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Massives As Your Third Home
sleepwellmyfriend writes "What is a third place? The first place is your home, the second place is work. Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks introduced third places as somewhere besides home or work where people can socialize and feel comfortable. Think Cheers. Massive multiplayer online games are third places as defined by their characteristics: neutral ground, leveler (no not that kind), conversation, accessibility, regulars, low profile, playful mood, and "home away from home". Online games also contain social capital, which like financial capital, can be acquired and spent, but for social gains instead of financial gains. In a social relationship sense, bridging provides breadth (diverse information and resources) while bonding provides depth (comfort and advice). In online games, players come from a diverse background so they are usually bridging social capital but bonding can occur for long time players."
Are you high? Ask your parents about soda shops, bowling alleys, drive-ins, etc. Then, go read Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam - it's a great look at what he calls the collapse of the American community, because of a lack of these "third places". Good read.
The source of the theory of "third places" is Roy Oldenberg's book The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community, which has been around for quite some time. Sherry Turkle, in her Life on the Screen, also references Oldenberg. Credit where credit is due. Here is a nice summary of Oldenberg's work.
Both are from the Pacific Northwest. But "Third Place" is the mantra not of Howard Schultz, but of Ron Sher. He is the owner of Crossroads Shopping Center, two Third Place Books stores, and three Honey Bear Bakery stores (which led Seattle in the slice of cake and a coffee movement).
"Third Place" -- the concept described by Ray Oldenburg in his book, The Great Good Place -- is embodied in these destinations that Sher has created. They have large central courts that are utilized by the general public, gaming communities (ie. oversized chess sets exist at all of Sher's "Third Places"), community theater, and for author events and concerts. In addition to the Honey Bear Bakery, some of the locations (including Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA) have entire food courts contiguous with the central courts.
The rest of the parent is subjective, and will not be repeated. See parent.