Maybe that's what people say. Their actions show other preferences though - most people choose to mindlessly either channel-surf their TV or scroll their phones in free time. Unfortunately, human brain is inherently lazy and will usually go for the easiest option, especially when one is tired (e.g. in the evening after work). I don't see community spaces ever coming back to become a thing again.
It's possible you don't have experiences with community spaces?
My father is getting up there in terms of age, and hangs out with his buddies every single day after 'work time' (most of them don't work). They go to each others garage, hang out, have a beer, watch you tube, talk about nothing.
If your buds were all within walking distance you might find yourself in the same position, as I gather would most people.
Go to a country where modern culture has not taken over and you see the same.
> Their actions show other preferences though - most people choose to mindlessly either channel-surf their TV or scroll their phones in free time.
We're talking about third spaces. People will definitely sit alone in their first space quite happily. They will not sit alone at the bowling alley or at church, however. These communities require a sufficient population of members to be compelling.
> I don't see community spaces ever coming back to become a thing again.
Or perhaps the once-a-year events I spoke of earlier are simply the evolution of third spaces? The people absolutely come out to them, and there are many throughout the year so an individual is never short of a community event to involve themselves in. In that sense the community spaces have never gone away. You no longer find the specificity like "I'm in a bowling club. That's what I do." it is more like "I am going to the bowing event this week, the church event next week, the ladies auxiliary the next night..."
> We're talking about third spaces. People will definitely sit alone in their first space quite happily. They will not sit alone at the bowling alley or at church, however. These communities require a sufficient population of members to be compelling.
My point was - if there was indeed a need to create such spaces, they'd be there in spades. But, reality is, people are just happy to sit alone in their houses now, so the community spaces don't get created. It was already observed in villages in Poland in the 1970s. Before that time, people were meeting each other in the evenings, as there was nothing better to do. After roughly 1970, most people got TV, and in the evenings streets became empty and you could see a TV glow through each house's window. Now, with Internet and social media, it's even worse.
That was also my point. There are too many groups spreading themselves too thin. If those groups all trying to do their own thing came together, there would be a greater chance of finding the community that they seek, but at the cost of it not being geared towards their particular interest.
Maybe that's what people say. Their actions show other preferences though - most people choose to mindlessly either channel-surf their TV or scroll their phones in free time. Unfortunately, human brain is inherently lazy and will usually go for the easiest option, especially when one is tired (e.g. in the evening after work). I don't see community spaces ever coming back to become a thing again.