One group is an efficient bulletin board; the other is a daily soap opera.
I used to think neighborhood WhatsApp groups were just for quick updates — lost pets, security notices, and the occasional holiday greetings.
But after years of observing two very different groups — one in Jakarta, one in Solo — I’ve come to realize they’re more like mini soap operas. Full of daily plot twists, unintentional comedy, and, sometimes, pure chaos.
Jakarta WA Group: The No-Nonsense Noticeboard (with Junk Posts)
In Jakarta, I live in the city center, in a neighborhood mostly made up of middle-aged families and elderly residents, with their second and third generations now growing up here.
In Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia, neighborhoods are organized into RTs (Rukun Tetangga) and RWs (Rukun Warga). Each RT typically consists of 30–50 households, while an RW oversees several RTs, often ranging from 5 to 20 depending on the area’s population density.
The WhatsApp group here is mostly practical, filled with updates from the RT head: requests for donations, security alerts, and announcements from mosquito fogging to health care (posyandu) for children and the elderly schedule.
Sometimes, residents post lost pet notices (with pictures, of course, as if I could tell one cat from another!), complaints about street vendors, parking issues, and other minor concerns. If there’s a complaint, it’s usually sent privately to the RT head first to avoid unnecessary arguments. She then announces it in the group.
Jakarta people are BUSY — messages are short, straight to the point (or completely ignored).
- RT head: “Good morning, apologies, the garbage collector is unable to come today. Trash will be collected tomorrow morning.”
- Group response: None!
But every morning (and throughout the day), the group is flooded with posts from retired neighbors with too much time on their hands — random religious messages, dubious health tips, and so-called “funny” videos forwarded from other groups. Sometimes, they even post things in the wrong group by accident. Honestly, it’s distracting. Important announcements often get buried under this digital clutter.
The Rare Jakarta Drama: When the RW Head Lost His Patience
There were usually only one or two “heated discussions” per year in this group. One of the most memorable ones was when the wife of the RW head had her phone snatched right in front of their house!
This was seen as the ultimate insult to the RW head — an 80-year-old man who had held the position for more than 30 years and was responsible for security across all RTs in the area.
Without consulting the residents, he made a drastic decision: to permanently close off both ends of the street near my house. Normally, the gates were only locked from 10 PM to 6 AM to prevent crime, but now they would remain shut at all times.
The backlash was immediate. Many residents were frustrated, as they now had to take long detours just to get in and out of their homes. Others, like me, were annoyed that food delivery drivers were getting confused and calling endlessly for directions.
The debate split the group into two factions — those supporting the RW head’s decision and those siding with residents inconvenienced by the closures.
After two hours of back-and-forth arguments, an online vote was held among the affected homeowners (myself included). The verdict? The gates were reopened.
So, in a nutshell, the Jakarta WA Group is mostly an announcement board, with the occasional debate and resolution — plus a steady stream of digital junk.
Solo WA Group: The Never-Ending Soap Opera
I have a small house in a residential cluster on the outskirts of Solo, my hometown — a small city about an hour’s flight from Jakarta. Sometimes, it’s rented out, but more often than not, it’s empty. Since my mother passed away and my sister fell ill, I rarely visit anymore. So, I only know my Solo neighbors virtually.
There are around 20 families in this cluster, mostly young families with small children. Discussions in the group are frequent and intense, with a mix of Javanese and Indonesian being used interchangeably.
Announcements from the RT head are similar in content to those in Jakarta but delivered with more detail and lengthy explanations. Even minor issues can turn into virtual drama, involving either the group members or external parties.
- RT head: “Apologies, everyone, the garbage collector won’t be coming today as he has to attend a funeral in his hometown. He’s not sure when he’ll return.” (Message includes a voice note from the garbage collector as proof! )
- Member 1: “Alright, but wasn’t he also on leave last week for another funeral? Who passed away this time?” (As if it really matters!)
- Member 2: “I think last week it was his aunt. Not sure who this one is.”
- RT head: “I’m not sure either, but I’ll ask him the next time I call.” (Wait, why? Haha.)
- And so on…
So, if you wake up late, you might miss the important part of the announcement because it gets buried under endless comments.
A Daily Dose of Chaos and Complaints
Posts from members are also quite varied:
- “Found a motorcycle key near the park (photo attached). If you lost it, please DM me. Here’s where I found it… (long explanation follows).”
- “Apologies, but could pet owners keep their cats from pooping everywhere? (Photo attached — oh dear!!). I just cleaned my porch, and the smell is awful… (long rant follows).”
- “Someone left the complex gate unlocked…. It’s locked now, but the key was left in the padlock! You can pick it up from me since the security guard is on leave… (followed by another long explanation).”
- “To those flying kites (kids are not members of this WA group, btw), please be careful! One got stuck in my motorcycle. Luckily, it hit the wheel, but if it had hit my eye, imagine the consequences… (and yes, another long-winded post follows).”
- “Anyone craving mango salad? Feel free to take some from my front porch! (photo of mouthwatering young mangoes attached).”
And when they argue, that’s when things get really interesting. Debates are long, directionless, and, of course, never reach a conclusion.
The Great Delivery Debate: A Month-Long Saga
One day, an OJOL (ojek online, motorcycle taxi) driver delivered food directly to a resident’s house. According to the rules, drivers are only allowed to drop deliveries at the main gate, where they can either leave the package with security or wait for the recipient to pick it up.
But apparently, a certain group member — let’s call them A — who seemed to have a hobby of monitoring neighbors’ food orders (a.k.a. being nosy with too much free time) immediately posted in the group: “Why is there an OJOL driver inside the complex?”
The resident who ordered the food responded, “The driver said the security guard wasn’t there, and the gate was unlocked. Not my fault!”
Enter B, probably a close ally of A, who argued, “Even if the guard wasn’t there, the resident should’ve gone to the gate!” (Wait, why? The gate was open! How is the driver supposed to know the complex’s specific rules? Haha.)
The debate dragged on, with pros and cons thrown around by other members. Finally, the grand decision was made: “Let’s discuss this at next month’s resident meeting!”
Why I’ll Never Leave Either Group
Despite their differences, both groups serve a purpose. Jakarta’s group is efficient and no-nonsense, though often cluttered with digital litter from retirees. Solo’s group is warm and full of community spirit (even if it’s chaotic and often without resolution). Jakarta’s group keeps me informed. Solo’s group keeps me entertained.
And though I mute them both regularly, I know I’ll never actually leave. After all, where else can I witness daily proof that human nature — whether through silence or endless debate — is consistently absurd?
