This is the thing that is destroying the USA. I’m not even joking. We don’t have the things you’re talking about or places to do them for free. We have nowhere for kids to hang out, for people to exist for free, public access entertainment/bath houses/whatever the fuck.
We have nothing. Only what you can pay for and only extremely regimented.
We have lost even the idea of community because it has been made impossible in this country.
I miss the malls, man. Like, some of them still exist, but they’re dying. You used to be able to just go and window shop and chill and grab a bite. Maybe go hit the arcade. Go watch a movie. You didn’t really have to have plans. You would just meet up and then fart around doing something.
Now it’s almost all strip mall. What are we going to meet at the target? Then walk a mile in the weather to go to the Best Buy.
Of course, I also miss my friends being as bored as I was. I think social media and local devices replaced a lot of that.
I’ve got a church that i use as a place to play music and socialize (no one has ever asked about my beliefs but i have a local reputation as Weird (fair amount of musicians in the congregation though so got some Weird there), they’re just glad to have the music and I like free coffee, seeing friends, and getting to play) and i have a couple parks i busk at, and we’ve got a gorgeous farm out in the boonies on the other side of the next town over (so you know, just outside of battery range on my bike to get there and back) but like this is stuff i only know about because i’ve lived here all my damn life and make compromises like going to a (thank gods liberal) church
Can children go to these places alone? Can children do anything alone, actually? What if you don’t have a car?
I mean a society where you can easily walk to multiple different examples of several kinds of third space. Not where if you drive 30 min, you can get out into nature.
I have a local nature park that has poles with hooks for hammocks dispersed around the many miles of hiking trails, and they even let you use their hammocks for free. But the park is privately owned and charges a small annual fee for use.
This is the thing that is destroying the USA. I’m not even joking. We don’t have the things you’re talking about or places to do them for free. We have nowhere for kids to hang out, for people to exist for free, public access entertainment/bath houses/whatever the fuck.
We have nothing. Only what you can pay for and only extremely regimented.
We have lost even the idea of community because it has been made impossible in this country.
I miss the malls, man. Like, some of them still exist, but they’re dying. You used to be able to just go and window shop and chill and grab a bite. Maybe go hit the arcade. Go watch a movie. You didn’t really have to have plans. You would just meet up and then fart around doing something.
Now it’s almost all strip mall. What are we going to meet at the target? Then walk a mile in the weather to go to the Best Buy.
Of course, I also miss my friends being as bored as I was. I think social media and local devices replaced a lot of that.
No more “third place”.
You’ve got home, you’ve got work (or school)… And that’s it.
Some people have church.
I’ve got a church that i use as a place to play music and socialize (no one has ever asked about my beliefs but i have a local reputation as Weird (fair amount of musicians in the congregation though so got some Weird there), they’re just glad to have the music and I like free coffee, seeing friends, and getting to play) and i have a couple parks i busk at, and we’ve got a gorgeous farm out in the boonies on the other side of the next town over (so you know, just outside of battery range on my bike to get there and back) but like this is stuff i only know about because i’ve lived here all my damn life and make compromises like going to a (thank gods liberal) church
Parks? Walking/hiking trails? Just wander off into national forest?
What about glory holes?
Yes your mother’s bedroom is fair game.
Uhhh, don’t we have city / county / state / national parks?
Can children go to these places alone? Can children do anything alone, actually? What if you don’t have a car?
I mean a society where you can easily walk to multiple different examples of several kinds of third space. Not where if you drive 30 min, you can get out into nature.
Hey man, youre ruining the circle jerk.
Ohshit, sorry, sorry. 🥰
I have a local nature park that has poles with hooks for hammocks dispersed around the many miles of hiking trails, and they even let you use their hammocks for free. But the park is privately owned and charges a small annual fee for use.
When I was over in the states there were plenty of parks and free activities. Plenty of people using them as well.
The US has turned into Ferenginar so gradually I didn’t even notice!