A recent experiment by comedian Rowan Thambar has shed light on the state of modern neighbourhoods in Australia, sparked by a bizarre incident involving a neighbour hurling dog faeces. Thambar witnessed this event in a South Yarra park, where a woman confronted a man over his dog's waste, culminating in the flinging of the poop. This act, while shocking, served as a metaphor for broader societal divisions and loneliness, prompting Thambar to explore what it means to be a good neighbour today.
Launching Rate Thy Neighbour
In response, Thambar created Rate Thy Neighbour, a digital platform allowing Australians to anonymously rate their neighbours. The system converts these ratings into Uber-style scores for streets and suburbs, broadcast on a national leaderboard. Categories include willingness to share items like milk or help with tasks, aiming to identify the most neighbourly areas. Early results from this initiative reveal key insights into community dynamics.
Common Enemies Unite Communities
Data shows that shared adversities often bond neighbours. For instance, in Sunbury, Victoria, residents formed friendships after a burglary in their complex, collaborating to solve the crime. While such vigilantism is not ideal, it demonstrates how trauma can foster connections. Other common unifiers include disputes with landlords, council issues, or new developments like Westfield shopping centres.
Acts of Service Foster Connections
Radical generosity emerges as a cornerstone of good neighbourliness. Examples include a Rosehill, New South Wales, man who helped neighbours with tiling, injuring his hand in the process, and a Glen Forrest, Western Australia, resident who lent a credit card in a pinch. However, Thambar cautions against overstepping, citing a Toowoomba, Queensland, neighbour who sprayed weed killer unannounced, becoming more bothersome than the weeds themselves.
Tolerance for Annoyance with Decency
The survey indicates that neighbours can overlook minor irritations if they demonstrate basic decency. A Fitzroy, Victoria, resident avoided a low rating despite noisy dog yelling, as they were reliable in emergencies like lockouts. Automatic deal-breakers include leaving notes on cars, defending Hitler at social events, or amateur DJing, with Thambar humorously noting his own failed aspirations in that regard.
Addressing Criticisms and Future Goals
Some online critics have labelled Rate Thy Neighbour a Karen App, but Thambar argues it aims to reduce such behaviour by promoting better solutions than conflicts. He acknowledges that anonymous ratings are not a long-term fix but hopes to spark conversations about neighbourly values. The project highlights that building community sometimes involves imperfect methods, like vigilantism, in desperate times.
Thambar's findings underscore the need for more neighbourly bonds in an era of division. His show, Sorry For The Late Reply, will tour nationally in 2026, further exploring these themes. The experiment reminds us that small acts of kindness and shared experiences can bridge gaps, even in challenging circumstances.
