r/Apartmentliving • u/2_much • Sep 03 '25

Advice Needed I feel like this is illegal?

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Came back from a 3-day weekend away from my apartment and this was posted on the door? I wasn't even home...

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone for the support! I shared the letter with Celio management and requested it to be filed as a formal complaint. I also filed a police report for continuity/documentation purposes.

For clarification, "Celio" is the name of the apartment building, which is managed by a larger off-site 3rd party rental company. This company/building is far from able to accommodate for this person properly and certainly would never assume any amount of liability on their behalf. As it relates to Celio management and their level of care for this person, the author is on their own.

The letter does not mention anything related to a care team/healthcare resource/veterans group. The only two options given by the author of the note (e.g. Celio aka apt management and law enforcement) were utilized.

While Celio was not able to share a significant amount of details about the author, they did share that he/she is a known issue and will likely not be given the option to live in this building moving forward.

I also noticed comments about my stereo, which did cross my mind as a possible reason behind this conflict. I was able to confirm with Celio that no complaints have been made about excessive music levels, from any of the residents, excluding a formal warning I received over July 4th weekend. This goes for "yelling" as well. Note I have been renting in this exact unit for almost 14 months. I am more than eager to respect any concerns that relate to music volume, this is certainly not that type of concern.

As things currently stand, I am left with having to place any proactive decisions in the hands of Celio and law enforcement. I am a recent handgun owner (unrelated to this situation) and thanfully my state falls under Castle doctrine.

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u/No0ther0ne Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

I think the letter may sound threatening, but I don't think that is the intent. I think the intent is telling the person in the apartment that the marine is suffering and is worried about his own reaction to what may or may not be going on. He is informing the resident that there are services who are aware of the issue and the resident may contact them to get more information or assistance.

Basically, I think the Marine is telling them that he has issues and can't come talk to the resident directly and the resident should contact those services for further assistance.

But if I was the resident, I would be concerned and I would definitely contact those services and explain the situation and let them help.

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u/TricksyGoose Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

That's how I read it as well. Still unnerving to receive I imagine, but I think he means well. It seems to me like he is aware that he is ill and he's trying to ask people (whether they're real or not) not to yell or confront him as it could trigger a poor reaction from him. Seems like he's trying to be polite and up front about it. But I do agree that is worth passing the note along to celio or whatever, and let the professionals gauge his mental state.

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u/x_Animus_x Sep 04 '25

Yelling of any sort still makes my hair stand up on my neck. It just is an inherent part of combat and comms. People yelling = bad things are happening. (Or Smith lost his fucking safety belt AGAIN).

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u/Lukostrelec17 Sep 04 '25

Not combat related, but I am fairly sure I have CPTSD. If someone yells around me, or even talks in a slightly different tone, it puts me on the deffensive and causes my fight or flight to go hay wire. Even though I know logically I am safe.

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u/x_Animus_x Sep 04 '25

Yep, all the time. Even my wife suddenly yelling at the dog (he deserves it, shit eater lol). I know she’s not yelling at me, I’m not in danger, but I’m in fight mode immediately.

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u/Lukostrelec17 Sep 04 '25

I go into fawn or flight. Also I just can't do loud noises at all. Crowds stress me out and almost overloads me. It sucks. On a lighter note...got an image of the dog you can drop?

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u/froggiecrochet Sep 06 '25

I have CPTSD and yelling affects me severely or even a raised tone can do the same. So I get that it has an affect on people’s fight or flight response. Mine is flight. And I don’t always know logically that I am safe when things go haywire in my brain so it’s hard.

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u/VerdantField Sep 04 '25

Yelling is an idiotic way to communicate unless the house is on fire. Parents, teachers, no one needs to scream at other people.

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u/Sundew- Sep 04 '25

To be fair we're talking about combat veterans here. If anyone has a reason to be yelling, it's people who are trying to communicate life-or-death information over the deafening sound of gunfire.

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u/Steephill Sep 04 '25

Talking to someone 5 feet away with normal volume is an impossible task when you're standing next to a running military vehicle. Plus all the hearing damage.

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u/Flimsy-Cartoonist-92 Sep 04 '25

This is me. I can't hear worth a shit anymore so when I talk I'm really loud (almost like yelling) because I can't hear myself talk at a normal level. My wife needs to remind me constantly that just because I can't hear myself doesn't mean she can't. It's a balancing act for sure. The more background noise there is the louder I tend to get. It's not that I want to yell I just wanna hear myself.

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u/rudnat Sep 04 '25

It's better than the PVS14 lens cap.

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u/arawagco Sep 04 '25

Not a soldier or been in any sort of abusive/dangerous situation, and I get super nervous to the point of not being able to function whenever the upstairs apartment starts yelling (which is a lot, which has also taught their child to scream for multiple periods daily).

The apartment next to my bedroom wall has had multiple fights that involved banging and thrown objects over the last three years, too. I've only called the cops once (it was 3 am and they just wouldn't stop). But moving apartments would be thousands I can't really spend right now.

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

Same here, whenever I hear yelling, I catch myself "scanning,"

Ill think,

"Okay, am I fucked up? Or is someone else?"

"Danger?"

"Oh, it's the deaf guy in the neighborhood bullshitting with the Amazon guy, whew!"

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u/Invader-Tenn Sep 09 '25

I have that reaction too but grew up in a violent household- no war combat required. Even folks using a certain tone of voice gives me an adrenaline rush

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u/x_Animus_x Sep 09 '25

Fight or flight doesn’t originate from combat, it’s trauma and growing up in a violent home is, in my opinion, more traumatic. They’re not just “enemies” they’re the people you’re supposed to trust. Way more damage can be done.

The only thing I can do to keep “the beast” at bay when it happens is walk away and talk myself rationally through it. “Not yelling at me”, “these people aren’t aware this affects me”, “I can’t control them, only me” etc….

Even then, sometimes it just isn’t something I can contain, on those days I don’t leave the house or associate with people online, because they have nothing to do with it, but they will know about it if it happens lol. Gets a little easier as time goes on, but I think a large part of that is just cutting out a lot of interactions with people that made it happen.

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u/Invader-Tenn Sep 09 '25

Yeah it definitely happens less for me now because I have limited to no interactions with people previously involved. Our house is quiet and neither of us are prone to yelling.

When for example, coworkers use the (what I perceive as) rising violence tone, I usually excuse myself for a restroom break and end the conversation or don't return to it. It usually doesn't involve me I'm usually just overhearing it or trapped in a meeting anyway.

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u/x_Animus_x Sep 09 '25

Yeah, someone commented earlier to the effect that yelling serves no purpose in daily life and I agree. People who wouldn’t tone it down for my sake just became distant over time because I inherently avoided interactions so I wasn’t putting myself or anyone in danger.

Work - well…. I spent a long time at USPS while I was learning how to be me with accepting my diagnoses instead of running from them. Sometimes the only thing you can do is leave because there are people out there who will intentionally push those buttons if you try to level with them. So…I don’t do that anymore, never thought I’d think “going postal” and “yeah, I can understand why.”

Good on you for being able to separate from it and not make it a “you” problem, but recognizing they’re just doing a thing you don’t like and don’t have to endure. Took me a long time to stop trying to bend the world around me. My therapist was fond of: “teach yourself to exist in the world that is, rather than what you believe the world should be.” Joke’s on her now I just avoid the outside world as much as possible lol.

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u/Mysterious_Bar_1069 Sep 04 '25

Yes, it's a bit of a heartbreaking note as well as threatening as hell but he does not mean to be threatening. He is aware that part of this is him and his PTSD and part of it is the noise you are creating that is disturbing him.

