A few months ago, we got new neighbours upstairs. Ever since, they have been playing music, acoustic and amplified instruments, and movies loudly, for the better part of almost every day.
On the day of New Year's eve, the new neighbour came down and politely introduced himself, explaining that he would have a small party, and the music would be loud, but we should please tell him, if it was too loud - We said it wasn't a problem and that we were having guests ourselves, and weirdly it was one of the first days we actually did not hear their music (probably because of our own).
Our anger has amassed, and we've tried hinting that the floors of our 150 year old apartment complex are thin, by playing short burst of loud music ourselves (Stupid and infantile, I realise in retrospect).
A week ago or so, we talked to THEIR upstairs neighbours, who agreed that that the music was far too loud, and that she had asked them to turn it down.
Two days ago, my girlfriend and I had gone to sleep at around 23 - most of the evening, we'd been able to hear the rumbling bass of an action movie or series, and after falling a sleep, I was woken up twice by large spikes in the sound.
Armed with all my pent up anger, raging about how inconsiderate they are, I went knocking furiously on their door at 1 in the morning - he opened, looking tired and confused - and I started berating him, telling him to turn it down, and how late it was, and how bad neighbours they had been since day one - he profusely apologised during this, and as I turn to leave, he says "You could have been nice".
I went be bed angrier than before, annoyed that my sleep had been disrupted.
The next day, we had an envelope in our letterbox in our door - it was a hand written card, apologising, saying that he wished that we had said something earlier, and for us to please let them know in the future.
imgur link to the card he left us
This is when it hit me. This guy is not a dick. He did not know - maybe he should have - but I should have given him the benefit of the doubt. I should have been nice. I could have been nice. Instead, I've been irritated for months, when I could have just gone to politely talk to him.
Needless to say, next time I hope I will do better - and just be nice about it, first - if then he had turned out to be a dick, then fine. It would have been justified, and I would confront him and find out how to stop it with force - but I never had to.
TLDR; Neighbour has been playing loud music and movies for months since they moved in, went to confront him angrily late a night, turns out he was not aware and that I have wasted energy being angry on an alright guy, to whom I could have been nice.
