lot of people here, especially, you know, widows, they don’t necessarily want to ask for help, so sometimes I offer to go, to take them to the supermarket, stuff like that, or to the doctor. Because they won’t ask, even though they need it. There’s one lady across the street, she’s got rheumatory [ sic ] arthritis; she can’t even turn the doorknob... See more

Clark’s rule specifying the need to occasionally claim sympathy (1997:174ff.) also applies to neighborly help, even though gratitude and the extension of unsolicited favors can make up for a lack of true reciprocity.

We protect each other. . . . Do we socialize? No. But we’re neighbors! And we’ll help each other if we need to help each other.

The first pattern of public realm interaction (Lofland 1998:29) refers to the habit-ual practice of “cooperative motility” among strangers in public. That people are mindful of each others’ bodies and spaces while moving around

n the giv-ing end, all study participants seemed willing to aid a neighbor who approached them for help, and most recounted examples of assisting others in the past.

A folk example of helpfulness in the parochial realm is the famous “cup of sugar” that good neighbors supposedly can, but rarely do, borrow from another. Nevertheless, the “cup of sugar” is a symbol for any kind of assistance that does not cost the giver much yet may mean a lot to the receiver because of a particular situa-tional constraint. Actual... See more

withholding friendly recognition among mutually known neighbors is interpreted as a notable act of hostility, thereby further reveal-ing the normative power of this principle.

In local communities, residents are much less prone to ignore any threat or dis-comfort a neighbor might experience. Instead, locals are more willing to get in-volved on an assumed victim’s behalf, especially when the neighbor is absent or somehow unaware of what is going on.

communicate personal recognition and, second, to convey the impression that the other is considered a friendly neighbor. In other words, the parochial version of a greeting requires a focused, individual effort that pays tribute to the special bond that exists between neighbors via their shared territory and community membership.