Good fences?

Have you ever heard the phrase "good fences make good neighbors?"  It's from a poem by Robert Frost, I think.  Is it really true though?  I mean what kind of fencing is he thinking of?  Maybe it is some super durable magical mediation fencing of some sort.  I know the images portrayed of Brady Bunch like characters chatting away the afternoon over some short white picket fencing deal.  Have you ever seen that in real life? 

From what I've heard, your fencing won't stop an angry neighbor.  Besides the fact that whatever fencing you choose has some sort of gate or entry in it that is useful for you, but also usable by your neighbor.  Wouldn't they generally target your front door if upset?  It is completely contrary to the Brady Bunch scene, but wouldn't fencing between neighbors cause more of a yelling match that could be heard by everyone?  I mean, the fencing does create a natural barrier to sound that needs to be overcome if even poor communication is going to occur.  Unless, of course, your fencing has empty sections in it.  That poses an interesting question.  Would open  or closed fencing work better for good neighbors?  Who knows, they've probably done a study on it already. 

Whoever related fencing with good neighbors probably had nice neighbors already and was in denial.  A little like Bugs Bunny, who could always find his way to Albuquerque to make the wrong turn but was probably in denial about the fact he had no idea where he was headed in the first place.