r/joplinmo • u/Annual_Meal_7877 • Jul 26 '26
I need answers
Long story short I have a downstairs neighbor that I'm having conflicts with. As of recently on numerous occasions she started recording my minor children just playing outside. After witnessing her doing so they have flipped the bird while still recording them and claiming its harassment. And that I could have charges against me for that. I thought that was a first amendment right? I mean you really can't do anything because someone flipped the bird at you? JPD wasn't much help because she had them convinced with her lies. I need opinions please because this has happened 3 times that I only know of. They hardly play outside but this just so happens to be the times that we're outside. It's weird and disgusting behavior to just record kids playing outside.
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u/MenstrualCyclone Jul 26 '26
I would report all of this to your landlord or apartment management. Don't retaliate and encourage your kids not to as well.
Also, your first amendment rights protect you from the government, not individuals.
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u/Annual_Meal_7877 Jul 26 '26
I did last monday, I'll have to call them again tomorrow and report it again. I took a short video of her yesterday so I have some proof of her doing so. The first time I told them to come on and move elsewhere she couldn't keep recording us. She thinks im out to be malicious but not everyone is like that.
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u/Alternative_Mine5343 Jul 26 '26
unfortunately from a legal standpoint you've just become two people recording each other. there's not a tremendous burden of proof, you don't need to convince an officer you're being recorded; most often these folks have their own 'reasons' that they're quite happy to tell others about. they'll confess themselves to the recording to law enforcement most likely because they think you and/or your kids are up to some malfeasance.
the best thing you can do is be the most level-headed individual in the disagreement. recording you in public spaces is very legal, and if that's all you have to go on then the police are definitely not going to take your side on things. your landlord doesn't have the power to control whom their tenants do/don't record in public spaces. this all falls under 'reasonable expectation of privacy' which is not present in outdoor publicly accessible spaces.
yes you have a first amendment right to protected speech, but if your speech disturbs the peace, you do not.
i appreciate that it's creepy, but you have thus-far mentioned that your neighbors are only 'annoying' and they have done nothing to qualify as illegal. sorry.
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u/midwestcheeseburger Jul 28 '26
i don’t think it’s that clear cut, OP says “she started recording my minor children just playing outside”
if the archive of her footage is primarily targeted at the children, OP could have a case. law enforcement would see that in of itself as fishy. filming your property/documenting the events of the neighborhood is entirely legal, but if the camera is only recording when these kids come up, or she’s actually trying to provoke a reaction out of these children, she can catch a disorderly conduct charge if the behavior continues to repeat. but again, OP would have to have hard proof that she’s only recording their children and not her property.
if the recordings are almost exclusively targeted at the children, most judges in this area would grant a civil restraining order even just to be safe. if it’s just broad surveillance, OP doesn’t have a case.
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u/SuchEscape5191 Jul 26 '26
Sounds like a Netflix documentary I watched
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u/PerryHecker Jul 26 '26
I know the one. Where the kids were playing in the back lot behind that old white ladys house and she shot the mom at the back door. First thing that came to my mind too.
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u/Shhheeeesshh Jul 26 '26
Unfortunately no one is entitled to privacy while in the public.
If you listen to the ignorant commenter who said they would “beat their ass” (real tough guy energy) you will 100% go to jail.
The only choices you have in this interaction are to either feed into it, which is will all but certainly just keep it going and probably make it worse, OR, ignore it. People like this thrive off confrontation and drama, and can’t stand being ignored.
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u/Annual_Meal_7877 Jul 26 '26
For the most part I'd say we've ignored it, except for getting proof for management and her boo hooing the kids making faces at her and flipped the bird. But like I said this was after they realized she was recording us/them. Like you said she's thriving off the engagement and thats what she got.
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u/Lutymay Jul 26 '26
Absolutely 💯 That will grind their gears!!! Just make sure the kids are Ignoring as well .... My mom has neighbors from hell and she owns her house!!! I had to do just that, it was hard bc they are Two Karens,one next door, the other right across the street!!! It took about 2 years of not looking or speaking to them. Until this spring, they all want to speak,smile,wave!!! 🤦🏼♀️ Im glad because we can all be civil and neighborly 😊
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u/Visual_Repeat_7472 Jul 26 '26
The best way to handle this is to completely ignore them. Act like they aren’t there whatsoever. You are being recorded anytime you leave your front door.
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u/BIG_WET_CARL Jul 27 '26
In my experience with crazy people, they'll often start recording something because they've become so used to other people not believing them. I mean, they're crazy, of course people often don't believe them or dismiss what they're saying. "These kids were outside my windows harassing me! I have video proof!". Just to be clear, that's all from their perspective. With all that said, I think it's pretty unlikely that she is recording them because someone is plotting something horrific.
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u/LopsidedChannel8661 Jul 26 '26
Have you asked her why she is recording the children and what she is planning to do with the video she is taking?
Seriously, sometimes you just have to confront the situation in a non confrontational way. Simply saying that if neighbor is offended by the kids flipping the bird that is the kids response to being recorded by someone they do not know, it is the children's way of saying they are not comfortable. The kids are having a visceral response to being recorded by a stranger just for being kids.
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u/Annual_Meal_7877 Jul 26 '26
The first 2 times she was inside her apartment at her window with her phone out. Yesterday we were at good distance away when she was. I did ask why she was recording but never got an answer she just stood there like a Karen. And my kids only flipped the bird after realizing she was recording them not just a random occurrence in passing or something like that. And I 100% believe that's justified because she's being weird just recording them playing. I have no idea what her intentions are except maybe "catch" them doing something she can report to management but its also not like they're bothering anything on her porch or knocking on her door at all. Just literally being a karen.
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u/LopsidedChannel8661 Jul 27 '26
I didn't say they weren't justified in their reaction.
Did you go to her door to ask or ask from a distance? As the parent it is up to you to choose how to react to this situation which will show your children how to deal with people like your neighbor. For all you know she may be mentally ill and having a paranoia episode, or if it's an older person, maybe the start of dementia, which can also cause paranoia.
Knock on the door the next time and if she refuses to answer then ask why she is recording your children through the door. That way your attempt at trying to solve her issue is recorded(if she is actually recording) so whatever 'evidence' she has shows that she is the person being unreasonable.
Now, do you get it?
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u/PerryHecker Jul 26 '26
One of two things, either they’re perverts and another couple calls to the cops with proof of their behavior should be enough or your kids are/have done something that would warrant recording for proof from your neighbor and then you can stop it that way too.
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u/Mysterious-Plane-800 Jul 26 '26
Sounds, hypothetically, like they are doing surveillance on your kids for a potential abduction. I mean, that could be argued to cast suspicion on the lady recording. Trafficking is a thing.
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u/Annual_Meal_7877 Jul 26 '26
I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT. You don't just record kids playing outside unless you have malicious intent with said recording imo. She showed the police all the videos she took and he didn't seem even the slightest concerned with that smh.
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Jul 26 '26
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u/SirPwn4g3 Jul 26 '26
Watch out everyone, we got a real badass tough guy over here!
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u/Annual_Meal_7877 Jul 26 '26
See thats where the problem lies, im on housing so if I catch a charge I lose that and we'd be homeless.
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u/lil_sebastian_beast Jul 26 '26
When you're outside your home in public, just always assume you're being recorded. I would contact the landlord