Hey, there! Log in / Register

Roslindale residents split by effort to create new sharing groups

A "Buy Nothing" group in which Roslindale residents "gift" each other in a more formal way than just putting stuff out at the curb has become so successful it's planning to split in two next week - with Washington Street the dividing line.

With Roslindale already divided among political districts, the news that somebody was planning to partition the neighborhood didn't go over well with some people - a discussion on a Roslindale Facebook group quickly grew heated as people questioned keeping neighbors apart.

In fact, some people reacted by launching a potentially competing Roslindale Gifting Group that would be open to all Roslindale residents, regardless of whether they live in the "East Roslindale" or "West Roslindale" areas delineated by Buy Nothing.

Local Buy Nothing organizers say the group is approaching 2,000 members in size, which is too large under national Buy Nothing guidelines and that next week members will simply be assigned to a new group based on which side of Washington Street they live.

Unlike similar "sharing" efforts such as Freecycle, Buy Nothing attempts to create communities, with membership that is strictly limited by neighborhood geography. When one person asked what would happen if she attempted to join both Roslindale groups, she was told she couldn't - moderators closely monitor membership and compare notes with the moderators of neighboring groups to keep out double dippers.

Even people who don't belong to the local Buy Nothing group joined in the debate, exposing rifts in a neighborhood that most outsiders would think is a pretty sleepy place, if they think of it at all. One resident who lives east of Washington Street reported he's long felt disrespected by people on the other side of the street; another suggested that Buy Nothing is helping to drive Roslindale Square stores out of business (which a group member disputed - saying the money he saves through Buy Nothing he plows into local stores).

And some questioned whether some of the streets defined by the group are even in Roslindale at all, saying the northern end of the group's map is really part of Jamaica Plain.

Neighborhoods: 
Free tagging: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

We may graduate high school, but we're always living in it. Sigh.

up
Voting closed 0

The only worthwhile reason to have a Facebook or Twitter account is if you are paid to do PR for a company.

up
Voting closed 0

What some transplants to Roslindale fail to understand, and that due to lacking a frame of reference (because where they came from was different) is that none of Boston's maps -- and therefore Roslindale's -- are the same. ISD, voting, city council, zoning, fire, police, are all different maps with different street boundaries. This is because each department is following interests important to them and in some instances such as voting, codified in law. Even following the zip code map by the US post office risks cutting out some small piece of Roslindale because even the post office goes by what is convenient and best for them.

I find the arbitrary line at Washington Street interesting given that some (not all) political boundaries use it as well. You can look at the State Rep and City Council maps to see what I mean. A section defines Fire Dist 10 and 12.

Boston is an old and complex city and does not follow the conventions of other similar-size cities, nor suburban townships, that were founded much later, and this throws a lot of people when they settle here. The questions you see here, on Facebook, and Reddit can easily display this. The newbies are all-too-easy to find out.

As to the Buy Nothing groups. It's a nice idea but only serves people who are constantly logged in with a notification beep. People who only check their Facebook once a day or every few days, or at longer intervals -- like yours truly -- don't have a snowball's chance in hell. It's only those people who are face-first into their cell phones that benefit for the most part.

I wish them well, because I'm S-O-L :-)

(Just to show Adam I can rhyme too, LOL !)

up
Voting closed 0

Your comment as to why the group doesn't work for you is actually the root of the sprout (two groups from one) in the first place...when groups are large it generally lends itself to more of a first-come/first-served mentality. Buy Nothing encourages folks to add details to their gifts and the gifts they wish to receive. Those details help foster community and also help neighbors get to know each other (e.g., X neighbor is interested in the extra paint to put together a nursery, Y neighbor wants to the paint because they just moved to a new apartment and want to freshen up the space). If you are a giver and 60 people share a story about why they want what you're gifting, it's pretty cumbersome to go through all that and pick someone. What ends up happening is they give to the first person who asks, resulting in the generosity of the neighborhood going to those who have good luck with timing or (more likely) are on Facebook a lot.

When groups are smaller people recognize each other more readily and it's easier to encourage a particular culture. People are more likely to leave their posts up for a weekend or a week to allow everyone to get a chance to view it before choosing a receiver.

(I'm one of the admins of this Roslindale chapter)

((Did I really just engage myself in another online forum on this contentious issue))

(((yes)))

up
Voting closed 0

That the Sq is now full of JPish type people. The entire neighborhood is now comprised of white socialist. Its only a matter of time until it resembles whole food on Centre St.

up
Voting closed 0

When the square was an empty hole where nobody dared walk at night.

up
Voting closed 0

The entire neighborhood is now comprised of white socialist.

up
Voting closed 0

Better white socialists.... rather than white racists

up
Voting closed 0

This poster might more a fan of 'national socialists' if you you know what I mean.

up
Voting closed 0

You were the girl everyone else in class rolled their eyes at, weren't you?

up
Voting closed 0

Writing essays pays pretty well.

up
Voting closed 0

Using the term "JPish type people" is not helpful. J.P. Is comprised of many nationalities, ages, and, yes, even income levels. Yes, the neighborhood has changed in the last fifty years. Most all people are good so why disparage any group, including people who live in J.P.?

up
Voting closed 0

Just like they did to Poland in the late 18th Century. And for those not versed in European history, the partition ended with Prussia, Austria, and Russia take all of Poland to themselves. And since most of us still remember West Roxbury's land grab 10 years ago, taking Roslindale's Crimea, I can only assume that this is more dirty tricks from the southwest. Soon, they will claim all of Roslindale west of Washington, with Hyde Park taking the hills and the rest of Boston's finest neighborhood going to Jamaica Plain.

We must stop this land grab now! Roslindale unite!!!

up
Voting closed 0

First they came for the Casey Overpass.....

Now they seep in from JP ...

To me Roslindale is from Forest Hills down to old Osco and between HP Ave and the Centre St by faulker das it!!

up
Voting closed 0

Sounds like I'm reading a summary of the board game Risk!

up
Voting closed 0

Film at 11.

up
Voting closed 0

My proposal:

Forrest Hills south of the Arborway - that's Roslindale now.
All parts of West Roxbury north of the West Rox. Parkway - seized by Roslindale including that random little bit where Clay Auto Centers is, which is WR on some maps
Everything north of Poplar/West St like Grew Hill - now Roslindale.

This is all gets represented by one member of the Council, one state Rep, one state Senator and one Congressperson.

up
Voting closed 0

... made from used sectional couches, defended by people with game controllers wired to drones that drop gently worn housewares items on the opposite side. Outgrown baby strollers supply the defenders with past-pull date cases of chips that somebody didn't like and more knicknacks to arm the drones.

up
Voting closed 0

"Local Buy Nothing organizers say the group is approaching 2,000 members in size, which is too large under national Buy Nothing guidelines"

Limit membership at 2,000? Arbitrary at best.What they don't have high population urban area groups? Change the guidelines!

I'm a resident of the "Parkway" Area, Roslindale,Hyde Park,JP, and WR. I've always felt welcome in any of them,never excluded.

Splitting the current group is divisive and elitist,We are all residents of the same community,not separate enclaves.

up
Voting closed 0

Too many rules. I'm going to stick with the Craigslist Free Stuff board.

up
Voting closed 0

Roslindale Gifting Group seems laid back and relaxed and current, minor hiccups but less rules.

up
Voting closed 0