Adventures in the land of neighborhood listservs

In the past couple of weeks the OWDNA listserv has been buzzing with accusations, counter-accusations, umbrage taking, reverse umbrage taking, and various other forms of less-than-helpful interactions. This is normal, although I am hopeful that the discourse will eventually revert to the more typical "free stuff on the curb" and "community event tomorrow" mode soon.

All listservs have to balance the need to provide a forum for honest opinions and feedback against the danger of a few loud voices hijacking the conversation. Left unchecked, most people will simply tune out, turning a community support lifeline into an echo chamber.

Moderation is a critical tool to prevent this from happening but only if there are clear rules governing what type of conduct will be moderated. In general, I think OWDNA listserv has done a remarkably good job educating the community, keeping current with the neighborhood events, and giving voice to people's concerns

For some more background on the complex psyche of neighborhood listservs, I am reprinting a very funny and insightful article from the Atlantic Cities about the 20 characters you will meet on every neighborhood email list. Personally, I am definitely #8 (the armchair urban planner) and, if you are reading this, you may be too.

Rooster on the loose?

Courtesy of Aske Holst

Although this does not pertain to development, crime, politics, or, really, any other topic that I can identify, I enjoyed reading multiple descriptions posted to both OWD and Watts-Hillandale listservs about a wayward rooster in the neighborhood. As of yesterday, he was spotted roaming around 1000 block of Iredell St. I enjoy a 4:00 a.m. rooster wake-up call just as much as the other person, but it reminds of the fairly recent change in Durham ordinance allowing our locavore residents to raise hens (Section 6, part 5.4.12 B, on page 6), but not roosters. But one gets lonely, I suppose.

Check out this overview of Chicken Laws in North Carolina, with the special shout-out to Durham for its comprehensive and well-designed regulations. Now, only if Roosters could read legalese...

Night of Lights at Watts Hillandale - this Sunday, December 18

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Watts Hillandale is continuing its annual tradition of decking out the neighborhood in lights this upcoming Sunday, December 18. Residents interested in purchasing lumanaries for their driveways, should come to the Oval Park picnic shelter to pick them up on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 until 4:30 p.m. The full announcement (courtesy of Watts-Hillandale listserv) and additional details after the break.