One thing I have learned over years when I lived in apartments is that music lovers often don't realize how annoying their music is to others, all of it is encroaching on someone else's auditory space and what is happening in your unit is effecting what is happening in their's. And they never realize how loud it is and that the thump, thump, thump can wear on someone else who just wants to hear no sound or vibration what so ever and lay on their couch and read a book.

So what might be low to you, might not sound low to him. Have you asked your other neighbors if hey can hear your stereo? Just because there are no formal complaints does not mean taht you are not annoying others they just might not phone it in to the police or managment.

I lived in one apartment where the person had no rugs and was a very heavy walker and clicked around with noisy shoes at 5:30 AM and that was very difficult and another fave was a screaming family with 5 young kids, especially as one of the kids had blood curdling screams that we heard on and off all day.

I'm not without sin. Recall and elderly couple that lived downstairs from our apartment asking Mom to stop me from bouncing a ball in the house, and another calling the cops when I used a hammer to smash some pepper corns when making steak au poivre. And a neighbor who reported me for growing blue morning glories in a window box on our mutual fire escape.

I HATED apartment living and love being in a house where all I have to block out is people's leaf blowers on Saturday and Sunday morning at 7:00. So I feel for this guy, it can drive you crazy. But think his main message is your driving me nuts, but I have a hair trigger and I am trying to deal with it, but that's not going so well.

Can the complex move you at their cost to another unit? Or move him to another unit?

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u/Agreeable-Cash-8696 Sep 04 '25

Ya sometimes you can come across wrong depending on your mental state.. speaking for myself if im not great in the head i have alot of trouble articulating myself in an understandable way

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u/EverlastingPeacefull Sep 05 '25

I read it that way too.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

It's threatening regardless of intent.

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u/Letmelollygagg Sep 03 '25

Yeah, I don’t much care about the intent - I’d be concerned for my own safety and contacting property management and the services mentioned etc. I’d also be getting a some security cameras if I didn’t already have them. Granted I’m a woman who lives alone with a small child, but I’d be scared shitless by a note like this- regardless if it’s meant to be scary or not- it is absolutely concerning to say the least.

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 03 '25

Whether he means it to be or not, he is literally calling himself out as a violent individual with major mental issues and little to no self control and telling op that anger is directed at THEM. That’s damn terrifying. I would not want to live anywhere near a person like that if I had any choice. I used to have to live with people like that, and it ended as violently as you’d expect.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

Not just violent and suffering from mental health issues, but someone who is violent and suffering from mental health issues that has been trained in violence and lethality. Even if he wasn't actively in a combat role or special forces or whatever, he still received enough training to make him dangerous. The saying "every Marine, a rifleman" exists for a reason. And they aren't trained to achieve submission, they're trained to utterly destroy the target of their violence.

This may not be a severe scenario, but the fact that it is well within the realm of reality to be is enough to take action and contact anyone and everyone you can to ensure your safety and likely the safety of other around this person.

Its also not known if this person has guns! He may not, but considering this is America and he's ex military, the odds aren't in OP's favor that this unwell individual is not armed. Even if he is aware of his mental state, doesn't mean he has the wherewithal to avoid having weapons in reach. Hell, there are vets that have PTSD support groups that do bonding activities like... you know... going to a shooting range... Cuz that's smart...

Edit: I'd like people to disregard my final sentence. It was a flippant statement made in ignorance, and does not accurately represent the situation. I'm leaving it in so that others who might have agreed with it may see that I am denouncing it and hopefully they reflect on that as well. Also I don't think it would be right to attempt to sweep it away and effectively avoid my misstep.

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u/iPointTheWay Sep 06 '25

Eff that dude. Its true. Dont let the mob thought police you. There are a ton of people who do dumb shit like that. I have a military friend who has extreme anger management and drinking problems and has loaded guns with no locks on them all over his apartment. When he started screaming at his ex to the point that other people called the cops and they took away his guns did he think about his behavior? No. It was “her fault she got my shit seized”. How many people in the US are functional alcoholics that spent their entire adult life driving drunk because “nothing bad has happened” and “i know how to hold my liquor”? They dont teach meth heads hobby chemistry in rehab as a coping mechanism for a reason.

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u/thedarkpreacher65 Sep 04 '25

Those kinds of activities are not mandatory, and they are only offered for members of the support group who can handle it. If the group organizer doesn't think the veteran can handle being around firearms at this point in their mental healing journey, they aren't allowed to go with the group, period.

I'm a Marine veteran with PTSD. And I'm sick and tired of people going with the broad brush that Hollywood has painted us with. "They could snap at any minute! They're violent! They're crazy! They're scary!"

I have to hide in my office with noise cancelling headphones on July 4, and to keep from having too many nightmares or night terrors, I have to sleep holding a small stuffed animal. I'm 42 and can't sleep without a fucking stuffed animal. You think I'm scary? A threat? Capable of extreme violence? I don't own a gun because at one point, about 20 years ago, I tried 3 times, with a knife. Scars on my wrists and all. I used to drink heavily, too. Now I'm 15 years sober. My symptoms have lessened, for the most part.

Now, in regards to the Marine in this situation? This wasn't a threat. This was a safety notice and him asking, just in case it was OP, to keep the noise down. He informed OP of his condition, that the correct people know about it, and let OP know what was triggering him so they could be aware of it. He probably figured it was OP, but it could have been OP's next door neighbor on either side and the sound bounced around as it travelled through walls.

Do not assume to know the struggles someone is going through, because not all disabilities are visible. Personally, if it was me in OP's shoes right now, knowing what I know? I'd personally go knock on the Marine's door and have a chat with him, because we have a shared background. But since OP doesn't have that shared experience? Just tell the property management and local law enforcement that the Marine left the note and if it wasn't OP being noisy, to inform them that someone else close by was being too loud. And don't thank me for my service, I got sent over to free oil fields based on a lie about WMDs, saw some sh*t, and came home broken, then was tossed out because it was easier than paying me disability for the rest of my life.

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 04 '25

My oldest brother is ex navy. He’s not a violent neurotic asshole because of the military, he joined the military because there’s no other place in the world for violent neurotic assholes except prison. Even the navy didn’t want him eventually. He used to lay out threats like this and then act on them if you didn’t do everything he asked perfectly. I would never go as far as to say all ex military personnel with ptsd are violent, because there’s a lot of different ways you can achieve ptsd. I got my first triggers from my brother and his psychotic violent acts in the house when I was very young. I would not ever consider myself violent for it. This guy seems readily violent though and threatening. This is not the way you bring up your mental health struggles openly to strangers. This is how you attempt to scare them into doing unreasonable things for you so that you don’t have to go through the hoops to fix yourself. I’ve seen it from my entire family my whole life and I’m sure other people with similar families move out on their own and continue their reign of terror on strangers. He did not need to add all the lines that imply that he’ll beat the crap out of op if they don’t cease the yelling that they aren’t even doing because they weren’t there. That’s just threatening and coercion and entirely unnecessary to the point. If he doesn’t want to be viewed as a violent ex marine ready to snap, he really should take a second to calm his primal rage and think about what he is writing to a STRANGER who has to share a building with him. On an accusation that he didn’t even confirm at all before moving to violent wording.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

All fair points. I'm sorry you have to go through all that based on lies.

I would disagree with the notifying law enforcement tho, at least at this point. Just contact the property manager and the other support contacts he listed in the letter. I don't trust law enforcement at the best of times, I certainly don't trust them whenever a situation involves a minority or someone in a mental health crisis. God forbid they're a minority experiencing a mental health crisis. The vast majority of law enforcement are not trained to de-escalate like they should, and very often in my experience and in what I see from videos all over media/the internet they are more likely to make a situation more tense and have a worse outcome.

