Celebrating the Exception — While Acknowledging the Pattern

This is genuinely great news — and I’m happy for Danielle Hopkins.

The Berkeley Hills Illustrated Map is a wonderful example of creativity, local pride, and community storytelling done right. Danielle deserves the recognition, and moments like this are worth celebrating.

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/01/06/berkeley-hills-illustrated-map-danielle-hopkins

But let’s be honest about something important:

This is the exception — not the rule.

If anyone wants to understand what #Nextdoor and #NiravTolia are not talking about, all it takes is a quick look here:

👉 https://x.com/Nextdoor/with_replies

That page speaks volumes about the current state of affairs:

- Neighbors trying to connect

- Users appealing suspensions

- Automated replies with little visible resolution

Which raises fair questions — especially for a company whose mission is connection:

Why are comments disabled on #LinkedIn, #X, and even their own blog (nextdoor.blog.com)?

Why did @NiravTolia block me on #LinkedIn instead of engaging in dialogue?

Why haven’t I received a response to my email about the upcoming shareholder meeting?

Meanwhile, I’m starting to see traction across #LinkedIn, #X, and my website, NielFlamm.com. Perhaps that’s because I’m doing a few simple things consistently:

- Being transparent

- Encouraging dialogue and feedback — even when I disagree

- Setting clear expectations with my audience

Connection doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence, openness, and the willingness to engage.

I’ll be watching closely — and I look forward to the next fluff piece on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

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#Nextdoor #Leadership #CommunityTrust #Transparency #CustomerExperience #CX #Accountability #OpenDialogue #LocalCommunities