Ghost of Midnight

… about neighbors, community and Front Porch Forum

Ning does neighborhoods too

Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 by No comments yet

Marc Andreessen (go UIUC engineering!) writes today about a group of neighbors in Seattle creating an online social networking using Ning to address concerns over a recent crime wave…

From Bill Gossman and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

“I’ve lived here 11 years and never seen anything like this,” said Bill Gossman, a Magnolia resident who about two weeks ago started a neighborhood Web site [on Ning] that he dubbed sleeplessinmagnolia.ning.com.

The social network, Gossman said, has received 55,000 page views and brought together 550 block-watching neighbors to share information, tips and experiences…

That’s great.  It’s an example of the kind of thing that people are doing with Front Porch Forum all across our pilot city of Burlington, VT (30% subscribe already).  Crime and neighborhood watch activities are common… as well as lots of other uses.

Ning, in addition to having amazing resources, provides “white label” social networks… that is, build your own.  While Front Porch Forum provides the network/forum for 100% of the neighborhoods in its service area… and it’s designed to address the real problems of isolation and individualism by helping nearby neighbors connect.

Posted in: Community Building, Front Porch Forum, Local Online, Neighborhood, Social Networking


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