Community Bulletin Board, yay or nay?
TLDR: Should I post and manage a community bulletin board in my apartment building to promote politely airing small grievances, organic familiarity, and organizing to improve living conditions?
Hello there! I am asking for opinions. I have considered how to organically create a pathway to getting to know the people living around me on some gracious and compassionate level.
Apartment living can feel so isolating, and even though I consider myself an introvert, I think it’s strange not to be familiar with your surroundings and the people around you. Thinking back to my days in undergrad, which may arguably be the best example of a walkable and sociable neighborhood, I certainly wasn’t aware of everyone on my floor or in the building; however, I felt I knew and was aware of enough.
Of course, my contemplation is driven by self-interest, as it would be for most people, and I can also imagine a bigger impact beyond meeting my own needs.
So, the experiences that have shaped my reasoning for creating this post are as follows:
A) The laundry machines in our building are outdated and there’s often a thin white residue on my clothes after a wash. (I’ve looked up that use of too much detergent can cause this; however, I use less detergent than even the recommended amount, and I’m convinced it’s either grime from the overused and outdated machines or from chemicals the person who vacuums the halls to cleanse the machines, if that applies).
Additionally, the washers have been out of order several times and management increased the pricing because of the damage. (I believe some residents have overloaded the outdated washers one too many times which contributed to them going out of order; however, instead of management replacing the machines, they penalized the residents).
Beyond that, I want to petition the property management for newer machines. As rent continues to increase each year, so too should our living conditions.
B) Some people, though it’s unclear if they’re residents, have posted advertisements for customer service or merchandise to the hallway wall already. It’s stuck to the wallpaper with scotch tape, so why not create a designated and sturdy space for it to purposefully exist? (Though, I wonder if that counts as soliciting? Businesses allow it, but I’m curious if it’s different under residential circumstances. It isn’t like this is a community center on the complex. This is the actually building where people reside).
C) I made a noise complaint once before and phoned the apartment manager’s office to handle it, and I didn’t like the exchange. It felt too impersonal, critical, and inconsiderate of nuance. At the same time, I observed an unaccompanied small child wandering the hallway crying, appearing to lean up against their apartment door and twisting the knob to get in but unable to enter.
D) Then there’s today: I was woken up by a neighbor practicing an instrument before my alarm. I wrote the note in the attached photo, and reconsidered whether I post it in the hallway.
So now we’ve come full circle! Is a community bulletin board a yay or nay?
TLDR: Should I post and manage a community bulletin board in my apartment building to promote politely airing small grievances, organic familiarity, and organizing to improve living conditions?
Hello there! I am asking for opinions. I have considered how to organically create a pathway to getting to know the people living around me on some gracious and compassionate level.
Apartment living can feel so isolating, and even though I consider myself an introvert, I think it’s strange not to be familiar with your surroundings and the people around you. Thinking back to my days in undergrad, which may arguably be the best example of a walkable and sociable neighborhood, I certainly wasn’t aware of everyone on my floor or in the building; however, I felt I knew and was aware of enough.
Of course, my contemplation is driven by self-interest, as it would be for most people, and I can also imagine a bigger impact beyond meeting my own needs.
So, the experiences that have shaped my reasoning for creating this post are as follows:
A) The laundry machines in our building are outdated and there’s often a thin white residue on my clothes after a wash. (I’ve looked up that use of too much detergent can cause this; however, I use less detergent than even the recommended amount, and I’m convinced it’s either grime from the overused and outdated machines or from chemicals the person who vacuums the halls to cleanse the machines, if that applies).
Additionally, the washers have been out of order several times and management increased the pricing because of the damage. (I believe some residents have overloaded the outdated washers one too many times which contributed to them going out of order; however, instead of management replacing the machines, they penalized the residents).
Beyond that, I want to petition the property management for newer machines. As rent continues to increase each year, so too should our living conditions.
B) Some people, though it’s unclear if they’re residents, have posted advertisements for customer service or merchandise to the hallway wall already. It’s stuck to the wallpaper with scotch tape, so why not create a designated and sturdy space for it to purposefully exist? (Though, I wonder if that counts as soliciting? Businesses allow it, but I’m curious if it’s different under residential circumstances. It isn’t like this is a community center on the complex. This is the actually building where people reside).
C) I made a noise complaint once before and phoned the apartment manager’s office to handle it, and I didn’t like the exchange. It felt too impersonal, critical, and inconsiderate of nuance. At the same time, I observed an unaccompanied small child wandering the hallway crying, appearing to lean up against their apartment door and twisting the knob to get in but unable to enter.
D) Then there’s today: I was woken up by a neighbor practicing an instrument before my alarm. I wrote the note in the attached photo, and reconsidered whether I post it in the hallway.
So now we’ve come full circle! Is a community bulletin board a yay or nay?