To wonder why people seem to often know their neighbours less well now?

Yes people are way less friendly now….

Everyone knows everyone here - I wouldn't say we socialised together but we take parcels in, keep an eye on each other's homes when we're away, bring the bins in etc.

It's a very traditional working class town with a big focus on community and helping each other out.

I am, but we're all settled, as in we're all home owners. Tbf it is just 1 couple I'm thinking of. They're friendly enough, just less so than everyone else. Maybe they're shy 😊

Absolutely this. Women didn’t work (debatable lol) stayed at home and looked after kids. Kids were out n the streets playing. now mums work full time, blended families, kids are at loads of classes, woman socialise outwith the neighbourhood, out in cars doing all the tasks and just generally not home as much as 50 years ago. Life has revolved .

😂

our street is a weird layout, with some sideways houses, its the end of an estate so people often walk past to get to the shops etc. i think im the youngest on the street (early 30s) but always make an effort to speak, say good morning etc... to people going past.

friendly with ndn, we have a little chat if we see each other.

the other neighbours (next number along, seperated by a small carpark) often chats,and even bought me some sunflowers round the other day and has become second home to one of my cats.

the one directly opposite has a dd whos friends with my dd, so they play out on the street together.

i tend to garden and pot my plants on the front, as it has the sun in the mornings, and id say 8/10 people say 'morning' or stop and ask what im doing, and theres always kids playing out on the grass, or riding bikes

My mum knew all the neighbours when she and they were all SAHP

they had nothing else to do but hang out in each others houses drinking coffee and gossiping

I work. My neighbours work.

we are all nice to each other but not part of each others lives

I think it’s that simple

We have similar, although they're on the charm offensive, then act ignorant and park in visitors bays inconveniencing othere, as they cannot believe bothered to arrange cars on their hugh driveways. Some people are fake neighbourly when really they're rude and disrespectful.

Maybe you're more settled with older kids than they are possibly?

I'm too busy, toddler, working full time, dog, if I'm not working I'm looking after my son or walking the dog, sorting the house, seeing family, etc. I don't have time to chat with my neighbours or build a relationship with them when I have 0 time for myself.

I think women working more hours is a lot to do with it. My mum and nan were all friendly with the neighbours, they'd have leisurely chats to people they bumped into on the way out. There isn't much time for that in modern life, rushing out of the door in the morning to get to work, coming home tired and wanting to get it so the children's tea can be done in time for the bedtime routine. Busy weekends doing the shopping, catching up with family and cleaning as there's been little chance during the week. Children's activities to drop them off at. Life is manic for working parents.

IMO neighbours should be there for one another as in most cases that is when good neighbours become good friends.

It depends on whether your neighbours are nice doesn’t it? I’ve lived in over ten houses in the fifty years I’ve been an adult. Made some amazing long life friends with two,sets of neighbours and others have been utterly hateful.

Mostly due to work and busy lives, I suppose.
But I don't understand why we have to pal up with random people just because we live in the same street. I love the anonymity of a city.
I also hated it as a child when I had to listen to my mother bang on about some trivial gossip about the neighbours - I vowed I would never be like that. And I never have been.

I know my neighbours well! Some, I count as close friends, others, more a chat on the street, drinks at Christmas etc.

I have lived in 5 homes as an adult over 25 years and have always been neighborly, said hi and had a chat with anyone who wants one. In 3 of my homes I have made friends, in 2 of those pretty much with the whole neighborhood. Where I currently live we have had several community BBQs for different occasions. My direct neighbour and I look after each others pets when away, pop to shops for one another, 'borrow' sugar, milk, bread, tinned tomatoes the list goes on, keep an eye on children, give lifts, celebrate birthdays and have even been away together. I think COVID and the kids out playing helped our little community come together, although we were all on good talking terms before and there are actually only 3 out of the 14 houses who have children, but I guess when they were smaller we went out with them so were present. I love the sense of community we have here.

Doesn't answer why it doesn't happen as much though, sorry.

I've always lived at the end of a road ) cul de sac, wonder if that makes a difference?

People are more stretched and expected to be “on” a lot more (picking up work emails, endless school admin, activities need booking in advance in tight slots, rare playing in street, also lots on phones everywhere)

V friendly and sociable in my street

I know my immediate neighbours in the apartment block and in the neighbouring houses quite well and while we are not bosom buddies, we chat, exchange small Christmas gifts, water plants, take in parcels etc. Cup of sugar or whatever, no problem. They're all a bit noisy sometimes but I'm sure we are from time to time as well, they all have my number and strict instructions to ring me if anything's wrong. We got very lucky because I have heard some real horror stories from friends who have moany neighbours.

We were the first people to move into our small cul de sac. When others moved in, over time, we introduced ourselves and invited them in for a cup of tea. Several declined and seem to actively avoid speaking to any of the neighbours. There are only ten houses, so it’s sad that there is little sense of community.

This has been my families experience of over 50years in a rural hamlet. 1970’s mix of old rural workers and quite hippy incomers as well as local families. There was a fair on the common land, parties in each others houses and when there was a lot of snow everyone dug each other out. Long term friendships between neighbours even when they’ve moved away.

Recent arrivals have turned rural properties into suburban fortresses. Taken out old hawthorn hedges and planted privet, plus gates and huge fences. Planning permissions for massive ‘granny annexes’ without informing neighbours who are often really elderly. Practically no social engagement at all and all driving enormous SUV
s to distant schools.

i find it really sad.

This is a good point. I know all my neighbours some just to nod to, most to chat to, some to socialise with. I even say hello to random people walking past if I'm in the front gardening.

Curiously it's the younger neighbours who are least friendly. I'm in my 50s and in the middle age wise for our street.

We also have a street WhatsApp. I genuinely like my neighbours and this street because it does feel like a community 😊

If the “sound pollution” is playing amplified music in the garden, as mine do, the pp has my sympathy