A man has been backed by the internet after refusing his neighbor access to his Wi-Fi when they “accidentally” disconnected theirs.
The 30-year-old (u/Sure-Exit-3600), described how his 40-year-old male neighbor knocked on his door after forgetting to pay their Wi-Fi bill and asked to connect to his. The post, shared on the subreddit “AITAH [Am I The A*****],” received 10,000 upvotes.
“I politely declined, explaining that I pay for my service and don’t want to risk security issues,” he said. “They got upset and left, but I thought that was the end of it. Turns out, they’ve been bad-mouthing me to other neighbors, saying I’m selfish and not community-minded. A friendly neighbor told me they’re calling me ‘cheap’ and claiming it wouldn’t cost me anything to help out.
“Now I’m wondering if I was too harsh. AITA?”
Expert Insight
Brooke Sprowl, CEO and founder at My LA Therapy, shared her thoughts on the issue with Newsweek.
She explained that declining to share Wi-Fi isn’t just about financial cost—it’s also about protecting security, privacy and resources.
“Boundaries like this are not a reflection of selfishness, but rather an assertion of personal responsibility for one’s own resources and well-being,” Sprowl said.
Sharing internet access can create risks, such as security breaches or liability issues if the network is misused. OP’s polite explanation to the neighbor was both practical and reasonable.
The neighbor’s negative response—bad-mouthing OP to others—reflects an entitlement mindset, Sprowl noted. By labeling OP’s decision as selfish, the neighbor shifted the focus away from their own accountability for failing to pay their bill.
“Entitlement often arises when people conflate personal favors with moral obligations. While helping neighbors can foster connection, it is not a requirement, especially when the request involves risks or inconvenience. OP’s boundary does not negate their value as a community member—it simply reflects their right to make choices that align with their comfort and priorities,” Sprowl added.
She also shared how she thinks the OP should move forward:
- Maintain the Boundary: OP should stick to the decision without over-explaining, as this reinforces the idea that the boundary is negotiable.
- Avoid Escalation: Gossip can be frustrating, but engaging confrontationally may worsen the situation.
- Clarify Intentions With the Community (If Necessary): If OP feels their reputation is unfairly impacted, they could calmly explain their stance to other neighbors.
Reddit Reacts
Reddit users supported OP, pointing out the unreasonable nature of the neighbor’s behavior.
“In the time it took to rally the flying monkeys they could have PAID their internet bill and had their service restored. Curious, why didn’t any of the FMs give the neighbor access to their Wi-Fi????????,” said celticmusebooks.
Another commenter shared a cautionary tale:
“I bring up what happened to a friend of mine in college, 20 plus years back.
“She didn’t know how to put a password on her router, so she never did, and she got swarmed by FBI one day because someone was downloading kiddy porn from her router number….
“Needless to say, will not share my password for my Wi-Fi.”
Others emphasized the neighbor’s irresponsibility:
“My mom was chronically late for paying internet and cable when I was young. All it took was a call and it was back on within the hour. I can’t imagine it’s changed that much,” one user said.
“Calling you cheap when their internet got shut off. Maybe that’s the problem, they’re not cheap. They’re irresponsible,” another remarked.
Newsweek reached out to u/Sure-Exit-3600 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
Newsweek’s “What Should I Do?” offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
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