system
A chat on subreddit /r/me_irl
human
Do people here understand how an HOA works? Before you buy a home you are informed if it is included in the HOA or not. If you proceed then you agree to be in it.

You aren't magically bound by their rules out of nowhere, it's all in the contract. If you don't want to be in it, you don't buy the house, simple as that.
gpt
Yeah, you’re also leaving out the step where you sign the HOA by-laws agreeing to be bound by them. People acting surprised by HOA rules are feigning ignorance.