'I gave my neighbours gifts - but what I overheard them say about me was so rude'

A Reddit user has shared how an act of kindness ended up somewhat backfiring after he overheard what their neighbours said about them behind their back. Taking to the popular social media platform, the user, who goes by the username Boring_Cupcake293, posted about the incident.

They began by saying that they are "probably taking it too much to heart", but added that it "annoyed" them. They then went on to explain how their neighbours moved in eight months ago and "seemed a nice enough couple". The Reddit user added: "They have a little dog which is adorable."

Boring_Cupcake293 said several weeks prior that their friend lost her dog and she gave them "a bunch of his things", includingtoys, beds and accessories. "She told me to give them to someone I know or contact a charity for her as she wasn’t in any fit state to sort it out," they said.

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"Most of the toys were brand new or barely used so I thought I’d kindly see if my neighbours wanted them for their dog. I put the stuff in my garage and figured I’d ask them next time I saw them. The other day I was heading to my garage to tidy it up but ended up stopping to pick up some leaves on my drive. As I was doing so my neighbours pulled in to their drive."

The Reddit user then went into their garage, opened it, and decided to ask the neighbours if they'd like the dog toys as a gift. "They seemed grateful and took a few bits from me," they said. "They headed indoors, and I carried on with what I was doing in my garage."

However, later that day, Boring_Cupcake293 says they went into their garden and overheard the neighbours talking. "After a while (obviously they didn’t realise I was out there), they started talking about the toys I gave them.

"Firstly, saying it was nice of me, but then I heard them say that it was funny that I was obviously 'hanging around' my drive waiting for them to arrive and how 'sad of me' for doing so. Then they both started to laugh and making really rude comments about me 'lurking around' and that now they were going to have bets to see how may times I end up 'conveniently' bumping in to them!"

The Reddit user told fellow users: "I should have said something over the fence to the but I was so embarrassed and angry I felt it best I walk away. I obviously wasn’t hanging around for them and I don’t lurk outside my own property or have any desires to bump in to them on purpose.

"In the eight months they’ve been there I’ve only seen them a fair few times. We live next door, we both go in and out, so of course we’ll bump in to each other! What a ridiculous thing to even say! I genuinely thought they were nice people but now I feel uncomfortable around them."

At the end of the post, the user asked: "Do I even address it with them what I heard or leave it!? I know I’m probably being too sensitive but overhearing someone make false comments about you is hurtful!"

Many people in the comment section sent the Reddit user messages of sympathy and support, urging them to take no notice. One person replied: "Consider yourself lucky that you know what they really are." Another put: "At least you know how they are. They are your neighbours and not your friends. You weren’t expecting their negative attitude towards your kindness."

A third suggested: "Leave it and let it go. Your goal is for them to understand you're not a creeper lurker. Confronting them will have the opposite effect. Just keep them at arms length. Their loss." A fourth said: "You are a kind and good person."