Day 78: Blocked Again — While the Stock Does the Slide

Today is Day 78 of my continuing Nextdoor case study.

And apparently we're doing two kinds of sliding:

The NXDR stock price is sliding.

And I've apparently slid right back onto Nirav Tolia's LinkedIn blocked list.

Well, that didn't take long.

On August 29, I was once again able to comment on Nirav's LinkedIn posts.

So I did.

I surfaced the same questions I've been raising publicly about how Nextdoor is being run: leadership decisions, communication, accountability, transparency, customer experience, and what I believe are some very questionable strategic choices.

And now?

I'm blocked again.

I have to admit, this one really gets me.

I'm one guy.

I'm not running a public company.

I'm not a Silicon Valley CEO.

I'm not appearing on podcasts discussing leadership, entrepreneurship, community, and human connection.

I've never sat in one of those big chairs on Shark Tank deciding whether somebody else's company deserves an investment.

I'm just a small shareholder with a website, a LinkedIn account, questions—and apparently a remarkable ability to locate Nirav Tolia's block button.

Meanwhile, Let's Talk About the Stock

NXDR has been doing a little slide of its own.

The stock closed at $2.68 on August 10.

By August 28, it closed at $2.27.

Stocks go up. Stocks go down. Eighteen days certainly don't determine the future of a company.

But shareholders are allowed to ask questions when the direction isn't the one we'd like to see.

And Nextdoor's latest quarterly results still included a net loss of $2 million.

Yes, that's a significant improvement from the $15 million loss during the same quarter a year earlier. Nextdoor also reported positive adjusted EBITDA.

I acknowledge progress when it's there.

But a loss is still a loss.

And here's what gets me:

The CEO of a public company can receive compensation worth millions while shareholders watch the stock struggle and the company continues reporting a GAAP net loss—and somehow my LinkedIn comments are enough to get me blocked again?

That's fascinating to me.

I'm not the person running the company.

I'm one of the people invested in it.

Imagine This on Shark Tank

An entrepreneur walks into the Tank.

The Shark starts asking uncomfortable questions:

Why are you losing money?

Why is the stock struggling?

Why isn't the strategy producing better results?

What are customers saying?

Why should investors believe in the turnaround?

The entrepreneur doesn't like the questions.

So instead of answering...

they block the Shark.

🦈 “And for that reason, you're blocked.”

I'd watch that episode.

Leadership Isn't Tested by Compliments

It's easy to talk about transparency when everyone agrees.

It's easy to talk about community when everyone is applauding.

It's easy to talk about listening when the message is flattering.

Leadership gets more interesting when someone says:

I don't think you're doing this well. Explain why I'm wrong.

Maybe I am wrong.

Show me.

Challenge my argument.

Explain the strategy.

Tell me why the decisions I'm criticizing make sense.

I'd welcome that conversation.

Blocking is easier.

And apparently we've chosen easier again.

Day 78 — And the Questions Haven't Been Blocked

I'm still waiting for the detailed Insights data that started this entire counter.

I'm still documenting what happens.

And I'm still a shareholder who wants Nextdoor to succeed.

That's precisely why I'm asking questions.

Nirav can block my LinkedIn account.

He can prevent my comments from appearing underneath his posts.

But here's the problem:

Blocking the shareholder doesn't block the questions.

It doesn't change the earnings report.

It doesn't move the stock price.

It doesn't improve communication.

And it doesn't end this case study.

So here we are.

Day 78.

The stock has been sliding.

I'm blocked again.

The detailed data still hasn't arrived.

And somehow, one guy with a blog keeps being worth blocking.

That's becoming a story all by itself.

Read the complete continuing Nextdoor case study at NielFlamm.com/blog and subscribe at NielFlamm.com to see what happens on Day 79.

Another Day, Another LinkedIn "Recruiting" Scam

At this point, I'm starting to wonder...

Do I have a mark on my forehead?

This time it was Eman Saber, who claimed to be a Hiring Manager | Corporate Recruiting | Kleiner Perkins.

A quick look at the profile raised questions. The experience listed was extremely limited, and the employment timeline appeared to overlap with another role. Despite claiming to represent Kleiner Perkins, the profile also referenced TABSEER COMPANY, which didn't align with the recruiting message.

Then came the familiar script:

- An unsolicited executive opportunity.

- Generic praise about my "extensive experience."

- A request to move the conversation off LinkedIn to WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams Users Group.

I've seen this pattern too many times.

The scammers need to do better.

Has anyone else noticed an increase in these fake recruiter accounts? I don't even have the #OpenToWork banner enabled, yet they keep finding me.

Stay skeptical. Ask for a job description. Verify who they represent. And don't leave LinkedIn until you've confirmed you're dealing with a legitimate recruiter.

Follow along on NielFlamm.com/blog.

Is It Really a Recruiter... or a Sales Pitch?

Have you ever been contacted by a recruiter with an "exclusive opportunity" that wasn't posted anywhere?

I was.

What happened next raised more red flags with every message.

The conversation moved from LinkedIn to Microsoft Teams, questions went unanswered, and what appeared to be a recruiting opportunity took a very different turn.

If you're actively looking for your next role, you need to know what to watch for before you invest your time—or your money.

I break down the entire interaction, the warning signs, and what happened next in this video.

🎥 Watch here: https://nielflamm.com/videos/scams

The Mysterious Disappearing LinkedIn Messages

Yesterday I mentioned that two "recruiters" contacted me on LinkedIn.

I only shared one conversation because, in this one, I asked a direct question:

"Are you filling a role or selling a resume service?"

The response was direct:

"Filling a role."

I was then asked if I'd like the job description, and I said yes. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a screenshot of that part of the conversation.

Today I went back into LinkedIn Messaging to review both conversations.

Both were gone.

Not archived. Not deleted by me. Just... gone. As if they never existed.

I'm not sure what happened or why. Maybe @LinkedIn removed the accounts. Maybe something else occurred. I don't have enough information to draw that conclusion.

What I do know is that these types of interactions seem to be becoming more common.

I'd love to see LinkedIn continue investing in stronger verification of recruiter profiles and better technology to reduce fake accounts and questionable outreach. It would help job seekers spend more time evaluating real opportunities and less time wondering whether the person on the other end is genuine.

I've been documenting these experiences, along with other observations from my job search, on my blog at NielFlamm.com/blog. I hope sharing what I encounter helps others stay informed.

Have you had recruiter messages mysteriously disappear, or experienced something similar?

Recruiters or Resume Sellers? Ask the Question.

If you're actively looking for a new opportunity on LinkedIn, stay alert.

Today I was contacted by two different "recruiters." I'll share the second conversation when I receive it, but I'm posting this one because it's a fair and straightforward question.

"Is this an opportunity, or are you going to offer me a resume writing service?"

As of writing this post, I haven't received a response.

That doesn't automatically mean this isn't a legitimate recruiter. It may be. I don't know.

My point is this: don't be afraid to ask direct questions.

As job seekers, we're sharing our resumes, employment history, and sometimes personal information. Taking a few moments to verify whom you're speaking with is time well spent.

Suppose this turns out to be a legitimate opportunity; great. If not, asking the question may save someone time, money, or frustration.

I'll also share the second conversation once I receive it so everyone can compare the interactions.

I've been documenting my job search, recruiting experiences, and other career observations on my blog at NielFlamm.com/blog. I hope some of those experiences help others navigate today's job market.

Have you received messages like this on LinkedIn? What questions do you ask before engaging?