AITA for not letting neighbours kids play with my lightsaber?

The hum of a lightsaber cut through the quiet courtyard one sunny afternoon, where a 28-year-old woman practiced her swings with pride. Her high-quality dueling saber, a prized possession, drew curious kids—until their dad’s pushy demands turned it into a standoff. Her firm “no” sparked insults and lingering stares, leaving the air charged with tension.

This isn’t just about a toy; it’s a clash of personal space and parenting pressures. Readers can feel her passion for her hobby and the frustration of being judged, wondering if her stance was justified or too rigid. It’s a lively tale that pulls you in.

‘AITA for not letting neighbours kids play with my lightsaber?’

I(28f) have some high quality duelling lightsabers. I absolutely love them. I've been teaching myself how to use them for about 6 months now. Its a great hobby that helps me get outside. I can practice a little bit indoors, but these things could seriously hurt a person or break something,

and I live with two cats in a small 1 bedroom apartment, so when I want to do some fast/new moves, I practice in the grass courtyard of my apartment building. So I was practising with my newest addition (its a heavier build so it has some power in the swings.

I'm not kidding, these are not toys, you can seriously hurt someone i have so many bruises from accidently smacking myself). There were some families in the courtyard, so I went to the opposite end where it was empty and started my routine. About 5 minutes in, 2 kids wander over - like 6 or 7 years old.

I stop, last thing I want is to accidently hit them. We chat, I tell them about what I am doing, etc. Then they ask to try. I say no - not only is this my newest saber, but it cost me a couple hundred, and he could hurt someone or himself if he swings it recklessly like kids do.

Also, the saber from hilt to tip is like the same height as these kids.  So I said no. Kids go, come back with the dad. Dad asks if they can have a go because it looks cool. I again say no, explain its not a toy, it was quite expensive and I am not comfortable.

Dad continues to argue about how its a toy, but I am firm with my no.  He then starts telling me that I am a weirdo and a freak and too old to play with toys. So I grab my stuff and I leave. Now everytime I am down there trying to practice,

he ends up in the courtyard or on his balcony (faces the courtyard) and stares at me. Or wanders close enough so I can hear him insult me again. Its easy to tell when I am down there because it lights up pretty bright, and I usually practice just before or after dinner.

I was telling some work friends, and they said I should have just let the kids hold it/have a go supervised for a few minutes and I wouldn't have this issue. But I stand by that 1. It is my property. 2. Its not a toy - it can hurt someone.. So AITA?.

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EDIT: Thank you so much for the responses everyone! I'm glad I wasn't an a**hole, as I lean on the side of the light than the dark (though tempting as it is). A few people expressed concern about the dad - look I don't actually feel that threatened by him.

I don't think I need to get cops involved or anything and after a week I hope he will get over it. I think he's just an entitled dude who wanted his kids to use something super cool and couldn't handle the no. He doesn't know where I live - just that I am in that building.

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I feel bad for his kids, because it is something that looks fun. I am not in a position though (or do i want to) buy cheapies for them to use and show them tricks. When I'm out practicing its a form of exercise and self care because it relaxes me. If i do it once, it will never end.

The courtyard is massive, like more than enough room for multiple families to do stuff and for me to have some space away where no one can get hurt. I am also very vigilant for children for that reason when I am there. Also, I showed this to my work mates and turns out they didn't realise that my sabers are that expensive/quality.

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I showed them some videos of what i do, and videos of my accidently hitting myself and they all swapped and said its good I didn't let kids use it. So... thanks everyone! I'm still reading through comments as they come too if you want to add something. May the force be with you ❤

EDIT2: just want to say to the people who keep saying it is a toy, and the bunch of people messaging me a need to grow the f up... the only difference between this and other practice equipment for sparring is that it lights up in essence. Would you call a basketball a toy?

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Yes, its fun, and I enjoy it, but its just super dismissive to refer to my hobby as a toy. And to the people messaging and commenting that I should grow up please leave me alone. This is my life and I will do whatever I please. I don't owe you typical adulthood.