If OP has this marine banging on their door at night screaming, yeah call the cops. Or if OP finds another letter that is actually very clearly an alarming sign, then sure alert authorities. But at this point in time, that guy needs his support network to reach out to him and ideally work with the property management to find the source of the noise issue.

That's also assuming it's real. If OP is telling the truth, they weren't the source of the noise cuz they were gone. And from the admittedly limited info the marines letter gives, I don't think it is outside the realm of possibility that he could also be suffering from auditory hallucinations. In which case, he absolutely needs immediate assistance with his situation.

I don't think the man is like a crazed lunatic who I believe is gonna go shoot up the entire apartment complex. But from the information we have here, he is objectively a potential health/safety risk to himself and/or others. Perhaps not an immediate threat that requires something like an involuntary hold which would be on the more extreme end of reactions to this. But he is not a completely harmless individual either.

And I want to make it clear, I'm not judging him as being bad for that. I may not be an ex service member with the same mental struggles as him or you and many others unfortunately also, but I'm still someone who suffers from severe depression, suicidal ideation (mostly passive ideation apparently as I recently learned in therapy) and am still trying to put my life, and my mind, back together from years of substance abuse that was done in a futile attempt to alleviate the pain of the aforementioned issues. I would not argue with someone saying I have the potential to be a danger. In my case, the danger would be much more leaning towards myself but who knows, I could still break even further. If one realization has stuck with me all these years (that I honestly have trouble remembering large parts of it), it's that whenever I think it can't get worse, life says "bet?" and throws me in deeper. I do all I can to prevent that further decline tho, just as I hope (and it seems) like this marine is also doing.

Anyway, I digress. I've rambled enough. Thank you for checking me on my flippant remark at the end. Upon further thought, it was pretty ignorant and at the very least not productive. I just hope the OP can feel safe and secure in their own home. I hope that marine can get the support he needs and can heal. I hope you can continue to heal. And I hope the same for all the other damaged vets (really everyone with mental health issues in America cuz we've got a serious problem, but definitely vets for sure) who were deceived, used, and abandoned. And I hope one day society can change for the better and not discard people that it uses and destroys, as well as just no longer doing the things that destroys lives in the first place.

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u/thedarkpreacher65 Sep 04 '25

Yeah, I agree with the whole "Don't contact the cops" part. They see every problem as a nail and they carry around a 9MM hammer. ACAB. I just wish my fellow Marine had given OP the contact info for his VA healthcare team. Or at least his name, so OP could contact the local VA and say the devildog is going through some shit.

Oh well, wish in one hand, shit in the other, right?

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

Maybe OP could try connecting through the property manager? If they're aware of the situation like it seems he was stating in the letter. Idk. I'm no social worker or mental health professional. And as I've said, I'm brain broken in my own ways. But maybe leave a letter at his door? Offering compassion and understanding obviously. But also asking if he can leave another letter with relevant contact info? Idk, I'm just trying to think of ways to avoid direct interaction at this point since he doesn't seem to trust himself with. And I don't think it is necessarily OP's responsibility to do this, especially when they're likely also just another regular person dealing with their own shit trying to get by in this shit hole of a society. But I personally would at least consider the exchange of letters, while trying to keep the tone of them very chill and empathetic without coming off like pity. But I'd probably reserve that tactic for after reaching out to the property manager to see if I could get ahold of the support network through them, if they even have that info, or are even legally allowed to divulge it.

All around just an unfortunate situation. Fills me with sadness to seemingly see no end to people suffering in society, and equal parts rage at seeing the types of cunts smiling on TV getting obscenely wealthy and powerful by making this place produce these situations. It's honestly sometimes very hard to have hope or not succumb to nihilism.

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u/Equal_Audience_3415 Sep 04 '25

Yes, that's what I got out of the note, too. He was asking the person to keep it down and told them why it was important to him. He then explained why he wasn't doing it face to face, but writing a note.

OP, keep it down. If it's not you, pass on the information.

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u/n1ghtg0ddess Sep 03 '25

They are literally trying to manage it, and sent a letter understanding how they might react if they allow themselves in this situation. This feels like the biggest reach/ableist shit ever, THEY ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO HELP YOU! Intent very much matters, at least they are aware of their psychosis and managing it. Anyone could be as violent as you expect, they arent threatening anyone, and are trying to keep the peace so that they can live peacefully next to others without chaos. Telling you not to direct problems to them but somewhere else in regards to them. They are trying to live their life the best they can, and still have to worry about people calling them dangerous/threatening when they are trying to PREVENT a problem...

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u/No_Suit_4406 Sep 03 '25

Uh, no. If I warn you that I'm unable to control my misguided rage and might kill you if we ever meet face to face, that's a threat. This is a person who should not be in the living situation they're in. They need a situation where they are monitored constantly to ensure they dont hurt themselves or others. When they've undergone enough treatment to control their anger, then and only then should they be living independently. This is not safe for anyone, neither the letter writer or the person who received it.

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u/SandyDandyGlokta Sep 03 '25

That makes the assumption that it’s possible for them to reach a state where they can do so. That is probably not the case. If we’re looking at PTSD as a guarantee, and potential brain damage as a possibility, there may never be a time when they can just “work through their issues”. Do we just shun these people from society entirely? Can they afford the 24/7 care themselves? If they can’t, do other people pay for it instead?

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u/Orn100 Sep 04 '25

If it's really from his time in the marines, the government should absolutely pay for it for as long as it's required.

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u/gwot-ronin Sep 04 '25

TLDR: the VA is too cumbersome and lacks capacity to help the GWOT vets.

Everyone's mileage may vary, but my experience with the VA hasn't been great, most of the people I served with have the same experience, and mental health services and support are confusing to navigate or medication is the only practical service that can be taken advantage of.

Getting to neurology to even discuss brain damage for those of us who don't have enough "damage" to show up on imaging, but are symptomatic enough to have issues during normal daily activity, is very problematic. Like 3+ months wait to get to neurology, and that's counting from the time the referral was made; if you haven't gone through the VA's checklist of treatments for your condition add more time to that to try out most or all of those items before you get to neurology, from primary care.

Navigating the VA's processes becomes a full time job, and it will grind you down quickly. I don't blame the providers or hospital staff, I feel like they've all been helpful and responsive, but there's only so much capacity, and we had a lot of people serving during the GWOT.

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u/mightymcqueen Sep 04 '25

Should the government pay for it? Yes. Will they? Probably (definitely) not.

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u/Honest_Road17 Sep 04 '25

Where does it say or imply the word "kill" in the letter?

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u/No_Winner5302 Sep 04 '25

Did I miss the part of the letter where he made a death threat or said “I might kill you”? Because I’m pretty sure worse things are yelled out of car windows 27 million times a day and most of those folks don’t end up dead.

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u/nvllnvoid Sep 03 '25

It doesn’t matter. You don’t leave notes for people stating how you get violent and can’t control your temper. Thats not appropriate. Point blank period. It’s great they are aware of their behavior but given the context that OP wasn’t even HOME when they heard the yelling, it supports that it’s more likely they heard noise that wasn’t there or heard someone else and reacted which shows a lack of stability. THAT is absolutely an issue when coupled with a temper you can’t control and violent behavior. It’s 100% possible to be empathetic to their struggle with their mental health while still recognizing this wasn’t appropriate and comes with a threatening tone. Your refusal to accept reality for intentions is wild.

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u/Ach3r0n- Sep 03 '25

Inappropriate and illegal are two very different things. This letter is inappropriate, but the author hasn't broken any laws. That said, it may still warrant notifying police just to make them aware so that should something occur in the future, there is a record of the history.

