, broccoli, red clover, and pea.

According to researchers from Trent University, radiation from WiFi “reduces root and shoot growth, contributes to chlorosis, alters the size of leaves, and reduces fine root hairs in several of the species tested.”

They add that “radiation generated by a WiFi router, at levels well below international guidelines for microwave radiation, adversely affects plant growth and may interfere with a plant’s ability to protect itself from opportunistic mold.”

While the WiFi router radiation did not affect any of the germination of the species tested, it did significantly reduce the dry weight of the broccoli and peas. Some species’ root growth was inhibited, causing the tops to turn brown. Meanwhile, the broccoli seedlings that the researchers kept closest to the router grew away from it.

Have you ever had someone accuse you of disrupting their plants’ spiritual welfare before, dear Pandas? What’s the biggest, most bizarre argument you’ve ever had with your neighbor? How would you have handled the situation if you were in the author’s shoes? Let us know in the comments below!

The story got a lot of reactions online. Here’s what some readers said about the bonkers situation

Online discussion about entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi due to claims it distracts her plants.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing an entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi due to distracting plants.

Screenshot of a user comment advising to change WiFi SSID to avoid an entitled neighbor’s complaints about WiFi and plants.

Reddit comment humorously addressing entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi due to plant distraction concerns.

Comment suggesting to align crystals around the router to purify the WiFi signal distracting neighbor’s plants.

Text from a social media comment humorously reacting to an entitled neighbor demanding to stop WiFi use because it distracts her plants.

Entitled neighbor demands to stop using WiFi, claiming it distracts her plants in a shared living space conflict.

Comment humorously discussing entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi because it distracts her plants.

Comment discussing an entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi, claiming it distracts her plants, seen as a scammer.

Comment about naming WiFi SSID Brawndo as a humorous response to entitled neighbor's distraction of her plants.

Comment on a forum post warning to install cameras due to an entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi distracting her plants.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment suggesting to rename WiFi to the apartment number to address entitled neighbor WiFi issues.

Comment discussing reporting an entitled neighbor who demands stopping personal WiFi due to distracting her plants in a townhouse context.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment saying laughing is the only thing you can do about an entitled neighbor’s WiFi dispute affecting her plants.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing wifi signals and an entitled neighbor distracted by plant interference from wifi.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment sharing a story about an entitled neighbor and WiFi distracting her plants.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment joking about a neighbor demanding to stop using wifi because it distracts her plants.

Comment suggesting to hide WiFi SSID to avoid conflict with an entitled neighbor over WiFi usage.

Reddit comment discussing an entitled neighbor demanding to stop using WiFi because it distracts her plants.

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