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Post by gato on Feb 12, 2024 6:44:10 GMT -5
Do any of you access the "Nextdoor" app? I was vaguely aware of it being some kind of Neighborhood Watch thing, but today I got an invitation via e-mail to sign up. The come-on was that I would get news of my neighborhood ... only the one they connected me to is about 20 miles from my front door. (Do I really care about someone's unsavory dog walking habits in a neighborhood I'll never visit?)
The Nextdoor theory is that a close knit neighborhood is created, with everyone watching out for evil doers like porch pirates or unauthorized curb number painters. And to also share about a good plumber or landscaper, or help out with a lost pet.
A little more investigation revealed a tsunami of complaints about vindictive participants, spying, vigilante-ism. One guy wrote that he was set upon via the app, because his weekend barbeque of meat offended some vegan neighbor.
"Nextdoor says it’s used in 315,000 neighborhoods in 11 countries around the world, and 1 in 3 U.S. households. From following it, I’ve learned one thing. The person on your block you should fear the most is not the guy in the hoodie, it’s the guy at the keyboard."
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009
Wholenote
Take me to your leader!
Posts: 519
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Post by 009 on Feb 12, 2024 7:39:17 GMT -5
Our neighborhood has something like that. I got an invitation to join a few years ago. It seemed like a good idea. I went online to fill out an application. Man, it was way too intrusive— so many questions, just like an employment application. I deleted the answers I provided so far, closed the web page, used CCleaner, and trashed the second and third applications received.
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Post by Leftee on Feb 12, 2024 7:57:54 GMT -5
There’s always an ulterior motive behind these things. And it is NOT about your safety or privacy.
And then there’s the unintended consequences of trampled boundaries - which these things always (eventually) produce.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 12, 2024 8:00:14 GMT -5
I have the app but rarely use it. I've used it to contact an owner of a lost dog that showed up in my yard once. People sell stuff there like Facebook Marketplace, ask for and solicit recommendations for services like plumbers, etc. But there a lot of whiners and weirdos there too.
I have mine setup just for my neighborhood and allow just the bare minimum of info. By default it's pretty intrusive with alerts and such. The doorbell Ring App is the same way. You want to be alerted about someone at the Door but get alerts every time someone posts important stuff like "anyone just hear gunshots?" on the 4th of July.
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Post by orrk01 on Feb 12, 2024 9:45:37 GMT -5
I signed up for the Nextdoor App and I generally find it to be more of an annoyance than a help. The App could greatly benefit from following Moe's Rule #2.
2. Religion, politics and “hot button” topics/activism are not permitted. Other than that, discuss what you want, but do it civilly. Understand that someone may vehemently disagree with you, and if they do so respectfully, I have no intention of stepping in. Personal attacks, name calling and the like are not acceptable and will be dealt with. This policy is subject to change, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll have to place some further limitations.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 12, 2024 9:53:38 GMT -5
An example of one of things I see pop up very often is related to the HOA rules in our community. It'll start something like this: "How am I supposed to not park in the street? I have 7 teenagers in my house and each one has a car. These rules are stupid." Followed by: "Maybe you should consider moving to a farm with that many kids". It doesn't take long for things to devolve. Nothing makes people angrier on social media than angry people.
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Post by rickyguitar on Feb 12, 2024 10:37:17 GMT -5
News to me.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 12, 2024 10:56:22 GMT -5
The app has been around for a while. I first checked it out when living in Florida, maybe 8 years ago? In theory it would be a useful tool for neighbors to interact and exchange useful information. I once helped someone diagnose a problem with their A/C after having a similar issue. But it attracts a lot crazy, so there's that. Also suspicion. When I had a Yorkie mysteriously show up in my backyard and found a pic and post on the app, I made contact. The convoluted exchange of info made me wonder it was some sort of scam. A woman showed up and appeared confused if it was actually the dog. Turns out it was a neighbor of the owner, who was at work. That experience had my spider senses going.
Lol, one more incident. I found a parakeet on my fence. It did not look well and asked my neighbor if it was hers and also tobbe careful that her dog didn't snap it up. She trapped it and the two of us found it's owner on Nextdoor. What ensued through the subsequent communication was something that might have been a Seinfeld episode. We discovered the bird expired shortly after being brought home. We were kept informed about the funeral that followed. 😂
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Bopper
Wholenote
Motor City USA
Posts: 506
Age: 72
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Post by Bopper on Feb 12, 2024 10:57:54 GMT -5
I look at it occasionally, and Auf describes it perfectly.
I keep a list of user-recommended plumbers, handypersons and such, and bought a lawnmower through it, so that's OK by me.