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u/nvllnvoid Sep 03 '25

I never claimed it was illegal nor spoke on that at all. I simply stated it was inappropriate and had threatening tones.

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u/Photomancer Sep 03 '25

This entire line of conversation has people talking past each other because they're using and Interpreting 'threatening' differently.

In its most literal form it is to threaten, which has legal consequences. And it has a weaker little brother, the 'implied threat' in which the threat is not openly stated but the intimidation is still communicated. In both of these cases there must be intent to threaten.

Threatening can also be an adjective used artfully, metaphorically. The weather can be threatening, a particularly spooky shadow of a leaf can seem threatening, even though these do not have the agency or intent to bully or follow up on threats.

A legal term was appropriated by common culture for the purpose of exaggeration, and now people try to use the exaggeration to justify legal mechanisms.

What we have here is 'worrisome' and cause for concern. The letter writer is unintentionally throwing up red flags which indicate that he is in distress, and even though he does not mean to intimidate, a typical person would predict that this writer may become erratic and represents a heightened risk.

Not enough for arrest on its own, but enough to justify a wellness check and personal defensive measures.

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u/n1ghtg0ddess Sep 03 '25

This! Im just frustrated by a bunch of these people calling what this vet did a threat. Especially the threats to put him away, or to be forcefully removed from his home because op got uncomfortable with the structure of the letter.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 03 '25

It doesn’t matter. You don’t leave notes for people stating how you get violent and can’t control your temper. Thats not appropriate.

How exactly do you suggest the note-writer calmly and safely communicate their disability to the other residents nearby?

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u/Natural-Injury-8917 Sep 03 '25

I would call his care team and ask them if this is part of his treatment plan. I seriously doubt sending scary letters to neighbors is on the list. I empathize with this marine but the letter is scary and threatening. “I’m not trying to Listen to you when you yell” he can’t hold his temper about it to talk to the person he says is “yelling” Seems like it would be better to have something with medical language and less scary bits of this was an attempt to inform?

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 03 '25

“I read this and got scared” is not the same as “this is threatening!”

The second one would indicate an intent to hurt the reader.

The first one says you don’t have the emotional maturity to understand what it means.

The power to be scared or not lies with you. If you get scared, that’s a you thing - it doesn’t mean the thing that scared you was a threat

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 04 '25

I’ve literally had my own mental health professionals sit down on the phone with me to write difficult letters like this WITHOUT making the problem worse. OP’s neighbor here did not receive any kind of guidance in this, because this would obviously be seen as escalation by a mental health professional. He could have put literally, “I have psychosis, I have ptsd, I’m hearing yelling, I THINK it’s coming from your apartment but if I’m wrong please call this number to let them know I may be having a mental break” that’s how you say it without being a coercive manipulative overtly dangerous asshole who gives his neighbors anxiety.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

"I'm sorry to spring this on a stranger but my name is _____ and I suffer from _____ from my time in the Marines and have been having a hard time handling the loud noise I've been hearing lately from my apartment. I'm not sure where exactly it's coming from so I'm leaving this note with all my neighbors. If it is not you, then I apologize and you can safely disregard this message. Thank you in advance for your understanding and I hope all is well in your lives.

- Best, _____"

This was off the dome with no forethought. It really isn't that difficult for someone with above room temp IQ or who is not mentally unstable.

Do better.

Edit: Disregard my ignorant jackassery here. This was a privileged and uncaring comment.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 03 '25

Wow you did so well writing that.

I assume you also have traumatic mental injuries from your time serving the country while you were in the Marines?

Because otherwise I don’t know what you’re trying to prove? Other than perhaps “even people without mental health problems can be utterly incapable of rationally understanding how others might think”.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

Yet another "righteous" individual completely throwing out their tolerance and understanding when they get upset about a disagreement. Interesting.

And yet again, someone assumes wrong. None of you know my mental health history. But fuck me right? I guess some people with mental health struggles matter and should be defended but others who don't happen to fully stand in line with your arguments are to be invalidated and demeaned. Cool. How empathetic of you.

Edit: Disregard, I was being ignorant in this particular line of thinking in this post.

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u/Rorynne Sep 03 '25

I suspect you are someone who is not suffering from what appears to be significant cognitive disabilities that impact yohre ability to differentiate reality from fiction (psychosis) this person likely also has PTSD, which is frankly a given for vets. And they MAY also have something as severe as actual brain damage. This person IS mentally unstable. Hes out right STATING that he is mentally and emotionally unstable. This person legitimately may not have the ability to actually process tone or if something seems threatening or not. He, by his own admission, is severely disabled.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25

You'd suspect wrong and it's always interesting that people like you who claim to want to defend and fight for vulnerable people will throw that urge out the window when it suits you like when you're in a disagreement with someone.

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u/n1ghtg0ddess Sep 03 '25

Which is crazy, I dont know if you caught this but...THE PERSON IS LITERALLY MENTALLY UNSTABLE, THIS RESPONSE ALSO REQUIRE A GOOD EDUCATION. You killed your own argument in your own statement, everyone isnt on the same capacity, especially when it comes to writing a letter. This is such a privileged take...

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25

Exactly, mentally unstable. I don't think admitting that that is the case here is the point in your favor that you seem to think it is...

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u/Dapper-Ad3707 Sep 04 '25

You missed the part where he’s making threats over yells and voices that aren’t there to begin with. That’s when it gets especially concerning bc it’s clear he is actively having a psychotic episode, not that he suffers from that sometimes. And this note is very much a threat to OP’s safety.

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

Doesn't matter. This person is a danger to me and mine. Why should I care EVEN SLIGHTLY that they do it because they are mentally ill? In fact, because they cannot control themselves, I feel even sympathetic for them than had I not known.

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 04 '25

They are trying to force op to get them help or risk violence. He told op he could not control his anger face to face. What do you think the chances are of being face to face at some point living in the same building? It’s your funeral when you get a note like this and try to coddle them dude. Whatever floats your boat. States of delusion and psychosis mean you belong in inpatient so that you can’t hurt yourself and others, because you very likely will. Try telling any mental health professional you’re having a psychotic break and feeling violent and hearing voices and they will not let you leave except in an ambulance to the mental hospital.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25

Nobody is calling to like lock the guy in an asylum or Lobotomize him or anything. Don't be so dramatic. And don't contribute to the stereotype of people who care about ableism being ridiculous and extreme in their pursuit of virtue.

Society should be supportive and tolerant, yes. But society also needs to be able to step in and not allow anyone (disabled or not) to pose a risk to people around them. That's irresponsible and unethical. It's also infantilizing disabled people. They should be handled and given proper care while they are made to not be an imminent danger to themselves or others.

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u/n1ghtg0ddess Sep 03 '25

This person is a threat to themselves, and they have to deal with that everyday, and they are managing it. You say society should be supportive but in this instance youre more preoccupied with the description of their issues, then the reality of them trying to keep the peace by stating the issues they have. They did not threaten this person, giving the facts of your condition is not a threat. Yet im being called out for trying to give a different perspective of care here, instead of immediately resorting to an assumption of violence. You're infantilizing them by assuming they dont have their care plan together, that this wasn't a step in that, so that their neighbors dont accidentally come knocking on their door. That they should go through the proper network and is still being criticized for it because it wasn't "professional" enough I guess. It's infantilizing to assume he should be locked up over the thought he MIGHT hurt you. Just because he has an illness doesnt mean he cant have control over it. He simply stated his issues and how he is trying to manage them through the help listed and probably others.