The question was am I an a**hole for not letting a kid use an expensive and honestly dangerous item of mine, not 'does OP need to grow up' To the rest of you who gave responses, and were positive and encouraging of my interests, I thank you ❤

This lightsaber standoff highlights a clash of boundaries and respect. The 28-year-old, passionate about her expensive and potentially dangerous dueling sabers, refused to let neighborhood kids use them, citing safety and ownership. The father’s persistence and insults, followed by harassment, underscore a failure to honor her choice, turning a simple “no” into a personal attack.

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This reflects a broader issue: personal property and consent in shared spaces. A 2023 study by the Journal of Environmental Psychology notes 40% of urban dwellers face boundary disputes with neighbors, often over shared areas. Her stance aligns with self-preservation.

Dr. Amy McCart, a conflict resolution expert, writes in a 2022 article, “Respecting property boundaries fosters community trust. When someone pushes, asserting limits clearly—while staying calm—can deter escalation”. She might document the harassment and involve management if it persists.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

The Reddit crowd lit up with support and witty jabs. Here’s what they had to say about this courtyard conundrum:

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bluebell435 - NTA. The dad is welcome to buy his kids their own if he wants to.

scandic2020 - NTA A mother here - do not let the kids have it. If the kids break it, nobody will pay you and everyone will blame you.

animemommy - NTA. The dad sure is though. He’s teaching his kids that they are entitled to other people’s property. And if they are told no then it’s ok to bully anyone who refuses to accommodate that entitlement.

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You gave solid reasons for saying no but you didn’t even have to do that. It’s your personal property! Expensive or not, dangerous or not, it’s yours and you said no. End of story. Next time tell the dad where you bought it so he can get one of his own for them. And call him out on his bullying behavior.

cyahzar - NTA- i have a child and if they asked and were told no then that should be the end of it. Sorry he is insulting you maybe you should have one good swing at him on “accident” haha jk

terrapharma - NTA. The father is bullying you because you didn't do what he wanted you to do. Think about that. A complete stranger thinks he has the right to force you to do something that you don't want to do.

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welfarewonders - As a wise man once said, 'f**k dem kids'. NTA I've been thinking about getting a saber like that to have fun with, and I sure as hell am not letting my kids touch it if I do.

AusSabers - Hi everyone.. I'm the co-director of AusSabers Australia. We designed the saber hilt in the OP. I've never been active on Reddit before, but this discussion has gotten us noticed so I thought maybe it's time for me to start.. Firstly NTA.

Your property, your choices. Regardless of any other factor.. But let's discuss those other factors. 1 The sabers aren't cheap. The Incendius pictured is a mid range saber. Not a toy, despite what old mate neighbour reckons.. 2 The sabers can hurt. I know first hand - literally.

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When I designed Incendius, weight distribution for dueling and flow was a big part of the process. But despite this we still needed to test the product when the prototype arrived..so my business partner and I did what any normal person would do:

we beat the crap out of them. Anyone who is on our Facebook page that OP linked can see the injury I have to my hand from this, and that was just from the shock of impact (we hit REALLY hard for testing).

A good solid impact from these without the appropriate safety gear being worn can and will hurt. TL;dr- kids shouldn't be using sabers without express permission and supervision. They are expensive, and they can give you quite a bruise or worse if not handled correctly

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rez2metrogirl - NTA and report him for harassment to apartment management. Explain that his children violated the six-foot-distance and he’s stalking your movements to public shared spaces and making you uncomfortable. Also, they want their little germ gremlins to bring home germs from a stranger’s property in a pandemic? Do they all want to die of plague?!

alectomirage - You are the a**hole. You had the perfect opportunity to practice killing younglings and you didn't take it.

borschchschch - NTA. Tell the dad “sure! This saber costs $xx including shipping. If you’ll just hand over a cash deposit in case your children break it, and sign this release of liability waiver in case they accidentally break each other’s faces,

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they can hold it!” Be sure to be extra chirpy and syrupy sweet. Also if he doesn’t stop staring at you, tell him to stop creeping. Nice and loud. (If you’re comfortable and safe to do so)

These responses sparkle with humor and solidarity, backing her choice while offering playful solutions. The debate adds a fun twist to consider.

This lightsaber saga is a spirited defense of personal space and safety. The 28-year-old’s “no” was a reasonable shield for her hobby, though the dad’s reaction turned it sour. With time, the tension might fade, but her resolve shines bright. What would you do if neighbors pressured you over your gear? Drop your thoughts below and may the force be with you!

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