Happy Gourd-day! WIBTA for Throwing a Birthday Party for My Neighbor’s Year-Old Pumpkin?

Sharing a porch can be tricky—especially when your neighbor’s idea of “seasonal decor” becomes a year-round biohazard. In this hilariously petty yet oddly relatable tale, a Reddit user (let’s call them OP) vents their frustration about a pumpkin that’s outstayed its welcome for over a year. Not just any pumpkin, but a small sugar pumpkin OP originally bought last Halloween, tossed out for composting, only to find it mysteriously resurrected outside the neighbor’s door the next day.

Here’s the kicker: it’s still there. One year later. Moldy, sunken, and definitely not in season, this pumpkin has now been enveloped into the neighbor’s fresh batch of Halloween decorations—like it’s just another spooky prop. OP is sick of being the de facto porch janitor. From sweeping, de-cobwebbing, to picking up cigarette butts, they’ve been handling the shared space’s hygiene for six years while the neighbor does almost nothing.

So, what do you do when your passive-aggressive limit has been reached? You throw a birthday party for the pumpkin, of course. OP wants to crown this decomposing gourd with a little pointy party hat and a sign that reads, “Happy 1st Birthday!” It’s petty. It’s hilarious. It’s maybe the wake-up call this neighbor needs. But OP’s husband thinks it’s better to just clean it up and move on.

Would throwing a party for a pumpkin make OP the a**hole—or a legend?

Take a moment to digest just how nightmarish a pumpkin would look if your neighbor left it outside for a year

A frustrated person wanted to throw a one-year birthday party for their nasty neighbor’s pumpkin after she left it out on their shared porch

Living in a condo, duplex, or any place where you share entryways with a neighbor can be one of those slow-burn stressors in life. Little things—like trash left out, random items piling up, or decor that overstays its welcome—might seem minor at first. But over time, they chip away at your patience.

And that’s exactly what’s going on in OP’s case. Let’s break this down: OP isn’t just annoyed about a pumpkin. They’re frustrated because they’ve become the unofficial porch manager, while their neighbor contributes nothing. This kind of imbalance is super common in shared living spaces, and if not addressed, it can snowball into larger issues.

🎃 Shared Spaces and the “Broken Window” Theory

There’s a concept in urban sociology known as the Broken Window Theory, which suggests that visible signs of neglect (like litter, graffiti, or…a year-old pumpkin) encourage more neglect. When one person starts slacking, others think it’s okay to slack too.

So OP’s frustration isn’t just about gross aesthetics—it’s about how one person’s disregard can set a tone for how that space is treated. The longer that pumpkin stays, the more normalized it becomes. It’s no longer just a rotting vegetable—it’s a symbol of shared space decay.

💬 Conflict Avoidance: The Neighbor’s Role

From OP’s story, it’s clear the neighbor avoids responsibility. She’s known for blaming her kids for messes but rarely steps up herself. According to research from the Journal of Environmental Psychology, people often assign responsibility for shared space upkeep based on proximity and perceived control. If someone uses the space more or feels more ownership, they’ll clean more. Sound familiar?

Also, OP mentions she doesn’t want to involve the HOA (though that’s technically an option), and she’s trying to be a good neighbor. That’s commendable, but it also sets a pattern: when you repeatedly pick up the slack, it becomes expected.

🧹 Legal and HOA Rules: What’s Allowed on Shared Porches?

Let’s talk law and HOA regulations for a sec—yeah, even in petty pumpkin disputes, rules matter.

Most condo HOAs have rules about what can be placed in shared spaces. Things like seasonal decorations, bikes, trash, or personal items usually have limits. Why? Because these areas are common property, and leaving stuff around can create fire hazards or violate aesthetic guidelines.

While OP doesn’t want to snitch, she could submit a friendly maintenance request or even a humorous community bulletin entry (some HOAs love that kind of stuff). But going the route of a “pumpkin birthday party” as protest definitely skirts the line of being funny and slightly embarrassing for the neighbor—without escalating things legally.

🎭 Passive-Aggressive vs. Assertive: The Art of Conflict Management

Here’s where it gets juicy. Is putting a party hat on the pumpkin passive-aggressive? Totally. But is it harmful? Probably not.

Passive-aggressive communication gets a bad rap, but according to psychologist Dr. Paul Watzlawick, it can sometimes act as a non-verbal way of signaling discomfort—especially when direct confrontation feels too risky or awkward.

But OP could also try a more assertive approach. Leaving a note doesn’t have to be rude. Something like:

“Hey! I noticed the pumpkin’s been here a while—just wondering if you’d like me to help get rid of it or if you had other plans. Either way, Happy Pumpkin Birthday! 🎉”

This blends humor with gentle nudging—less war, more weird birthday party vibes.

🎥 The Internet Loves a Petty Win

Let’s be real—this kind of thing is Reddit gold. The petty-yet-innocent prank, the absurdity of a pumpkin birthday, the years-long porch saga—it’s internet catnip.

We’ve seen viral stories like the guy who turned his passive-aggressive office notes into an art exhibit, or neighbors feuding over holiday lights by outdoing each other until it hit national news. Petty justice, when done right, often captures hearts because it’s relatable, funny, and just satisfying.

Also, OP’s not being mean. They’re not mocking someone’s mental health or parenting. They’re celebrating the absurdity of it all—with a party hat.

🎂 The Long Game: Let the Pumpkin Live?

Interestingly, OP also admits part of them is just curious to see how long the pumpkin lasts. There’s a sort of unspoken science experiment happening. Will nature take its course? Will it eventually rot into nothingness? Can pumpkins become porch fossils?

In fact, some varieties of sugar pumpkins can last over 12 months in cool, dry conditions. Without bugs, moisture, or animals, it’s not surprising that this one just…lingered. Still gross, though.

The internet had mixed opinions about the pumpkin drama. Here are some people’s perspectives

In the grand scheme of things, throwing a pumpkin birthday party isn’t a crime. It’s silly, it’s kind of brilliant, and most importantly—it’s not hurting anyone. It’s a fun way to make a point without causing real damage or confrontation. If OP’s neighbor has a sense of humor, she might even laugh about it.

But if things are already tense or if there’s a risk of it backfiring, OP might want to combine the prank with a quick conversation down the road.