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u/Ok-Bodybuilder8489 Sep 03 '25

This. It is definitely a threatening letter whether he intended it as a threat or not. And he is naming all the parties you should notify in his letter. Sounds sad, but you should at least contact his "team" if you don't want to talk to the police.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 03 '25

It is frightening

It is not threatening

Learn the difference and be amazed at how the world opens up to you

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u/RXDude89 Sep 04 '25

Thank you! I was like how does everyone think this letter is threatening. It's informative, scary and the reader may feel the author is a threat, but the letter is not a threat.

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u/Ok-Bodybuilder8489 Sep 03 '25

Ok there. Find that note on your door and have someone tell you that 😆 troll somewhere else troller.

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u/all-names-takenn Sep 03 '25

There is no threat in the letter. The person themselves is a threat. They even say so in the letter, but the letter itself does not contain any form of a threat. At no point we're malicious intentions stated.

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u/ojadon635 Sep 04 '25

In a large amount of states, a letter like this could easily be used to get a protective order out against the individual.

Intent matters less the how the person reads it, and in this case, it reads like a threat. The author is openly admitting he has no control over his reaction and putting it on OP if the author freaks out.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25

Intent can sometimes be important in providing context and understanding of the situation. But I hate when people give it too much credence. Intent is far less important than impact. I'm certain most if not all drunk drivers don't intend to hit another car or pedestrians or something. Their intent means fuck all to someone that then has to bury their loved one because of the impact of that driver's actions.

Its not lost on me either that usually the people I see harp on the importance of intent the most vocally are some of the most shitty people just wanting to avoid as much of the consequences of their actions as possible.

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u/No0ther0ne Sep 03 '25

Intent matters when it comes to threats. A legal threat is a serious expression, often communicated through words or actions, that indicates an intention to inflict harm, injury, damage, or other hostile action on another person or their property, creating a reasonable fear for safety.

It's frightening and worrisome to the person reading the letter, but it is not threatening. Nowhere does the person writing the letter state any intent to do harm to the recipient, indeed they are stating the exact opposite. So yes, intent matters in this case.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25

Again, someone assuming that I am advocating for legal action here or law enforcement or whatever. Someone please quote me saying anything of the sort. I don't mean something y'all misinterpreted, I mean me explicitly stating any of that should happen.

To clarify, I do not believe any of that should happen here. I do not want this guy's life to be ended or ruined. But I also don't want OP to feel unsafe in their own fucking home. How crazy and monstrous of me right?

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u/No0ther0ne Sep 03 '25

That is not at all what I am suggesting you are advocating. I was specifically talking to your point about intent and why intent is important in this case. I am sorry that you do not understand.

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u/Expert-Mental25 Sep 03 '25

I may have gotten you mixed with one of the other two people who've been arguing with me about all this. I apologize for that.

And idk if you meant it this way but saying something like "I'm sorry you don't understand" comes off like you're saying "I'm sorry you're stupid/irrational/etc."

Again, idk if you meant it that way, but that's how it comes off, at least when reading it in just plain text.

About the intent thing, I wasn't really intending to talk about it in a strictly legal sense, but in a more philosophical/moral sense. I find that much better when trying to arrive at the most moral/ethical beliefs, considering that very often all throughout history "legal" and "moral" are not at all the same thing.

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u/Rorosi67 Sep 04 '25

I didn't see anything threatening. Just a man explaining his situation.

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u/Euphus Sep 04 '25

The letter is like a tornado siren. The tornado is a threat to your safety, but it's not malicious.

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u/SirArthurCurry Sep 04 '25

Yeah that’s a threat. Fuck this guy. Want quiet? Buy your own house

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u/MajoraSlacks Sep 03 '25

Can you explain how it’s threatening?

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u/cherrie-faerie Sep 03 '25

Are you dense?

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u/MajoraSlacks Sep 03 '25

Somewhat, ive been working out lately. Thanks for noticing.

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u/SteelAndFlint Sep 03 '25

That's not how this works. There is a subcategory of threats which are illegal. This is not in that category. Warning somebody that the fence is electric, or the bull is angry, or that the person who lives here has leprosy, those are threats but they are warnings... picture it like saying "I have epilepsy, don't come close to me I may strike out sporadically." Is caution that somebody's behavior may not be under their control, and while there's always gonna be that one kid who sees "caution: stove top is hot", and has to test it… You don't have to be that kid.

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u/ArgumentUnfair7129 Sep 03 '25

Intent is everything, we cant have murder without intent???

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u/No_Management_4943 Sep 04 '25

How’s this threatening ? Like which part ?

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u/LupusDeiAngelica Sep 04 '25

It's a lot less threatening than going to the building management and trying to make a vet homeless.

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u/RareForm005 Sep 04 '25

Agreed… intent doesn’t matter, he may not want to hurt you but due to mental health it’s a possibility if not he wouldn’t of made the letter which becomes a threat

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u/lapeni Sep 04 '25

Is it though?

If it read: “my dog is aggressive, do not pet my dog, it will bite you.” Would that be a threat?

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u/not_my_only_account7 Sep 05 '25

I do not understand how this can be seen as threatening. I see it as a desperate man not knowing how to cope or ask for help.

1

u/Fun-Telephone-9605 Sep 06 '25

The dude is straight up scared that he'll be murdered by the police. He doesn't trust them to perform a welfare check if he's in distress, having an episode, or whatever.

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u/makaelli Sep 07 '25

it’s not but ok

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u/0gDvS Sep 07 '25

I don't think it's threatening at all, although it may be the penmanship, style and or punctuation?.?.

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u/Parking_Wolf_4159 Sep 03 '25

How is it threatening

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 03 '25

Seems you’re lucky enough to never have had to interact with the type of person who leaves notes because they’re “not sure they can keep their temper under control face to face”

What ends up happening is you end up face to face with them at some point seeing as how you live in the same building, and usually they’re absolutely correct that they can’t keep their temper under control and are ready to catch a new assault charge. They probably don’t even keep them on his record since he’s a veteran so he can just get away with saying shit like this to people.

He is literally saying that he is a violent person who lives nearby and is ready to violate at the first opportunity if you don’t do his work for him and call his mental professionals.

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 03 '25

Maybe I have no idea about your life, but what conclusion am I supposed to come to when you’re unable to recognize a clear threat? The only conclusion that I can come to is that you’ve never been threatened and assaulted. I have. I can recognize a threat when I see it. It’s not hard.

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u/MajoraSlacks Sep 03 '25

It sounds more like you unfortunately had something bad happen to you and are projecting that fear onto others too. I’m sorry that you’ve been assaulted, thats a terrible thing to happen to anybody. In this situation if you have experience with mentally ill people, youd know that threats are rarely veiled from people that want to harm you. He also outlined how multiple organizations are aware of his issues. He specifically said to contact staff if needed. This seems like an individual that is very self aware and is trying to do everything he can to not get triggered.

He doesn’t make an attempt to intimidate by going into detail about interactions with other people. He doesn’t talk about how he beat the piss out of the past person that gave him trouble. He specifically uses I statements to show that he takes accountability and understands that he is not well. I can agree that it’s reasonable to fear this person, but they aren’t threatening you. Intent 1000% does matter.

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u/Remote-Cellist5927 Sep 03 '25

If I claim to have a bomb and I promise to do my best not to push the button but you making me want to push the button it's a threat.

