Yoo-hoo.
Anyone there?
Communities are rare these days. Neighbors? They’re unavoidable.
And yet. We’re failing. Badly. A 2025 Pew study drops a cold number: only 26% of U.S. adults know their neighbors. Back in 2018 it was 31%. We’re sliding. Trust is high—90% say they trust the people nearby—but who trusts whom is the catch. It’s older white folks, with money, living in suburbs or rural patches, going to church. The rest of us? We’re on the outside looking in.
Or looking down at our phones.
Knowing your neighbors saves lives. Literally.
Experts tell Vox that this isn’t just about having a friendly chat over the fence. It’s health. Physical, mental, existential. Extreme weather is hitting harder, more often. ICE raids mean home isn’t always safe. A strong block helps you survive. But hey. It’s also fun. Low stakes. No drama. Just saying hi.
Unless something goes wrong.
Then it gets ugly. These are our private domains, right on our doorsteps. Invade them? We panic. We get weird. We sue. Technology makes it worse. Ring cameras are everywhere, and suddenly every movement is a security breach. Empathy goes out the window. So does grace.
How do we fix this?
Even Better is diving into it this week.
- The surveillance state on your porch – Doorbell cameras and our collective paranoia.
- The note war – Why hostile scribbles rarely end well.
- How to actually talk to people – Tactics that work without feeling creepy.
Borrow some sugar. Wave at someone. Ask how their day is going.
What else are we waiting for?
Maybe we won’t become best friends. That’s fine.
But knock-knock?
Try it.
