09/29/2026
AITA for trying to stay safe and follow building policy?
Left a note on the apartment building main door asking that other residents please keep the door locked, as is building and lease policy, due to some safety concerns and fears of break-ins from an abusive ex partner. I regret leaving this note, as I should have just spoken to management directly. Another resident fired back with a note that began with, "sorry for your poor life choices," and cited their need for convenience as justification for keeping the door open. They wrote that I should "call the cops" if anything were to happen - i just didnt want it to escalate to that point.
In a fit of rage and very poor judgement, I left another note that read, "not my fault I got [abused]. Door locks for a reason. Use your key", and then made a maintenance request to complain to management.
The next morning, everyone had a note on their door stating that building policy is to keep the front door locked at all times and not to let unknown visitors in. There was a laminated version of this note on the front door. Most residents have adhered to management's reminder - i think it's just one individual.
When I came back in the evening, the note had been removed and hidden in a box of "free please take" stuff by the door. I put it back up and added more tape. This person kept taking down the tape, so I kept adding more, eventually resorting to heavy layers of Gorilla tape, which were taken down and crumpled in the corner, with the tape beneath it roughly cut (i assume with a key). I put an honestly absurd and petty amount of packing tape over the sign a few days ago. I came back and it had been cut more. I decided not to do anything, and as I was leaving the building later, more had been cut. The sign was half removed.
Tonight I've added T-rex tape. Initially added pepper spray, but I've since removed the sprayed layers of tape and cleaned the window and door very thoroughly with multiple passes of both dish soap and windex. It was a step way too far, and i removed it within 10 minutes of doing it. I can hear when someone opens or closes the door from my unit, and i havent heard anyone since I sprayed it, and no one has come in or left since I cleaned it up, either.
I believe leaving a note in the first place was a major blunder and that I should have just complained to management. I've continued to complain about this resident (neither of us knows who the other is) and their behavior, as there is a security camera looking directly at the front door. My actions have definitely been caught and I wouldn't be surprised if the pepper spray gets me in trouble, or further antagonizes this person, but at this point i'm sick of them. I've definitely been an as***le and I shouldn't have been so aggressive and petty, but i think saying, "sorry for your poor life choices," to an [abuse] victim is pretty disgusting.
Pics related - yellow note is mine, white note is theirs.
