Bullies in Bungalows: When Quaint Neighbourhoods Hide a Campaign of Hate!

Bullying Isn’t Just for the Playground

We often imagine bullies as playground tyrants or snarky teenagers hiding behind a phone screen. But bullying doesn’t have an age limit — and sometimes, the people who cause the most harm are well past their school days.

I know this because I lived it.

The Campaign of Hate

For months, I endured a relentless campaign of hate from someone who should have been old enough to know better. A neighbour — part of the so-called “respectable older generation” — decided that I was her target.

It began subtly: whispered gossip in the street, cold stares, and poisoned words that spread faster than truth ever could. Soon it escalated — petty complaints, false rumours, and attempts to turn other neighbours against me.

When It Turned Ugly

One day, I walked outside to find my car vandalised. It wasn’t just about the damage to the vehicle — it was the violation, the knowledge that someone nearby had done it out of spite. I could no longer feel safe in my own street.

This wasn’t random. It was the culmination of months of intimidation and deliberate attempts to make my life miserable. The stress took its toll on my health, my finances, and my peace of mind. Eventually, I made the heartbreaking decision to sell my home. I loved that house, but the area had become too toxic to live in.

Adult Bullying Is Real

Bullying in adulthood is every bit as damaging as what happens in school. The tactics are different — less about shoving in corridors, more about whisper campaigns, property damage, and social isolation — but the aim is the same: control, power, and punishment.

We need to talk about it.

Why This Matters

Neighbourhood bullying is rarely discussed, yet it leaves scars that last for years. It can destroy communities, drive people from their homes, and cause real mental and emotional harm. The “older generation” are not immune — and in some cases, they’re the ringleaders.

Your Story Matters Too

If you’ve ever dealt with this — the lies, the intimidation, the damage to property — you’ll know how it feels to be trapped in a place that should be your sanctuary. And if you’re lucky enough not to have experienced it, know that it happens more often than you think.

Two reasons I’m speaking out:

1. To raise awareness that adult bullying, especially at a neighbourhood level, is a real problem.
2. To encourage others who’ve been through it to speak up and share their experiences.

Because the only way to stop a bully — whether they’re 15 or 75 — is to shine a light on what they do.

📩 Share Your Story in Confidence

And to anyone who recognises themselves in this story — your actions have consequences!