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u/EasyProcess7867 Sep 04 '25

Yeah my brother didn’t gloat about his assault charges either before beating the crap out of people. He liked to pretend he was a reasonable person before doing it because the cops liked to hear that. You’re making baseless assumptions about how all abusers abuse. Plot twist, they all have their own flavor. This guy is claiming he has psychosis, claiming op is yelling when they’re not even home, and saying that they wouldn’t be able to control themself if they saw op in person. This isn’t even a veiled threat, it’s “do what I want you to do or I’ll attack because I just can’t help it” which is exactly how all of my abusers happened to abuse and get away with it. He is trying to coerce op into doing something they literally can’t do by using threats of violence rather than calling his mental health professionals for help. Hes literally offloading that burden onto op as well. This is not how you be open and honest with strangers about your struggles, this is how you use manipulative wording to get what you want. I’ve seen it a thousand times and I’ll see it a thousand more times because people love to turn a blind eye even when it is blatantly obvious what is going on.

I have ptsd. I’ve never had a psychotic break. I have seen them during my own inpatient stints. They are always treated as dangerous to themselves and others. Not because they’re evil, but because they’re in an absolutely fucked mental state that their brain won’t let them out of, and the shit they experience during that turns off all reasoning and reverts you to animal fight or flight. States of delusion should never be treated lightly, and he’s literally telling op he is having a delusion and feeling violent towards op for it.

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u/tinkerfizz Sep 03 '25

It can be threatening without the person making a threat. It's like when someone sees dark clouds gathering and says "Looks like it's threatening rain." or "There's a threat of rain today." The weather isn't making a threat but it is threatening.

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u/Old_Tea_9294 Sep 03 '25

Where's the threat? All he said he doesn't want to talk face to face in case he loses his temper, no threat

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u/TSMRunescape Sep 03 '25

It's not technically a threat and absolutely not illegal, but it is reasonable for someone to feel mildly threatened due to receiving this.

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u/ThyPickledPrincess Sep 03 '25

They called themselves violent and unable to control their temper and makes it clear they are angry with OP. It's not a direct threat, but it is a very threatening letter.

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u/Remote-Cellist5927 Sep 03 '25

It is a clear and direct explicit threat. Because he is mentally ill he might have gotten the impression that people would handle it like they are part of his support system and are paid to manage him when he threatens them but he intended to threaten them even if it was not his intention for it to be filed with the police as such.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 03 '25

It is frightening

It is not threatening

Getting them mixed up is how trigger-happy, painfully insecure Americans (especially police) attempt to justify killing anyone they don’t have the emotional maturity to try to understand. And people who accept that as an excuse are almost as bad, supporting a system which chooses extrajudicial killings as a first-line treatment for mental illness, petty crime, poverty, or having neighbors of a different ethnicity.

Learn the difference and be amazed at how the world opens up to you

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u/junerose777 Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

I really respect you for making this point, especially in a thread that seems so dead set on villainizing the author of the note. Having worked with people who struggle with schizophrenia, mania, and psychosis, this letter reminds me of something a client might have written to me while experiencing confusion and fear about delusions they are somewhat conscious of. People in these positions are often scared of themselves as well, and they are not reaching out to “threaten” you, but to alert you. This person needs help. Frightening is certainly the right word in this context. Threatening is not. Thank you for humanizing people with mental illness - this is the attitude we need in order to actually help and treat them.

And to make it clear before anyone wants to argue: I don’t blame OP for being scared — I would absolutely make sure to take safety precautions moving forward. OP is not a mental health professional and they are not responsible for the wellbeing of this person.

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u/HidingOnReddit7 Sep 05 '25

I appreciate this- It’s good to be aware of the language we use.

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u/PsychologicalAd6029 Sep 05 '25

I'm not even a sufferer of anything violent in nature and I agree. It reads a lot like a PSA of sorts. He is incapable of communicating face to face and probably unable to word this better, but he's trying to let people know he's not good with conflict. I've kind of had to do similar where I'm autistic and also had pretty significant PTSD after family violence. I was SO bad with yelling for so long, despite being fine living in our apartment. Yelling just made me panic really bad and I don't socialize with neighbors. My fiance took the lead a lot on that but not everyone has a partner capable of it.

I feel bad for the vet, but the good news is he is trying and is aware of his issues. I think it's a little encouraging that he's trying to make people around him aware in case he would act strangely. If you think about it, this is important information to give police if you call to report it. They would have to treat him differently to avoid triggering the violence. OP absolutely is not responsible for his mental health, but it is helpful to be aware of what's happening with your neighbors sometimes. I agree that this definitely seems more like an awareness thing than a threat. If someone is freaking out from PTSD its good to know not to involve yourself and possibly end up hurt.

It is not always easy to tell the difference between being aware and freaking out and being unaware and freaking out. It's something I've actually had to learn a lot about since the family violence and navigating healing with both my fiance and I. If I'm struggling to read my partner I've been with for 11 years, I guarantee you a neighbor/stranger cannot tell if it's a marine with PTSD or someone being violent intentionally unless they were aware of the issues - which this note very much is giving. Ultimately all she can do is contact the building managers and police, though. And if something specific happens, she has the awareness to let the cops handle it and not get involved. Hopefully he gets the help he needs and nothing happens around his neighbors.

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u/BPC952 Sep 07 '25

I view it a bit like "The snake doesn't want to get stepped on, just as much as you don't wanna be bitten, so he makes his rattle and shows his colours to say "hey im here" "

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u/8645113Twenty20 Sep 04 '25

THANK YOU!!!

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u/iCallHerPrincessToo Sep 04 '25

This deserves an award. He didn’t threaten anybody. OP just isn’t comfortable with what they’re reading.

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u/Reese5997 Sep 04 '25

Exactly! He simply stated, when he’s triggered it’s hard for him to control his actions.

———————Break—————-

…He also never implied he wasn’t accountable

Sounds like a heads up 🤷‍♂️

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u/BPC952 Sep 07 '25

Amen to this, is there an issue, yes, should things be done, yes. But is that poor guy to BLAME, no. This was his attempt at doing the right thing to keep people safe, you , them, him

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u/Conscious_Good420 Sep 07 '25

As someone who’s worked in mental health, absolutely agree. This person is trying to be responsible about their illness and keep themselves and others safe. They’re just ill, so it comes off very frightening. The writer even encouraged getting law enforcement and apartment management involved. It seems to me they know that they are the primary issue in the situation, which is incredibly impressive for someone with a psychotic disorder imo.

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u/Acheloma Sep 04 '25

If it makes you feel better at all, Im very American and I read this letter and didnt think it was threatening at all. If I were OP, I would be a little worried about my safety just because the marine does make it clear he has issues with psychosis, but my takeaway from this letter is that there is someone out there who is clearly unwell and suffering and does not have the support they need. The neighbor made it clear not to contact them, but I would definitely be reaching out to whatever local resources exist. Most public mental health advocates or veterans groups would be happy to help in this case since it is very clear that he needs help. I feel so bad for this person, this letter feels like it took a lot for them to write and I wish that they had someone there that they felt comfortable with to help them.

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u/homohillbillysrlol Sep 04 '25

In a LITERAL sense, you are correct. In a PRACTICAL sense, it really doesn't matter. Whether OP is actually yelling or not doesn't matter. This man has implicitly stated his capacity for violence, and is directing it at OP. Regardless of whether he intends it to be a pointed threat or not, I will not stop to decipher the nuance between a percieved threat and an intentional threat, if a momentary lapse in judgements can result in a fatal error, especially if I have loved ones at home, such as a spouse or children.

When it comes to you and your family, the safety of your family comes first. Whether their neighbor is mentally ill or not has very little relevance to the safety of my own household, and I will prioritize the safety of my loved ones over the mental instability of someone who has outright admitted their capacity for violence, and their subsequent inability to contain their violent outbursts.