It can be entertaining, in a sleazy way.
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Post by Taildragger on Feb 12, 2024 11:07:37 GMT -5
"What's Next Door?"
In my case, the neighbor from Hell.
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tomcaster
Halfnote
Posts: 91
Formerly Known As: strat-hacker
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Post by tomcaster on Feb 12, 2024 11:14:59 GMT -5
The same type of posts over and over. Most popular-What was that loud noise?, Did anyone see the suspicious person? Why are there so many planes(live in vicinity to 4 airports), Lost cat and dog posts, crime posts and contractor recommendations. It does have buy and sell section, which is way better than Facebook Marketplace. You can control who sees those to some degree-you can make it only people in your neighborhood.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 12, 2024 11:19:47 GMT -5
Most popular-What was that loud noise? Don't forget "did anyone elses lights just flicker?" |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 12, 2024 11:26:17 GMT -5
This is the top post in my feed today:
"Question, please. Yesterday a Girl Scout was taking orders for Girl Scout cookies house by house. I have always bought them in the past. I have always written a check. The GS yesterday said they can not accept checks…..only cash or some app I have never heard of. Is that the new normal??? I never have cash on hand so I didn’t sign up to purchase GS COOKIES from her. But, it was strange to me that they say they can’t accept checks. Especially since they aren’t delivering the cookies yet…..just taking orders for them. Anyone??? Thanks in advance for answering."
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Post by Leftee on Feb 12, 2024 11:47:36 GMT -5
^ said neighbor is going to start seeing Ozempic ads popping up on their phone.
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Post by Seldom Seen on Feb 12, 2024 12:20:14 GMT -5
I joined a year prior to Covid but my stay was brief. It was 10% useful and 90% BS, i.e bickering, misinformation (gunfire vs fireworks and the ensuing arguments), pet poop, and similar “serious” issues. I decided I was much better off knowing less about my extended neighborhood.
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Post by Leftee on Feb 12, 2024 12:28:26 GMT -5
I decided I was much better off knowing less about my extended neighborhood. This is pretty much my philosophy of life these days. Just because we can doesn't mean we should. |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Feb 12, 2024 12:48:27 GMT -5
I decided I was much better off knowing less about my extended neighborhood. When my wife joined a neighborhood Facebook group back in Florida, her opinion of the place soured. Honestly I think it was a component of our decision to move. |
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Post by gato on Feb 12, 2024 14:27:48 GMT -5
Of course, if I were to accept the invitation to join, I might find out that the weird neighbor they all talk about is me.
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Tequila Rob
Wholenote
Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Feb 17, 2024 21:03:31 GMT -5
I joined a couple of years ago..sort of like FaceBook just for your immediate area......mostly its people posting bout their lost pets, occasionally political rants, and sometimes good community news.....
it amazes me what some people reveal about themselves to complete strangers...its entertaining if nothing else...
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Tequila Rob
Wholenote
Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Feb 17, 2024 21:04:44 GMT -5
Of course, if I were to accept the invitation to join, I might find out that the weird neighbor they all talk about is me. very possible...I guess you have to ask yourself,... are you that weird neighbor?  |
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Post by ninworks on Feb 18, 2024 3:41:32 GMT -5
I have one neighbor/family next door that I get on great with. The dad's mother and father are about 500 yards away across the street and I get on great with them too. The younger brother and his wife live up the hill about 1/4 mile away and they're great too. We live on the edge of town in a semi-rural area and there's not much but small farms up and down our road. Other than the family next door, which is about 60 feet away, the next closest ones are 500 yards away or more. Don't need a neighborhood app because there's not much of a neighborhood. Every person I have met who lives on our road has been very friendly every time I have chatted with them in person. I don't want to sour those relationships by introducing the anonymity of some online app where anyone can say anything they want to anyone at any time and there are zero consequences. There's a lot less chance of someone getting nasty or personal when I'm standing in front of them. I'm a likable guy and I think I make a good first impression when I meet people. I'm probably the guy they would complain about. I repair dirt bikes and ATV's for people sometimes and if I need to test ride them at a considerable speed I ride them up and down out little country road. They are usually loud and obnoxious. That would annoy me if I had to listen to it. The good thing is that I don't do it often. There are 2 unwritten rules for making your bike faster that absolutely MUST be followed by enthusiasts. Things cannot be fast if they are not loud and or shiny.  |
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 18, 2024 8:03:52 GMT -5
My main complaint with the app is that it takes forever to load up.
But I go there once in a while. People post photos of moose and mountain lions and such, which is interesting to me.
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