berner

I came across this website directed at neighborhoods. It seems it would be useful for us seniors and especially useful during the viral pandemic. https://help.nextdoor.com/s/article/...language=en_US

VegasTriker

I probably get a solicitation in the mail once a month to join this group. I guess it would be useful if I didn't know and like my immediate neighbors but I do. Both of the adjacent neighbors have offered to purchase food for me if I needed the assistance. One stocks products in multiple grocery stores so can always find the hard-to-get items. I thanked them but said I don't need much and so far have been able to buy what I needed with just one trip to the grocery store each week. I don't subscribe to the many conspiracy theories but realize that nextdoor must make money by compiling data on its members or else it would go bust quickly.

berner

I'm sure you're right. I read somewhere that if what you get is purported to be free, you are the product.

TakingMyTime

I joined, but then deleted my account. At first you do get a sense of community. If there was a siren in the middle of the night... someone will be reporting as to what it was. At times there are even more immediate alerts as to possibly questionable people roaming around the neighborhood. You get current reports of theft, car break-ins and almost anything like that. In that sense it can add to a feeling of security. People share their experiences with the various trades. If you need a good electrician, plumber etc, you can get a feeling for what is out there and who's doing a good job. There are MANY positive reason to have an account.

But, there are some who feel like they're the pillar of the community and are quick to respond when they don't know all the facts. Recently, I was told by my neighbor who does have an account that there was an issue about someone driving in the neighborhood in a dangerous manner and a mob mentality seemed to be taking over (at least online). The gentleman who all this was directed at happened to be a member of the website. He politely introduced who he was and then proceeded to point out how ridiculously wrong the original story was. People finally realized that they had overreacted and apologized. Something along these lines happened to me. After a brief and cordial exchange with a resident of our community (at my front door) who apparently didn't like what I had to say, I was being apologized for by others on the website stating things like... "That is not representative of the people of our community", "we apologize for that" etc. After reading how everyone was willing to take one's side without hearing both sides turned me off to the site and I immediately deleted my account.

curbtender

I'm ok with some of the craziness that goes on in there. It's pretty much self moderated. I've had a chance to meet a few people with similar interest. And there is helpful advice. Just like on here, you go where you feel comfortable. The "help your neighbor" post have been going on for a long time on my local site. Good place to post for sale items before you go to the larger sites.

Biker395 

I've heard there is a lot of "get off my lawn"ing on NextDoor. No thanks. I get enough of that as it is.

bobwysiwyg

My wife tuned in occasionally. She'd read some posts to me. Sounded like a mini-FaceBook. Not my thing.

355Mono

We belong. Some good advice on local services. I innocently chimed in on a conversation, and got flamed by some neighbor. That was my reality call. Done. We still get alerts, but mostly delete them. Some folks thrive on this stuff. Sad.

John E

I participate regularly in my local NextDoor. You can always tune out certain threads or certain contributors, if need be. For me, the good outweighs the bad, but your community may differ.

(We got our current cat through NextDoor. Her owner had died, and one of his employees posted a "cat needs home" message on NextDoor.)

nesdog

It's pretty much as described above and we do participate from time to time. Got some of our handymen and leads for other work through the website. But you do have to tune out some of the nonsense.
It's been good the past few weeks as neighbors exchanged market information, letting us know who had stock or long lines.

woodcraft

It's OK, but there are some annoying posters (sound familiar?). But also some entertainment.

Decent source of referrals for local services.

OldsCOOL

Are these larger towns you are referring to? Ours is 4000 and we pretty much know what’s up anyways. I like facebook and Strava but if people get snooty I leave.

sdmc530

We had it....like a local facebook of sorts. Lots of complaining about her and his lawn is to weedy type crap for my liking. Scammers pop up once in a whiIe was just too much garbage to be useful IMO. It really depends on the "neighbors" on it. This could be a really good service. Problem is its free, so your the product in the end. That should be a clue its not a great "service"

'02 nrs

useful updates regarding breakins-thefts-suspicious strangers.key is don't make your address visible,just list by street name.no more over -zealous reactions.sometimes great bargains,freebies.

"Helmets, clipless pedals, derailleurs, random bits and stuff free but don't take everything. Two wheels 26" with disk brakes etc.".

bmcer

I have an account with Nextdoor. As with any social media, there are those who abuse the platform. They can be simply and safely ignored. When our beloved cat disappeared a couple years ago, it was the alert I posted on Nextdoor along with pictures that finally got him home thanks to another Nextdoor member half a mile away who spotted him and held onto him until I could retrieve him. So it was well worth he price of admission.

In my view, it's just another tool. Properly used, it works just fine. Otherwise, it's just another nuisance like FB

VegasTriker

You are right that in small towns you don't really need this. I lived in a farmhouse at the edge of a small town in Wisconsin. Rented the upstairs. I was out cross-country skiing and came across someone out walking his dog but face up in the road after a heart attack. I managed to get hold of the county police to report the death by stopping at the nearest house (pre-cellphone days). By time I got home about an hour later the family living on the first floor of the farmhouse already knew the story.