The Great Good Place

Helena LohINF 385Q Knowledge Management Systems, Fall

2005Book Report

10 November 2005

2

Presentation Outline

Ray Oldenburg The First and second places The Third place Third places What they have in common Challenges for the Third Place in America Some of what happens without the Third Place Opinion about the book Third Places in the Information Age Resources

3

Ray Oldenburg

Urban sociologist from Florida

The importance of informal public gathering places for local democracy and community vitality

“Most needed are those ‘third places’ which lend a public balance to the increased privatization of home life. Third places are nothing more than informal public gathering places. The phrase ‘third places’ derives from considering our homes to be the ‘first’ places in our lives, and our work places the ‘second.’”

link to quote

4

The First and Second Places

The First: The Home Regular, predictable environment Sanctuary - not always good for socializing -

private space Territorial - always division between guest and

host

The Second: The Workplace Reduces individual to single productive role Fosters competition, motivates ambition Provides means for living and material goods Structures life by providing routine

5

The Third Place - I

The Third: “the core setting of informal public life”

Neutral ground: “we need a good deal of immunity from those whose company

we like best” (p. 23) Leveler:

“an inclusive place…accessible to the general public and does not set formal criteria of membership and exclusion.” (p. 24)

Upbeat:“enjoy the company of one’s fellow human beings…not wallow in pity over misfortunes.” (p. 26)

Conversation:“talk just the right amount,…all are expected to contribute.” (p. 28)

6

The Third Place - II

Accessible and accommodating:“one may go alone at almost any time of the day…with assurance that acquaintances will be there.” (p. 28)

Low profile:“typically plain”“discourag[es] pretention”“come as they are” (p. 37)

At Home-ness: No actual ownership Social regeneration The “freedom to be” Warmth (p. 41)

7

Third Places - I

The German-American Lager Beer Gardens:“Beer is one of the social virtues…” (p. 93) Open to families Leveler of social class Affordability Allowed social participation - formed friendships

and matched interests Main Street: “allowed people to do nothing.” (p.

112)

Short walk to get there Large enough for companionship Small enough to avoid division Frequent socializing and children playing on

street’s sidewalks

8

Third Places - II

The English Pub: “…enjoys a good press, an aura of respectability, and a high degree of integration in the life of the citizenry.”(p. 123)

Multiple areas within the establishment catering to different classes of society

No frills - lack of formality and pretension Common-denominator appeal “Fellowship must prevail and it depends most upon

informality.” (p. 125)

Friendly atmosphere based on conversation

9

Third Places - III The French Café: “places to dwell in.” (p. 145)

Terrasses stretch out onto sidewalk Have no names - “le bistro” Provides venue for politics, writing, seating for

street games, card games Allows for privacy or sociability

The American Tavern: “a failing institution…even an endangered species…” (p. 166)

Was “a forum and a community center, a place for genial self-expression” (p. 166)

Rejection of public drinking establishments Private consumption of alcoholic beverages Trend moves taverns from residential areas -

changes character, popularity and clientele

10

Third Places - IV

Classic Coffeehouses: “Coffee spurs the intellect…” (p. 184) Place to read the daily newspaper Quality service, good meals, reading room Included all walks of society

11

What these places have in common

Conversation Conviviality Social leveling Relaxation Bonhomie

12

Challenges for the Third Place in America I

Individualism: “This is not mine. I have no responsibility for this.” (p. 83)

Suburbia: “offers no facilities for accidental encounters or for collective meetings; social participation beyond …family and friends is limited…” (p. 71)

Mass media: “creates shut-ins of almost everyone.” (p. 211)

Public facilities: “came to be objects of private consumption and use.” (p. 214)

13

Challenges for the Third Place in America II

Commercialism: “Give them nothing without charge…discourage the low-profit items…and push the big-profit items.” (p. 226)

Consumerism: purchase the splendid isolation for themselves.” (p. 222)

Gender differences: “marriage cannot afford all the togetherness presently imposed upon it.” (p. 248)

Age differences: “Children are not compatible with a fuller realization of personal or liberated communities.” (p. 266)

14

What happens?

Individual and familial isolation No social outlet for stress Build-up of antisocial tendencies Lack of third place community building

“Those who choose not to participate always have that choice but those of us who yearn for a public life and for life on the streets of our neighborhoods have been deprived.” (p. xxvii)

15

The book… Explored and provided insight to an area pertinent to

everyone Provided an interesting history, but was limited to

European and North American societies Made some remarkable observations but were not always

supported by researched evidence e.g. “Britain is the world’s third largest beer market” (p. 124)

May need to be reconsidered in certain areas e.g. “…our big cities are filled with…starved and thwarted

‘characters’ who, because of the huge, blind fury of city living, must forever bottle up a free expression of their individualism, their love for living, to become one with the trampling mob…” (p. 106)

“…where men are at ease and comfortable with one another, homosexual relationships are minimal.” (p. 250)

“women have had, and continue to have, an advantage over men in the spare time available to them” (p. 236)

16

Third Places in the Information Age

Online communities - chat groups, blogs, forums, interest groups

Internet cafés Areas with a wireless connection Collaborative learning Listservs

Can these be considered third places?

17

Resources and Applications

Website Principles applied in:

Educational Spiritual Communication patterns Design

Project for Public Spaces