#84 What are third places?

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Your faithful writer,
Dr. Daniel Smith

The data is clear: Americans are spending less and less time with their friends.

Why has this happened? Smart phones and social media have certainly played a big part in the decline of in-person friendship and the timeless art of ‘hanging out’.

But there have also been changes in the physical world that’ve made it harder for people to meet and spend time together.

Teenagers used to hang out in malls, libraries, cafes, and other public places where you didn’t need to pay to be there.

Diners were open all night, and all you needed to buy was a cup of coffee to have a place to spend your evening.

These places are known as ‘third places’, and their slow disappearance from public life poses a major problem for society.

According to the sociologist who developed the idea of third places:

1️⃣ The first places is the home 

2️⃣ the second place is the workplace

The third places, then, is a place outside of home or work where people can hang out with friends and members of their community.

Third places are all around us. Think of a:

• cafe

• pub

• gym

• public park

• bookstore

• music store

• theater

• library

Third place plays a vital role in connecting people to their broader community and other parts of society that they may not encounter in and around the home or workplace.

The idea of a third place was developed by sociologist Ray Oldenburg.

In his book The Great Good Place, Oldenburg argues that third places play a vital role in strengthening democracy and community in our societies.

Without third places, it is easier for people to become socially isolated or to retreat into an us-vs.-them mindset instead of relating to one another despite our differences.

What makes a Third Place?

According to Oldenburg, there are eight key characteristics of a third place:

• it is a neutral place where anyone can come and go as they please 

• it is a socially-even place where status or wealth are largely irrelevant 

• conversation is the primary activity 

• it is accessible and accommodating

• it has regulars who help give the place its character

• it is unpretentious and welcoming

• it has a playful and positive mood

• it can provide the warmth, comfort, and conviviality of a home away from home

Third places have always been part of human society, and they have frequently played a part in enabling social change.

The men who started the American Revolution in the late 1700s met and discussed politics and ideas in taverns, for example.

Oldenburg argued that the suburbanization of modern society contributed to the disappearance of third places. If people are getting around in their cars, they're less likely to participate in local third places.

The long-term decline of local small businesses and the growth of commercial chain restaurants and stores has also contributed to the decline of third places.

Starbucks is a rare exception, and the coffee chain actively tries to cultivate a third place environment for customers.

The disappearance of third places may be playing a big part in the rise of loneliness in the U.S. and around the world.

Are there any third places where you like to spend time? Reply to this email and let me know.

In my personal life, I would say that sports have played a huge role as a third place where I can meet and spend time with other people.

The practice field or the basketball court are places for people of all stripes to come together in the pursuit of joy, exercise, and healthy competition. I have met so many friends and learned so much about different places and people from conversations with fellow athletes.

This weekend I’m playing in a rugby tournament in Saratoga Springs, New York. I’ve played in this tournament five or six times over the past decade and always see friends and former teammates there.

It’s not exactly a third place as Oldenburg defined it, but it’s one of my favorite places in the world.

Have a great weekend.

ART OF THE DAY

Thank you for reading. Please reply to this email if you have any thoughts or feedback.

Yours,
Dan