Give List Servs a Try (and a Break!)

This weekend I donated a glider chair and ottoman we no longer needed to another family (that they picked up at my convenience, directly from my house!) and also found some free, almost-new gear for our upcoming baby.

Seven years ago I found a community of parents who I know I will still be laughing with when we someday are grandparents.

Four years ago I met an editor at The Washington Post who took a chance and offered me, a new blogger, a freelance writing assignment for one of the world's top newspapers (a kid-centric feature in the local edition of course, I'm not talking about All the President's Men-type stuff, come on).

All of these awesome occurrences were made possible by the Internet. Specifically, thanks to lovely list servs.  

List servs connect busy people, right from the convenience our laptops, in ways that assist us and enrich us in our real-life interactions. They enable the "chatting over the back fence" with our neighbors that our lives' crazy-fast pace doesn't always allow.

But for some reason, list servs and online forums for mothers, parents and residents get a bad rap. Sometimes a popular forum that local parents rely on every day for resources (and entertainment) is called a "mommy fight site." Other list servs that connect people who want to give away their excess items in a green way  are criticized for problems with spam and moderation. And it's not uncommon to hear neighbors complaining about the conflicts that arise or the posts "the nuts" are typing onto "their" neighborhood list servs.

However, I think all list servs for parents and local residents rock.  Period. They're awesome.

The only reason that readers of list servs are going to find a problem with one forum or another is that they're populated by people. And people, gosh, they are a pesky, problematic bunch.

Especially when those peevish peeps are members of an online community developed for expressing opinions.

So let's all put on our big girl (or boy) pants, pop open a soda and lean back and enjoy the various and sundry seriously groovy things we can gain from our favorite online communities! And if there's any snarking by anonymous or obnoxious trolls, or a stray cuckoo post here or there, blow it off, or grab the popcorn and enjoy.

(Of course, all offensive, discriminatory or dangerous posts should be immediately reported to the forum moderator to be taken down immediately. Duh.)

Here are my favorite local list servs and interactive online communities:

• ssmoms_2003 – a group for moms primarily located in Silver Spring neighborhoods

• Friends of Sligo Creek – residents dedicated to the preservation and beautification of the Sligo Creek watershed and park

• Freecycle – Silver Spring (includes Wheaton) – declutter your pad and find great items, all for free

• DC Urban Moms (and Dads) – I especially like the forums that help parents find childcare. (OK, I also love the drama!)

• DC Working Moms – not every great connection with fellow mothers happens during mid-week playdates!  

• Moms Talk here on Wheaton Patch – join the convo each week on Tuesdays on topics relevant to local families

Jessica McFadden is a mom of two with one more on the way who writes at A Parent in Silver Spring and elsewhere. She's also a proud member of 15 or so online communities. Maybe she should get out more.