“At Least They Try” — A Phrase That Raises Bigger Questions for Nextdoor

A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) from Sarah Leary caught my attention:

“HERTZ FAIL. Avoid FLL. Utter mess with ZERO cars despite reservations. Use Avis. At least they try.”

That last sentence stood out.

“At least they try.”

It’s a simple statement — but it raises a much bigger question when applied to Nextdoor itself:

What is Nextdoor actually trying to do to connect neighbors? Because when you look beyond the messaging, the feedback across platforms tells a different story:

- Users reporting temporary and permanent suspensions

- Moderators are arbitrarily removing content while similar content remains

- Notifications and emails perceived as SPAM-like

- Ongoing concerns about lack of value, reflected in both user sentiment and stock performance

Meanwhile, the “thesis” frequently referenced by Nirav Tolia is presented as working. But where are the metrics that prove it?

In leadership, I’ve always approached it this way:

You can tell me all the great things happening. But if the scorecards tell a different story, it’s a miss. And right now, the scorecards appear to be saying:

- Zero debt

- Cash on hand

- Declining user trust and engagement

- Eroding investor confidence

That combination doesn’t point to success — it points to a disconnect between narrative and reality.

So I’ll ask the same question again:

Where is the value? Because in business — and especially in leadership — it’s not about what you say you’re trying to do. It’s about what the results actually show.

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