Stop being scared!

**AngelB** · 04-04-2012, 02:49 AM

Stop being scared of your neighbors and just say HI! It is simple...

Step by step on how to live in Philly / or anywhere in the real world...
1- Knock on direct neighbors' doors and see block neighbors on the street and start a conversation. Say "Hello."
2- Nod and say "Hi" to all people you see on your block.

Stuck?!
1- Say "Hello, my name is__________."
2- Be courteous, ask their name also.
3- Offer information on your life for example "I work at _______."
4- Follow up with something like "What do you do?"
5- Conversation should follow with block neighbors like "Where do you live?" OR "Do you have kids?" OR "I get up early as I work at __________. What time do you get up?"
--New relationship established.--
6- And repeat steps 1-5 on all neighbors.

***Most problems solved.

**EVH** · 04-04-2012, 11:05 AM

i'm pretty sure if someone knocked on my door and told me where they work and what time they get up in the morning i'd nod politely and think they were off their meds. a gradual build up of conversation is great with neighbors if you find yourselves in the same place all the time (the bus stop, the market) but going door to door asking questions & telling people your routine is a little unusual.

**whats up** · 04-04-2012, 08:51 PM

please don't knock on my door.

**candyfish** · 04-04-2012, 08:53 PM

I agree. Giving your neighbors your whole life story right of the bat is a little strange. Also telling people you don't know all you info is in poor judgement. "Hi my husband and I are out of the house from nine to five. I work at xyz. I have no kids, but I have a really nice dog who wouldn't hurt anyone ." My neighbor who I don't know, knows when to break in. My neighbor who I don't knows what company the check stub came form to look for in my trash to see my social. I have no issues with my neighbors, but I have made friends or aquantances with them over time. The only valid point of your post is to say hello to all the people on your block and be polite. I have lived in cities my entire life (D.C. as a child, Caracas, Venezuela as a teen, Brooklyn through college and afterwards and Philly for ten years since), and knocking on peoples door is the wrong way to go about introducing yourself to your neighbors in a city. If you want to give people advice about how to live in Philly, you might want to learn how to live here yourself.

**Elizabeth** · 04-05-2012, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by candyfish

I have lived in cities my entire life (D.C. as a child, Caracas, Venezuela as a teen, Brooklyn through college and afterwards and Philly for ten years since), and knocking on peoples door is the wrong way to go about introducing yourself to your neighbors in a city. If you want to give people advice about how to live in Philly, you might want to learn how to live here yourself.

ugh nothing is more annoying on this message board than "I have lived in X place for Y amount of time; therefore, my opinion is more valid than yours." I wish there was a filter on here for that crap

**scotchrocks** · 04-06-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

ugh nothing is more annoying on this message board than "I have lived in X place for Y amount of time; therefore, my opinion is more valid than yours." I wish there was a filter on here for that crap

Actually, nothing on this message board is more annoying than people who hijack threads with remarks about the tone of the conversation instead of contributing to it with intelligently articulated information or opinions.

I am very VERY careful about which of my neighbors I talk to and which I don't. We all should be. Indiscriminately knocking on people's doors and introducing yourself like you're at an AA meeting is a fast way to ensure you don't get invited over to the cool person's house for wine and cheese. =)

**Elizabeth** · 04-06-2012, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by scotchrocks

Actually, nothing on this message board is more annoying than people who hijack threads with remarks about the tone of the conversation instead of contributing to it with intelligently articulated information or opinions.

I am very VERY careful about which of my neighbors I talk to and which I don't. We all should be. Indiscriminately knocking on people's doors and introducing yourself like you're at an AA meeting is a fast way to ensure you don't get invited over to the cool person's house for wine and cheese. =)

Actually, I thought my opinion was very articulate and intelligent. I hope you're having a wonderful day

**Volanova** · 04-06-2012, 02:49 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong with a quick, "Hi there, I'm so-and-so, just moved in and I wanted to stop by and introduce myself. Hope to see you around!"

It means people will be more likely to recognize you if they see you around, and knowing that you live in the neighborhood and not just some random person taking up a parking spot. Talking their ear off with your life story is a little much for a first intro, though.

**gijyun** · 04-06-2012, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Volanova

I don't think there's anything wrong with a quick, "Hi there, I'm so-and-so, just moved in and I wanted to stop by and introduce myself. Hope to see you around!"

It means people will be more likely to recognize you if they see you around, and knowing that you live in the neighborhood and not just some random person taking up a parking spot. Talking their ear off with your life story is a little much for a first intro, though.

Right, but what you're suggesting and what AngelB suggested are very different.

**Elizabeth** · 04-06-2012, 03:42 PM

Maybe AngelB's outlined steps aren't the best execution...but I think her intent is good and some form of being familiar with your neighbors (with your own safety always in mind of course) is not a bad thing. It could do a lot of good for a neighborhood which is what I think she's getting at.

