Over the past few years, NextDoor has branched out to all parts of the world creating colonies of sorts—leper colonies!
What began as a way to be downright neighborly and share information of use to people in your community, has become the Gladys Kravitz of social media, with every person yelling Abner! each time they see something from snooping and gossiping or just not paying attention to facts. In fact, the Harper Valley P.T.A. may be more accurate.
We’re not talking about disinformation though it does creep into the app. We’re talking about people minding everyone else’s business and not always for constructive criticism or valid information.
It has devolved into a version of that old party game “Telephone,” whereby the time the data arrives at the end of a thread, it is totally separated from reality and common sense.
There are those people who if someone said:” I just got the most adorable Shar-Pei” puppy, some deranged idiot would reply: “Why would you buy a Chinese dog? They are siding with Putin and killing our trade economy!”
Or the people who comment about certain kinds of people seen in the neighborhood who seem dirty, lost, or out of place. What they really mean is they don’t belong, a thinly veiled trait of racism.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the First Amendment and people expressing their views but there are groups on NextDoor where you can find people as smart—or as unhinged as you are.
Remember social media before they became tools of anger, hate, and phony-baloney claims? Now, educated or reasonable people can sift through the information and make their own decisions. But in understanding what NextDoor was designed to be, outside of the private groups one can join, one can gather it is a tool, a helpful tool, and yes, filled with opinions.
If someone is discriminated against at a local business or restaurant, or service is lousy, it should be noted on public posts. That’s what neighbors do. Share useful information.
But this yelling “fire “in a crowded theater is not only dangerous, it’s downright stupid.
One woman complained about the sound walls being constructed locally and she went on a tear. I had to point out that these walls were requested by the homeowners most affected by the newly widened road and despite her driving past them and not liking the look, she had no idea of the ‘history.’
Back to Gladys Kravitz. NextDoor has given free rein for people to look into Samantha Steven’s front yard and proclaim her a witch. But Abner will have none of this and neither should we.
As I said, there are groups to join; MAGA, Biden, and every conceivable cause to discuss with people with similar views or welcome those with opposing views to civilly dialogue.
I went on NextDoor today and posted the following: “ Did you hear what happened today on Pima where the wall is being built? Nothing! Absolutely nothing. So you can all rest easy and stop gossiping for a day. The world will survive without all the snooping, condemnations, and hysterics.”
The response was positive until one person said the truth in government is being hidden and there is no free speech anymore.
My advice? Go tilt at windmills, shout at the rain, scream to Abner but for G-d’s sake, get a life, and leave the rest of us normal people alone.
Well stated.
How about a reference to "Harper Valley PTA" for your music listening readers as well ? And let's not even get into Dick York vs Dick Sargent!