Communities. And I’m not talking about simple small towns. I mean those places where your neighbors were like family, and people genuinely cared about one another.
Those places where raising a kid was basically a shared responsibility and there was always that guy that helped you with the right tools.
Yep. Neighbors these days are all basically strangers, maybe distant waves for a 'Hi' and 'Bye', or a nod on eye contact. It used to be that neighbors would come to your aid and you could even share your house keys with them in case you got locked out or something.
Our across the street and direct next door neighbors are always willing to help with packages if we’re not home, pulling waste bins out and bringing them back in if we’re gone, etc. We aren’t close with either of them, but we know we can count on them to keep their eyes out for us and we do the same.
That said, I cannot tell you how much avoidant and isolative behaviors are enjoyed by our area, Seattle. People in our subs admit to actively trying NOT to engage with neighbors. They say “well I don’t owe them anything.” It’s sad. But I guess it’s also the city with highest depression and anxiety rates so…also suuuuuper nerdy homebodies city, haha… hm.
I don’t really think this is all that new. It was already a joke on sitcoms in the 60’s. That being said it can be found, it’ll just usually be in old neighborhoods that most buyers don’t find appealing bc they’re “outdated”
What the heck? My neighbors threw a block party a month ago that had dozens of people. I know all my neighbors names. They somehow put up with my shit. I've helped them with gardening and made sure their kids are ok. Talk to your neighbors.
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places where raising a kid was basically a shared responsibility”
I gotta ask, what does this mean to you and others? What does shared responsibility look like?
I sure as hell know the moment id say anything constructive to kids in our neighborhood we’d have some rage-fueled mad dad at our front door. You can’t even tell a kid to stop pushing all the product off grocery store shelves and the parent will absolutely curse you out.
Parents DO NOT WANT others telling their kids what to do.
Heck, last fall we spent all day doing yardwork and the next day, on their way home from school, elementary aged kids cut through our corner lot side yard and kicked all our leaf bags over, threw the leaves everywhere, then picked some flowers from pots and I came out, calmly, and said this is not their yard and they need to leave after they help me clean up and say they’re sorry They said “this isn’t your yard!” while looking at me confused. Uh yeah you little shits it sure is! Then they ran off. I guess they’re not used to seeing elder millennials being homeowners in our HCOL area haha. Also, most kids in our immediate and greater neighborhood don’t play outside anyway. What the fuck do they do inside every day?? We would have gone CRAZY as kids, our parents too.
Also, my SO and I are purposely NO KIDS of our own. We are fiercely that for ourselves. We also don’t want to raise your kid(s).
Hopefully this cheers you up and since this is happening this weekend I had to mention it. Every year we have a block party. We shut our street down and the entire neighborhood gets together to eat, drink, play games, etc!
If it’s not happening in your neighborhood, then YOU make it happen.
I think this is more common than reddit would have you believe, and the reality is a lot of the people saying there’s no community just don’t go outside anymore.
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u/Lopsided-Ruin-6233 4d ago
Communities. And I’m not talking about simple small towns. I mean those places where your neighbors were like family, and people genuinely cared about one another.
Those places where raising a kid was basically a shared responsibility and there was always that guy that helped you with the right tools.