this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2024
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probably refers to the elimination of 'third places' a place besides home and work where people gather to socialize. About the only place left we can go without the expectation of spending money is a public library, and libraries are amazing but they're not always the best socializing spot. A major tenet of our capitalist system is separating us from things that are free and natural. If we isolate everyone in their own homes, or pods or what have you, then people can be charged for the services they use to connect to one another. Of course one may rebut that these services are usually free, to which I'd respond with the old adage "If it's free, you're the product and not the customer."
Third spaces are one part, but honestly the biggest part is literally not having time to spend with people outside of work.
edit: biggest part for me. my friends are mostly able to host at our own houses, and there are low cost (or free) third spaces we have found/created.
if you want a third space, you can actually make your own! kind of. reach out to libraries, local left-leaning businesses, and they might let you set up a weekly salon/hangout kind of thing. community activism!
Not just libraries and businesses, but also religious facilities, clubs with a focus on social interactions, etc. Oftentimes they can provide rooms.
I take a ferry pretty much every day. 30 minute ride. Before cellphones, it was common to see people having great conversations with strangers. I'd have a good chat at least once a week. These days it's quiet all the time. Unless people come on together, they ignore everyone else, even if they aren't using a phone themselves. People have been trained to spend their time looking at the screens. Any place is a third space if you talk to people.
And risk hearing the opinion of a trump supporter? Just kidding. Really though, I hate meeting strangers and knowing there's a like a 1/3 chance they believe some pretty hateful stuff.
Most of the hateful stuff comes from social isolation, lack of emotional support and toxic relationships. A healthy social life could have prevented many of those people to radicalize into the idiots the are now.
That's one of Trump's biggest strengths.
20 years ago, people would call other folks on really terrible opinions, so the Right had to use dog whistles like 'law and order' when they meant 'string them up.'
If MAGoos knew that they'll have to engage randomly with folks throughout the day, they'd automatically rein in the crazy.
While you're on your phone looking at cat videos they're feeding each other's hatred.
Look at it this way; back in 2002 era folks were making fun of the overly decorated flag cars some 'patriots' were driving.
A vehicle done up full Trump style, with full size flags and a dozen signs, would have been a laughing stock.
The highest aspiration for capitalism is to have "passive income" to be a gatekeeper, find some little loop hole to exploit, socialize the costs & privatize the profits
And parks! A walk in the park is completely free, and very positive for your mental health.
I guess it might depend a bit on where you live. In the city I live there's free social events in many different places, sometimes in stores, other times in religious buildings or clubs (organizations). Since you mentioned libraries, I rememberfree DND sessions are hosted at a local library. Like others have mentioned sometimes people just need to contact such places and ask if they can organize events there. Using existing connections can help but is probably not a requirement.