I am reading a book by Richard Kyte called “Finding Your Third Space.” He starts out by discussing that we have fewer places to gather than previous generations because we do not value social interaction in the same way previous generations did.
I would disagree with this statement because I believe people still enjoy the comradery of being with other people. He believes that the nature of friendships and how we fear thinking about the problems that come from talking to strangers.
I think what has changed is the type of interaction we have today versus the older days. In the older days most people walked to the trolley or job, you walked to the local store on your street corner and to the local pub for dinner and socializing.
You met your neighbors at many places and often socialized with them. When the car came along people were now free to travel to supermarkets that were farther away and had less expensive prices and more selection.
The corner store could not compete with these prices but you also didn’t interact with the neighbors. Other things were you could now eat at restaurants anywhere around the city and never run into your neighbors.
You would socialize while traveling with others on a trolley but not in a car. Now with the advent of social media, you don’t even have to talk in person to another person which further isolates people.
I do agree with his premise that people need a third place like the Song from the TV Show Cheers “Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same (1) .”
I do agree with his premise that if you want more robust social connections with other people, you have deliberately work at it. I am going to explore my thoughts on his great idea that I think is relevant to all of our futures. Something to ponder on in the future.
I will see you all next week. If you have struggled with this question and others then go to Patterson2Y2R,com/blog should be a place you should visit to share your stories and challenges. I have an ear that would love to hear your stories.
I am still working on my course with the goal of launching a starter course, and I will keep you abreast as to how the process goes.
If you want to participate in this process and join my first class please send me an email to bobchuckpatterson@yahoo.com
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