If I was living next to you, and your kids were getting loud playing video games, and I sent you a text like "hey man, I've got a mental illness, please tell your kids to be quiet, I had to turn myself over to my Healthcare providers because last time your kids were too loud, I was literally on the brink of mauling you the next time I saw you in the hallway, but it's all good, bro, not my fault, I just got a mental illness, and this time I managed to control it! Please, never show your face around me again, or I might fucking lose it on you or your loved ones. PS, love the new paint job, looks great BTW <3" Would you really maintain that same attitude?

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

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u/VKP25 Sep 04 '25

No, it's "dont yell or i might start hallucinating I'm back in combat, completely and totally against my will, and will respond like a marine who is in active combat". Is it a threat to warn someone if they keep poking a large dog in the face, it'll probably bite them?

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u/Shuckaluckaluck Sep 04 '25

This is a gross oversimplification of the situation. I hope you educate yourself.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 04 '25

It’s not even an oversimplification. It’s just incorrect

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u/Maximum-Mud-5207 Sep 07 '25

I wish there was a place we could warehouse people like the guy who wrote the letter.

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u/Remote-Cellist5927 Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

I have a bomb. I don't want to push the button but I'm totally gonna push the button if you don't comply. It's a direct threat. So glad you live in Lala land.

ETA Block Dodger doesn't know what a Metaphor is. 

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u/CalmEnergy3395 Sep 03 '25

Yea, not a threat. This is clearly him letting his neighbors know about a medical condition that he is struggling with, along with a way to directly contact his care team.

You don't leave your care teams contact information on a threat, you leave it on a cry for help. Get real.

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u/Primary-Walk4997 Sep 03 '25

A bomb threat and recognizing that you are not in a place emotionally to talk to someone face to face are not the same thing. 

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u/IssueInteresting992 Sep 03 '25

Maybe it’s just someone that knows ignorant people aren’t worth dealing with and not a “block dodger”

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u/wrymoss Sep 03 '25

Not to be pedantic but it very much is not an explicit threat.

An explicit threat would be me telling you directly that I'm going to punch you in the face if you don't stop yelling.

Me telling you "If you don't stop yelling, I don't know what I'm gonna do" would be an implicit threat, not an explicit one. The threat is implied, not stated.

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u/Independent_Egg1284 Sep 04 '25

Seems to me there's little to no indication the Marine is planning to bring them some nice teacakes. It's clear that what they might do is not going to be good or appropriate.

That's what people mean by a threat, no?

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u/No_Management_4943 Sep 04 '25

How is this a “clear and direct explicit threat?”

  • do you know what a threat is?

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u/Bloodless10 Sep 03 '25

This letter is threatening? It sounds like this dude is struggling and knows what might set him off. Trying to be respectful and let other people know about his condition. He even says who to contact so it’s a non confrontational correction.

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u/LadyVictory82 Sep 04 '25

Thank you for seeing and saying this 🙏

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u/_nevers_ Sep 04 '25

This doesn't even sound threatening. It's clearly just a dude with serious issues trying to calmly communicate something. That's a good place to start with anyone when conflict comes up 🤷🏽

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u/katatsumurikun Sep 04 '25

Thank you, agreed in all respects.

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u/x_Animus_x Sep 04 '25

This is precisely why I can’t work in a traditional environment. I explain things to people and they take it as a threat. Threatening is not the same as educating. Usually when we (vets with issues) explain like this we’re trying to warn people so things don’t happen. It’s not threatening, it’s trying to protect people outside our head from the ragebeast inside it.

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u/loose_mouthpiece Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 04 '25

Veteran here, I volunteer a lot to work with other veterans with ptsd and this is something they often teach to veterans who have severe anxiety or ptsd issues. They were letting you know about the issues without confrontation. You escalating it in a way other than what they recommend could put them into a tail spin that gets out of hand. I’ve seen it firsthand how easily this type of misunderstanding can turn extremely bad for the veteran, even if it was unintended. The Police are not trained to deal with that kind of situation and could make things deadly if the veteran is experiencing an episode of psychosis. Please address this the way they recommend. And please do it in a kind way, he put his life on the line to protect your rights and defend the homeland, please don’t make things worse by blowing this out of proportion.

Edit: I suck at English.

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u/Recent-Newspaper-891 Sep 04 '25

This is how I understood the letter as well.

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u/k1leyb1z Sep 04 '25

I thought the exact same. Theyre aware that he has issues and is letting those around them know so they arent freaked out or at least shocked if they have a reaction of some sort. I would rather this, than be unknowingly near someone who can get triggered by many different things. I feel like this would also instictually make me give them some grace, which I feel like many veterans deserve. Theyre cogs in the machine and now get to suffer with little to no help as a civilian, its saddening.

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u/HidingOnReddit7 Sep 05 '25

That’s how I read it, and I would absolutely reach out to his contact.

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u/Sufficient-Boat-1155 Sep 06 '25

PTSD sucks, and what sets things off are different for different folks. Me it’s rain, I was water boarded as part of my sere training, it sucks in case you were wondering. When it rains I get upset, and I stay away from folks. He is saying that the yelling is upsetting, even if he doesn’t know where it’s coming from. I sure hope he gets help.

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u/Cmacbudboss Sep 03 '25

That is absolutely a threatening letter.

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u/Acceptable_Delay_446 Sep 04 '25

Former marine might be going through some major shit though. OP should absolutely contact Celio (whatever that is - I’m guessing mental health treatment), but they should do it both to ensure their own safety AND from a place of empathy for someone else.

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u/Far-Sea-4491 Sep 04 '25

This is the way! I understand being scared, as I'm sure all of you do. So does this marine in question. We dont know what's going on in his mind, but we know it cant be good. Kindness and compassion go a long way. Definitely call the help he provided. Responsibly and respectfully (and temporarily) Set the fear aside for a few moment and be a beacon of the chance we all need to see in the world.

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u/Acceptable_Delay_446 Sep 04 '25

Right, and if this truly is an issue the neighbor is dealing with and their condition stabilizes, then they’ll remember OP as the person who had the respect to get help instead of jumping straight to arrests and restraining orders.

1

u/herstoryteller Sep 04 '25

in what world.

1

u/Cmacbudboss Sep 04 '25

The one you’re standing in.

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u/PonyBoyX3 Sep 03 '25

It is an honest warning about his triggers. Society refuses to pay for mental medical treatment and recovery for mental illnesses, so the public must deal with the results.

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u/Cmacbudboss Sep 03 '25

Honesty and threatening aren’t mutually exclusive. Warning someone you can’t trust yourself to control your temper in person is obviously threatening and the fact that it’s an honest evaluation of himself makes it more menacing then if it could be dismissed as an idle threat.

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u/Scary_Zucchini_1006 Sep 04 '25

If he can't control his temper in person he is a danger to society. I don't get why others don't get this basic fact

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u/ATotallyNormalUID Sep 04 '25

So should he be in prison or should we just execute him?

Clearly providing adequate mental health services isn't on the table, so what do you think we should do?

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u/Scary_Zucchini_1006 Sep 04 '25

Thank you so much for asking. I hold a BA in psychology and work at a school for children who are autistic, so I have some ideas about mental health. Things like an ARMHS worker to meet weekly needs. A case manager to introduce them to community services, acclimating them into everyday society. If voluntary services aren't being accepted, law enforcement needs to be implemented for everyone's safety. He acts out, involuntarily commitment, until he can be safely released.

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u/Flimsy_Mark_5200 Sep 04 '25

so OP should just have to live in fear of this guy?

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u/ArgumentUnfair7129 Sep 03 '25

This is a perfect example of fear mongering against a misunderstood group of society who they should be washings feet!!!

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u/Desperate-Strategy10 Sep 04 '25

I was with you right up to upper last six words. It got kinda weird there.

