We are in a new world these days. Our communities exist on-line. The new model for how we interact and live in the world. Where we shop, learn or hang out.

A lot of us hang out on Facebook.

Facebook  is a complicated Venn diagram of friends and associations.

We can have a small gated circle of friends, or we can include the whole world, with many combinations in-between. 

We can be in one small circle of friends and be part of larger circles. We don’t have to choose the same friends our friends do and we have the power to shun anyone we want.

It is a virtual neighborhood. One where I say, we are all joined on our front porches.

The modern-day stoop.

We come at different times of day to swap stories, share news and vacation pictures. To smile and nod at each other and wave as the cars go by. To check on each other, make each other laugh, support each other.

We share our dreams, hopes, fears, and disappointments.

Like any neighborhood there can be problems.  As your Neighborhood Watch leader I’d like to submit, if we all acted a little more neighborly the ‘hood could be a better place.

I’ve got a few suggestions.

Keep your clothes on.

Take naked back inside where it belongs. There is a place for that, even online. But not on your front porch.

Keep your racist, sexist, homophobic jokes and thoughts inside too. Way inside. Keep them in the basement in a cage .

Don’t SHOUT from your porch.

Keep your political placards to a minimum. Please don’t litter the lawn with them.

Don’t talk about others behind their back. There is no back in this neighborhood. It’s all comes out front eventually.

Try not to be impulsive and run out on your porch hysterical, you’ll only embarrass yourself. Don’t be the boy who cried wolf. Your neighbors are there to help you when you really need it.

Take private conversations inside.

Don’t pass along chain letters. It’s bad luck.

Keep your door to door sales to a minimum and only sell what you truly have used and believe in.

Take your flag down at night.

And the biggest thing our mother’s told us not to do on the front porch?

Don’t hang your dirty laundry there.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

KT 🙂