The only social media platform I use regularly is NextDoor.
When I first heard of it back in 2012, it sounded like the digital version of a neighborhood bulletin board. It made me think of the board we used to have near the exit door of the local grocery store. There you would find index cards and handmade flyers for lost pets, cleaning services, handymen, lawn care and neighborhood news.
Pretty cool I thought.
So I joined and sure enough, when I needed to find a painter, a plumber or a local service guy, my neighbors made good recommendations.
In time, I relied on it far more than sites like Yelp, Angie’s List etc.
I would even check it periodically to scan for neighborhood news like break-ins, road closures and events.
But, like much of social media, it has devolved to the point where I rarely use it.
Abut 75% of the posts I now see are people complaining about dog poop on their lawn, mask wearing (or not), driving too fast and loud noises.
What’s incredible to me is the number of posts “scolding” that “person in the blue car who passed me on the right” or “that teen with the black lab who pooped on my lawn”.
Do these posters actually think the “offender” is reading NextDoor and receiving their scolding?
Do they think scolding will change that person’s behavior?
I’d be willing to bet that 99% of the scolders online wouldn’t talk like that to anyone face to face. My experience is that most people around here are generally pleasant and polite.
There’s something ugly about online communication that brings out the worst in people. I won’t analyze it – many others already have. Instead, I avoid it.
I will say that scolding changes my behavior. I won’t be logging into NextDoor except on the rare occasions I need to find a recommendation for a local service guy or if I find a lost dog wandering around.
As for neighborhood news – I can do without the dog poop and speeding car updates.
Now…get off my lawn.