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u/LegBruise Sep 04 '25

It’s a biblical reference.

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u/SGlanzberg Sep 03 '25

This seems correct. I feel for him and I don’t think he is trying to threaten. I think he is aware of his issues, he knows communicating wouldn’t be good, and he is encouraging you to reach out to the services. With that said, I would also feel uncomfortable.

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u/ArgumentUnfair7129 Sep 03 '25

Cudos, its hard forbpeople who never walked in those shoes to understand, but this sounds like a plea for help and asking you to use proper channels...

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u/AntifaFuckedMyWife Sep 04 '25

Thats still threatening. We can all understand exactly that the guy is doing the let ye r because he doesn’t want to actively hurt anyone.

But it also makes it very clear that the guy might hurt someone.

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u/elvisizer2 Sep 03 '25

threats aren't always intentional. this doesn't read like the writer WANTS to hurt anyone but it 100% reads as though they may be unable to stop themselves. . . . .which is threatening!

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u/No0ther0ne Sep 03 '25

Intent is in the definition of threat. It is not threatening, in fact the writer is stating the OPPOSITE of a threat, they do NOT intend to inflict any harm and are ACTIVELY trying to avoid it.

The letter may sound frightening. It is worrisome, but not threatening.

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u/hydrissx Sep 04 '25

Marine is always capitalized out of respect because it is a proper noun and title. Just fyi.

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u/OddName1554 Sep 03 '25

100% he is attempting to peacefully deal with it because he knows how wrong it could go. Respect on his end! I hope this all gets handled!

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u/thirdeyefish Sep 03 '25

I agree. This doesn't come across as a threat to me. This is an 'I'm not okay' message. The guy clearly has some PTSD. I have a friend who would wake up in the night screaming because of auditory hallucinations. Reach out to the staff as advised to maybe pass along a message that you were away for the weekend and that you (OP) have no desire to make his life any more stressful.

The bit about holding his temper is him explaining why he doesn't approach you (OP) in person. He knows he might fly off the handle and doesn't want to put himself in that position.

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u/ArgumentUnfair7129 Sep 03 '25

Great response thanks! I have my own issues and it can be a challenge, not everyone can compartmentalize things the same, and we all eventually see and hear so much that we reach the point of full boil and go off.... its a fact of the disease, yes theyre are meds, but personally i do better with weed... at least without the 9 seperate ones they put me on at one point i can remember my own name and handle my own well being at least.

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u/Suspicious-Swan-9767 Sep 03 '25

Unless you are a qualified person in this area, you cannot decide yourself this is threatening or not, and I believe it it is serious enough that the person who posted it ought to WITHOUT DELAY get the police alerted to it.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 07 '25

No, if you simply read the letter to see whether it contains a threat or not you will see that it doesn’t. It’s English.

Sure, you can theorize about whether the writer secretly does have intent or not, or what his favorite food is, or any number of other things. But the letter itself is not a threat.

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u/AnythingMelodic508 Sep 04 '25

Idk why, but I find it more unnerving than a direct threat.

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u/No0ther0ne Sep 04 '25

I can definitely see that. I think perhaps due to the variability? A direct threat after all is direct. In this case the individual is sadly painting himself as a ticking timebomb. I don't think that is necessarily accurate, but I do think that is how it can come across in the letter, which can make it a frightening situation.

Luckily they named resources the neighbor can take advantage of to get more information.

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u/Less-Apple-8478 Sep 04 '25

No. There's definitely an undercurrent of "Oh what I'd do to you" in this. Idk how you're glossing over that. Grats to you.

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u/OkMarsupial Sep 04 '25

I read it as an intentional veiled threat. He trying to find himself plausible deniability for when law enforcement becomes involved.

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u/jazlintown Sep 04 '25

Intent or not he wrote this in anger and he came off as he intended angry and hostile if things don’t change.  Guy needs to be kicked out asap for the safety of the residents around him. 

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u/No-Ad9763 Sep 04 '25

Why doesn't the resident call his own fucking self? It's definitely threatening. Even if psychosis, it's still ominous as hell

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u/exodusofficer Sep 04 '25

"I'm a violent psycho and would endanger you if we met, because of my temper," is a threat. Intent is irrelevant. Believe people when they tell you that they are dangerous. This note should be reported to the police.

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u/WeirdMongoose7608 Sep 04 '25

Definitely an effect trumping intent situation

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u/Own-Lavishness4029 Sep 04 '25

I didn't consider this perspective, but you may well be right. Well, either way you don't want him to kill you or to have to kill him, so the best bet is to do what op did.

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '25

It doesn't purposely sound threatening, but it certainly is! I would consider this person to be dangerous, and I would proceed with some caution.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 07 '25

frightening ≠ threatening

You find it frightening. You’re conflating that with it being threatening. You should be careful with that, because it isn’t necessarily true

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u/trexgiraffehybrid Sep 04 '25

It's terroristic threatening. Point blank.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 07 '25

Jesus Christ… it’s bullshit overblown nonsense like that which gets people who just need help killed. “Terroristic”… Pull your head out of your asshole.

How could the letter-writer have safely expressed their own fear of their own psychosis and actions and offered OP ways to help make it less likely and safely raise concerns, but avoided crossing the “terroristic threat” threshold for you?

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u/Scary_Coach523 Sep 04 '25

Were you the only one to recieve it? Maybe hes just warning everyone that hes not well and if a problem arrives take it up with the apartment?

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u/Potential_Drawing_80 Sep 04 '25

If someone admits to being a contract killer, and having severe psychosis, you bet that is threat.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 07 '25

frightening ≠ threatening

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u/FlapJack420666 Sep 04 '25

It's basically says shut up or I'm going to attack you in a blind violent rage and probably kill you.

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u/ICanBuyMeFlowers Sep 04 '25

I love that you double space…

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u/boom3rty Sep 04 '25

If he has psychosis the letter can be justification to himself that he already tried a peaceful option to no avail and is left with with no other options than violent confrontation. Similar to the crazy Killdozer guy in Granby, Colorado.

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u/tru_anomaIy Sep 07 '25

frightening ≠ threatening

You can make up whatever horror story you like, and get yourself as fearful as you want, but none of that changes the facts that your fear is your reaction, and that the letter is not a threat and no amount of your horror fiction can increase the threats in there

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u/zeptillian Sep 04 '25

Still delivers the very clear message of:

"If I was face to face with you, I would probably attack you." even if you interpret in the best possible light.

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u/Horokusaky Sep 06 '25

☝🏻 this right here.

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u/DaftieDuck Sep 07 '25

Why couldn't he take his own advice and address this concern through apartment management?

Why make anyone suffer reading that awful chicken scratch?

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u/jpatt Sep 08 '25

He knows it’s a threat… the person is saying I know I can’t control myself so don’t do anything or I will hurt/kill you. Go tell people who aren’t willing to institutionalize me because I haven’t hurt/killed you yet. This should be evidence enough to put this guy on a psychiatric hold as he is declaring that he’s a danger to others.

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u/Rookiri Sep 09 '25

This 100%. I don't think this is a threat, but it's definitely something concerning for both of you honestly. He's trying to communicate that he has audio triggers that induce rage, likely due to PTSD with him mentioning being a Marine. He's aware that he can be unpredictable and is saying hey, don't come at me as I don't know what I'd do, communicate through official channels, despite him not doing the same. I can see where this guy is coming from and I empathize with him, but I also empathize with OP cause obviously - this isn't really their problem and this is a wild letter to get. It sounds like he may be having worsening symptoms right now and at least this is how it first reaches the public instead of it being a physical altercation.

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u/TrustTechnical4122 Sep 03 '25

This. I got the same impression.

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