Most people would agree that Facebook is not the primary media outlet for this generation. Apart from viewing Hall sports updates, the occasional birthday shoutout, and Blue Reign news, I never use the app. When I’m looking for a quick laugh, however, or just hoping to poke fun at some local baby boomers, a quick trip to the West Hartford Neighbors and Friends Facebook group does the trick. 

In recent news, the supposed accidental running of a red light by a WHPS bus driver prompted mixed reactions: Some said we should report the bus driver to the school district and police for criminal action and immediate firing, while others insisted we should blame the suburban elitists for their ignorant, classist views.

A post about the effect of helicopter parenting on college-age depression prompted one user to express their anger at the “calling out” of parents with a “4-year-old article.”  The clearly more enlightened member wondered what the purpose of this article was, since the issues it addresses are so clearly obsolete. Of course, that comment triggered many angry replies. 

You’ll be happy to note that even posts polling favorite candy create some debate. 

Looking for a recommended grocery store? Join a neighbor whose disappointment at some empty shelves at the soon-to-be closing ShopRite prompted an inquiry into another store option (but NOT Stop and Shop. Seriously. DO NOT recommend Stop and Shop). 

Through the comment thread, you’ll see that this sharer’s utter “sadness” at the state of these shelves was shared by many, and that strong opinions on food vendors are surprisingly common, leaving me to guess there’s not much to do in West Hartford besides rank every supermarket within a 15 mile radius. 

From planning a trip abroad to searching for a new auto mechanic, if you post in West Hartford Neighbors and Friends, you’ll be sure to receive as many pieces of advice as there are acorns on lawns: TOO MANY, according to some who are worried about their “fur babies” (dogs) eating them. 

My favorite request? A good place to test and purchase quality darts. What was more surprising to me was the fact that multiple people had sites to recommend. 

Another favorite was an inquiry into the growing of edibles in yards — fruits and vegetables, that is.

Those more interested in criminal justice may appreciate the several shared reports (by the same few people) of local arrested burglars. The large quantity of these posts (again – by the same few people) is made totally worth it by the expert Neighbors and Friends weighing in on sentencing, bond amounts, and moral convictions of these perpetrators. 

Finally — imagine you wish to go to Niagra Falls through the Canadian entrance, but are unsure of whether or not you’ll need to bring a passport. Do you do a 0.003 second Google search, bring it just to be safe, or post this dire question into N&F to get the most accurate and concise of responses? I think the answer is clear, and hopefully this inquirer will be able to dig through a plethora of contradictory responses in order to best plan for their trip. 

Despite all the stereotypical “Karen” comments and “back in my day” retorts, Neighbors and Friends in West Hartford does do some pretty amazing things. It’s always nice to see, as I’m scrolling through my feed, the half-eaten, bloody carcass of some unknown hawk victim, with the sharer simply wanting to know the domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, and subspecies of the animal. 

And blurry, maximally-zoomed in videos of bears NEVER get old, nor do the comments detailing this very bear’s itinerary, down to the minute. 

If you’re like me, desperately hoping to find a silver lining to this medium-town suburban life, or just enjoy cheap laughs, then you’ll be sure to appreciate the sheer joy of an afternoon-scroll through the Neighbors and Friends in West Hartford feed. If you’re looking for more organized trolling, head over to WeHa Enemies and Distant Cousins, the parody Facebook group you never knew you needed.