I have these neighbors. On both sides. Who are horrible.

My roommate and I call our apartment the Bermuda Triangle of Loud. We call it that because both sets of neighbors are completely and totally oblivious to the fact that they’re living in a place where the walls are as thin as cardboard.

On one side we’ve got the couple who scream obscenities at each other at midnight, throw things, and watch horror movies into the wee hours of the morning, forcing my roommate to close her eyes to the sound of people getting their heads ripped off. On the other side we’ve got a posse of flipped-collared college boys who can’t be any older than 22, throwing ginormous parties every day of the week (and who pee off their balcony when drunk).

Now, I’m a big believer in letting people live their life how they see fit, but when it starts to interrupt my daily activities (and my roommate’s dreams), I get pissed. How does one not understand the basic rules of living in an apartment? How is one so rude that they just don’t care? And most importantly, how should I go about telling them off?

If you’ve got noisy neighbors (and those of you moving into college for the first time next year most likely will), there’s a few ways to go about it.

At first, give it some time. Not everyone is used to close quarters living, and some people may not even know they’re being as obnoxious as they are. Let them settle in, get the hang of the place, before deciding you live next to idiots.

If you’ve given it time and they’re still being obnoxious, consider leaving a note in the lobby or main hallway. Not everyone is into confrontation, and chances are, if YOU think your neighbors loud, other people do too. Writing a polite message that asks “everyone” to be respectful of other occupants in the apartment or dorm allows you to side-step direct contact and allows the screamers to side-step the embarrassment of someone telling them to quiet down. Of course, there’s always a chance the perpetrators will completely ignore the message, or someone will just rip it down.

In that case, direct confrontation may be needed. It’s okay to be nervous, but if people are truly bothering you, asking them to quiet down is your only option—next to calling the cops. And once you get the cops involved…it’s hard to turn back

And what about me? What am I going to do to alleviate the Bermuda Triangle of loud? I think I’ll take the direct confrontation route. At least to the guys who throw ragers. The scary couple that chucks furniture at each other?

…I may just let that one go. For fear of my life.