Feuding with neighbours is a huge source of urban friction

as can be seen in all those “Neighbours from Hell” type TV programmes

Problems with neighbours arise due to issues like these….

PARKING AND VEHICLE DISPUTES

UNTENDED OVERGROWN GARDENS

UNTIDY JUNK LEFT ON STREET/DRIVEWAY 

UNROADWORTHY OR SEMI-REPAIRED VEHICLES   

BOUNDARY DISPUTES

OVERHANGING TREES

UNRULY CHILDREN   

BARKING DOGS

CAR DOOR SLAMMING

RAUCOUS MOTORBIKES 

CONSTANT COMINGS & GOINGS

LOUD SHOUTING & SWEARING & FIGHTS

LATE-NIGHT VISITORS & NOISY PARTIES

OA-Cities will have far less potential for neighbour conflict as there will be no cars, no roads, and no boundary fences, etc.  Most of the issues above – and other sources of neighbourly discord – could not arise in OA-Cities

The stereo-typical TV-show “tenants from hell” would be unlikely to pass the OA-City selection process and would probably not even bother applying if application fees were non-refundable.  Occasional borderline cases might pass muster but will be on probationary residence – and therefore on their best behaviour – for the first year or so.   Once accepted for residence, I believe everyone will make a great effort to behave in a civilised manner because OA-Citizenship will be such a privilege and good behaviour, like smiling, is infectious.      

“Neighbour problems” are a far more serious matter when people own their homes, because it is very costly and disrupting to have to escape the bad neighbour by moving elsewhere.  The most unfair aspect is that usually the quieter, more respectful, and longer established party is intimidated into leaving, whilst the rude and aggressive newcomers get to remain and gloat over their “victory”.  

 

PROFESSIONAL MEDIATORS TO THE RESCUE

OA-City managements will have professional mediators on hand to resolve such issues since, even with the better class of neighbour that one could expect in OA-Cities, personality clashes can occur due to simple misunderstandings escalating and getting out of hand.  But if mediation doesn’t work it will be a relatively simple matter for one of the feuding parties to move to another section of the building – or an adjacent OA-City habitat – where the protagonists are unlikely to cross paths very often.