Comments on ABroad with a View: Social Networking -- in the Local Community

Quilterliz is an Aussie girl! I think part of the ...

2012-02-01T14:50:57.813Z

Quilterliz is an Aussie girl! I think part of the problem is that society now is so mobile. When you grow up with people it's almost like being part of the furniture! It's surprising to realize that most of us really are very shy and at the same time suspicious -- not a good mix to neighbourliness!

Hi Bricky! Nice to see you here... We have some ve...

2012-02-01T14:46:58.008Z

Hi Bricky! Nice to see you here... We have some very good friends in Christchurch. The people there have been having a terrible time since that earthquake. People don't realize how many major tremors and rumblings have and are still continuing. A sense of community spirit can do so much to help you all get through this difficult time ...

'Neighbours' and 'neighbourhoods' ...

2012-02-01T14:42:11.422Z

'Neighbours' and 'neighbourhoods' sometimes feel as if they are things of the past -- a sad commentary on our life and times.

The harder we try to establish our independence, i...

2012-02-01T14:39:32.105Z

The harder we try to establish our independence, it seems, the more dramatic the events that bring us together -- it seems...

Yes, we are very encouraged by the number of peopl...

2012-02-01T14:36:01.801Z

Yes, we are very encouraged by the number of people that responded and at how friendly they were. It's a shame that it's so easy to hide away in our big Victorian houses... No doubt in my mind that drugs are the bane of our society -- and the solution to the problem seems to be as difficult to solve as ever it was.

Dear Broad, Like you, I know only a few of my neig...

2012-01-29T21:28:57.755Z

Dear Broad,
Like you, I know only a few of my neighbors--actually the neighbor right across from me and the ones on each side. They have been so helpful since I moved here in June 2009. It took me much longer in Stillwater, MN, to learn that knowing neighbors made me feel more secure.

I'm glad that's happening for you now. And I'm glad, too, that you had such a

Not many good things come out of civil disasters, ...

2012-01-29T00:49:01.244Z

Not many good things come out of civil disasters, but the experiences described by rosaria and Dr Kathy are examples of one of them. Having spent some time doing disaster relief work in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the days following their worst earthquake almost a year ago, it was common to hear local folk remarking on the newly found spirit of caring for each other that was once a feature of

I know exactly what you mean, Broad! Like Rosaria,...

2012-01-28T21:44:54.981Z

I know exactly what you mean, Broad! Like Rosaria, Bob and I used to live in a lovely community just north of Los Angeles. We lived in the same house for 29 years and knew very few people there. Our major "meet and greets" were disasters: the 1994 earthquake and, in 1995, the explosion and fire next door that killed our next door neighbor (one of the few people we actually knew). Our

Oh yes, people will come together for a common pur...

2012-01-28T18:33:54.129Z

Oh yes, people will come together for a common purpose. So sad though that it has to be something like this. We used to live in a beautiful area of L.A. where nobody socialized. The earthquake of 1994 changed our street. Not only did we learn who was who and what they did for a living, but also set up a street patrol, a neighborhood watch and neighborhood safe houses. Yes, a mutual need for

Hello Katherine: Whilst we would wish that you did...

2012-01-28T18:25:07.923Z

Hello Katherine:
Whilst we would wish that you did not have to meet your neighbours under such an occasion as this, nevertheless, we are sure that it is good to get to know other members of the community a little better. It is, indeed, encouraging that there are plenty of people in your neighbourhood who really do want to make it a better place for everyone.

When we lived in

Oh my goodness, Vagabonde! That was a brave thing ...

2012-01-28T18:01:55.984Z

Oh my goodness, Vagabonde! That was a brave thing to do putting an Obama sign in your front yard -- but good for you -- and don't get me started on what's going on now!!!

Yes, and every since whenever I walk into town I s...

2012-01-28T17:55:43.229Z

Yes, and every since whenever I walk into town I see someone I met that night and have a few words or share a wave if it's from a distance. We have farmer friends who live by the Welsh border in Herefordshire and they have had a lot of problems with cattle rustling and theft.

The dynamics of why some places are friendly and o...

2012-01-28T17:52:16.016Z

The dynamics of why some places are friendly and others not is interesting to me. It seems to me that generally people really do want to be friendly but whether it is fear or suspicious natures that is the problem -- it's hard to say.

Absolutely!

2012-01-28T17:44:42.645Z

Absolutely!

I was shocked to discover years ago how high the c...

2012-01-28T17:43:16.104Z

I was shocked to discover years ago how high the crime rate was in some rural areas. We had friends living in Yorkshire on a lonely country road and while they lived there they were broken into several times. Villains from the city found it was easier to break into houses when nobody was around. I understand it is still a problem.

It's also called Neighbourhood Watch here -- n...

2012-01-28T17:34:28.037Z

It's also called Neighbourhood Watch here -- not sure if there is any difference -- other than where you are in the country...

This is really great that you met your neighbors t...

2012-01-28T17:28:44.790Z

This is really great that you met your neighbors this way and a helpful way for all as well. We have been in our house since 1976 and know only one family but we don’t see them often. The houses are far apart; our next door neighbor would have to drive around their lake to come to see us. Once we cut some trees down and they called the police because we were not moving the branches away fast

It's never too late to get to know people, Bro...

2012-01-28T11:44:41.891Z

It's never too late to get to know people, Broad, and I'm glad you found the meeting so positive. It's a pity we need schemes such as Home or Neighbourhood Watch, but working together with others to safeguard and improve the area where you live can be very rewarding. Even here in the deepest countryside we have Farm Watch to try to prevent the theft of livestock and expensive

We never got to know our neighbours well in the UK...

2012-01-28T07:27:26.311Z

We never got to know our neighbours well in the UK when we moved to a two up two down after buying in France. The only contact was to ask them to keep the sound down which was never appreciated! Before that, only about a 1km away, we lived in a row of houses, we knew everyone and we all looked out for each other.
France is completely different, here we know everyone in the hamlet and they

People coming together can do anything, even creat...

2012-01-28T06:48:07.442Z

People coming together can do anything, even create a safe and friendly neighborhood.

We live in a small village and have a Neighbourhoo...

2012-01-28T05:14:16.282Z

We live in a small village and have a Neighbourhood Watch group. Although we aren't active members, luckily some of our near neighbours have taken on the responsibility to coordinate the group and disseminate notes and emails. It is all rather reassuring. Fortunately, levels of crime and antisocial behaviour are low, but there is some.
I hope your group manages to sort out some of the

G'day Broad. It is good that now you have made...

2012-01-28T04:42:13.293Z

G'day Broad. It is good that now you have made contact with others in your general area. Hubby and I have always relied on our neighbours wherever we have lived and they in turn knew that we would be there for them if the need ever arose. We have been here six months now in the new house and really only know two of our neighbours reasonably well, but that is always a start. I hope your Home