Because I agree with her in some form does not mean that I don't know how to live in Philly, am a brainwashed transplant, will become a victim of gentrification, or will not be invited over to a cool persons house for wine and cheese. I don't think the same of AngelB either because she went overboard with her opinion.

**candyfish** · 04-06-2012, 11:34 PM

Sorry if i came off as nasty, but having always lived in cities, I thought that Angels advice was a little naive. I guess I am a little too jaded. Elizabeth- experience counts. I don't know where you grew up but you now know where I did. Soo.....You can discount my opinion as much as you want, but you can't "filter " my comments from this site

**WWDaze** · 04-07-2012, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by Hicksandmoore

What kind of brainwashed transplant would follow these steps ?

I guess it's ok to be nice to the people who will become victims of gentrification.

Ding Ding, BINGO! We have a winner, collect your prize upon exiting. Any chance one of these niave loons will start a PhiladelphiaTransplantsSpeak blog and save the realists from this daily BS and nonsense? BTW, your Boot and Saddle history was right on the mark.

**loveisnoise** · 04-07-2012, 03:16 AM

I'd slam the door in your face after kicking your cooter since this is the way every scammer representing a fake nonprofit approaches people right before trying to milk their pockets for money.

Originally Posted by AngelB

Stop being scared of your neighbors and just say HI! It is simple...

Step by step on how to live in Philly / or anywhere in the real world...
1- Knock on direct neighbors' doors and see block neighbors on the street and start a conversation. Say "Hello."
2- Nod and say "Hi" to all people you see on your block.

Stuck?!
1- Say "Hello, my name is__________."
2- Be courteous, ask their name also.
3- Offer information on your life for example "I work at _______."
4- Follow up with something like "What do you do?"
5- Conversation should follow with block neighbors like "Where do you live?" OR "Do you have kids?" OR "I get up early as I work at __________. What time do you get up?"
--New relationship established.--
6- And repeat steps 1-5 on all neighbors.

***Most problems solved.

**NE19149** · 04-07-2012, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by AngelB

Stop being scared of your neighbors and just say HI! It is simple...

Step by step on how to live in Philly / or anywhere in the real world...
1- Knock on direct neighbors' doors and see block neighbors on the street and start a conversation. Say "Hello."
2- Nod and say "Hi" to all people you see on your block.

Stuck?!
1- Say "Hello, my name is__________."
2- Be courteous, ask their name also.
3- Offer information on your life for example "I work at _______."
4- Follow up with something like "What do you do?"
5- Conversation should follow with block neighbors like "Where do you live?" OR "Do you have kids?" OR "I get up early as I work at __________. What time do you get up?"
--New relationship established.--
6- And repeat steps 1-5 on all neighbors.

***Most problems solved.

You must be nuts.

**JoeBaker** · 04-07-2012, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by loveisnoise

I'd slam the door in your face after kicking your cooter...

That's just mean:

coot·er [koo-ter]
noun

any of several large aquatic turtles of the southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

**phoenix** · 04-07-2012, 04:31 AM

Might want to be careful being that friendly, then you might wind up with a crazy neighbor like ours wanting to come over the house and bend your ear with inane BS early and often...
O.o
I don't see anything wrong with reaching out to the people on your block/neighborhood when the opportunity presents itself, but doing something like what the OP said wouldn't go over too well in Philly. Now where I lived in KY, perhaps (people were WAY friendly there, it took some getting used to), but up north? Not so much.

**NE19149** · 04-07-2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by phoenix

Might want to be careful being that friendly, then you might wind up with a crazy neighbor like ours wanting to come over the house and bend your ear with inane BS early and often...
O.o
I don't see anything wrong with reaching out to the people on your block/neighborhood when the opportunity presents itself, but doing something like what the OP said wouldn't go over too well in Philly. Now where I lived in KY, perhaps (people were WAY friendly there, it took some getting used to), but up north? Not so much.

Indeed, people in larger cities are less prone to friendliness.

They did a study with rats - a bunch crowded in a cage (city living) and just a few in another larger cage (rural).

Naturally the crowded rats turned more aggressive towards each other.

Goes hand in hand with "needing your own space".

**AngelB** · 04-08-2012, 02:06 AM

Ooh you old drools...
My OP was a half joke.

-Bought my first house + was greeted at moving day my 3 mixed raced OLD ladies asking if we were young / fertile/ and respectful. You get the picture.
-We were not with kids. Not even a dog. But cuz we shut our mouths and cleaned up the block... We were in (even with the cousins, sons, old neighbors, etc.)

It is not about big/small city attitudes.... it is about living like a human block to block with normal people!

**AngelB** · 04-08-2012, 02:11 AM

candyfish- Your comment is the lamest that I have ever read.... You offer nothing new but old quotes about other peoples' neighborhoods. They don't even relate to this post woman?!?!
Check back when you can thoughtfully.