Anonymous wrote:The post that really got to me was the one for a newly-arrived Ukrainian family. They were directly asking for everything needed to equip a home. I was perfectly fine with that and was thinking about what I could contribute that I already had--until they asked for an electric espresso coffee maker (which are usually more expensive than a drip coffee maker). Given how frugally I lived during my 20s when all I could afford was rent and food, I was taken aback by that request.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m experiencing that on Nextdoor and my formerly very focused Buy Nothing group. Starting this fall both have become virtual begging outlets. I’m surprised by the shift and don’t know if it’s something people are being told to try via some other form of social media or if it’s a culture shift.

It’s pretty unnerving to go from the group being about giving away a chair or a bunch of half jars of weird spices to people posting constant asks like “I have two kids and we don’t have Christmas dinner tonight can someone bring me a bag of groceries and sides and a turkey?” at 11 am on Christmas Day.

For us, it started with appeals for Afghan refugees in need of household goods. Once people responded generously, the flood gates opened.

Anonymous wrote:The growing trend in my ND is the shaming posts. Not that they are warranted for some things (crime/ safety and even 11PM ding door dashes), but the pictures of cars and license plates for driving 10 miles over the speed limit or an illegal Uturn is a bit much IMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The post that really got to me was the one for a newly-arrived Ukrainian family. They were directly asking for everything needed to equip a home. I was perfectly fine with that and was thinking about what I could contribute that I already had--until they asked for an electric espresso coffee maker (which are usually more expensive than a drip coffee maker). Given how frugally I lived during my 20s when all I could afford was rent and food, I was taken aback by that request.

We donated a loft bed to the Ukrainians in our neighborhood. I think of that every time the mother posts something racist on NextDoor. Your kid has a place to sleep because my Black teen son was generous.

Anonymous wrote:Restrict the geography of the posts you see. Nextdoor is dying and they are including posts from a wider area in order to make it appear more active

Anonymous wrote:I hate nextdoor. I look at it occasionally for lost dog posts and wildlife videos (we frequently have bears, mountain lions and bobcats in our neighborhood). If someone asks for a recommendation for a service you get all of these randos popping up saying they can do the work instead of actual recommendations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The post that really got to me was the one for a newly-arrived Ukrainian family. They were directly asking for everything needed to equip a home. I was perfectly fine with that and was thinking about what I could contribute that I already had--until they asked for an electric espresso coffee maker (which are usually more expensive than a drip coffee maker). Given how frugally I lived during my 20s when all I could afford was rent and food, I was taken aback by that request.

I don’t understand what you being poor in your 20s has to do with the refugees wishing for nice things.
These people have already experienced enough trauma, maybe an espresso machine would brighten their day.

I would also be turned off by such an expensive, unnecessary request.

Anonymous wrote:Grifters. Just like the gypsy Roma people on every street corner. This is what happens when we let everyone into the US.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The post that really got to me was the one for a newly-arrived Ukrainian family. They were directly asking for everything needed to equip a home. I was perfectly fine with that and was thinking about what I could contribute that I already had--until they asked for an electric espresso coffee maker (which are usually more expensive than a drip coffee maker). Given how frugally I lived during my 20s when all I could afford was rent and food, I was taken aback by that request.

We donated a loft bed to the Ukrainians in our neighborhood. I think of that every time the mother posts something racist on NextDoor. Your kid has a place to sleep because my Black teen son was generous.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen the neighborhood ding ding trying to sell her kids’ worn out used clothes and a few things of her own for basically pocket change, but not so much begging.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The post that really got to me was the one for a newly-arrived Ukrainian family. They were directly asking for everything needed to equip a home. I was perfectly fine with that and was thinking about what I could contribute that I already had--until they asked for an electric espresso coffee maker (which are usually more expensive than a drip coffee maker). Given how frugally I lived during my 20s when all I could afford was rent and food, I was taken aback by that request.

I had a white Pottery Barn couch to give away (in good shape but the couch cover had a very light water stain (ceiling leak)). No organization wanted it because of a small stain and I was told to clean it and then send pictures again - I was told that Afghan families left everything and came over so anything we give has to be in respectable condition. I put it on FB and someone who was willing to clean it themselves took it. Who has time for all this when we are giving away stuff.

When I came here as an immigrant I would have been grateful to have a free couch with a small water stain that could have been washed. We were living without any real furniture for 5 years. We had 2 $10 folding chairs from Ames, a $20 Staples table as dining table and a mattress/box spring and the rails to go with it (no bed set or dresser or a couch).