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Silicon Valley Thinks It Invented Roommates. They Call It 'Co-living' (theguardian.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the dispatch dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Have you heard of this cool new trend called co-living? It's a bit like co-working, except instead of sharing an office with a bunch of randoms you share a home with a bunch of randoms. Oh, you might be thinking, is it like ye olde concept of "roommates"? Why, yes. Yes it is. As a viral tweet pointed out earlier this week, "co-living", which has inspired a spate of trend-pieces in recent months, is actually "called *roommates* ... you invented ***roommates***." Now, to be fair, co-living isn't just living with a bunch of roommates. No, it's rich millennials living with a bunch of roommates in a fancy building in a recently gentrified part of town. The co-living space is also full of cool amenities like yoga classes and micro-brew coffee bars, meaning you can minimise unnecessary interactions with the outside world. In startup speak, this is what is called "community." The Collective, for example, a co-working space in London, describes co-living as "a way of living focused on a genuine sense of community, using shared spaces and facilities to create a more convenient and fulfilling lifestyle."

10 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Nursing homes for millennials... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think we actually used to call these nursing homes! ;).

    1. Re:Nursing homes for millennials... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Welcome to the future, we've renamed everything to make it better.

    2. Re:Nursing homes for millennials... by zifn4b · · Score: 4, Funny

      Will somebody please mod this idiot into oblivion?

      Your wish has been granted. We will mod you into oblivion.

      --
      We'll make great pets
    3. Re:Nursing homes for millennials... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      The police raided my urban rainforest :(

  2. So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...it's "Friends"?

  3. Pre-owned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I, for one, am enthusiastic about this new form of living. I'm also quite enthusiastic about my "pre-owned" car, which I wouldn't have even considered if it was "used".

    1. Re:Pre-owned by sabbede · · Score: 4, Funny

      You mean multi-user iterated ownership? It's a great concept where the cost of becoming the next user decreases with each iteration to offset the increased wear. Totally brilliant idea that nobody thought of until now.

    2. Re:Pre-owned by gnick · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why would you want the inconvenience of having to schedule car time with 3 other owners? My start-up is different. I'm creating a pay-per-use model where you rent one car out of a fleet. They'll be delivered directly to your location and will come with a driver to take your car to its destination. Ready to head back? Rent another on demand! All I need is a name.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  4. Co-living Makers in Tiny Houses by cahuenga · · Score: 4, Funny

    I remember the first time I heard the term "Makers". It was as if garage tinkerers and fabricators hadn't existed before the vaguely sci-fi Makers had arrived

    And the same goes for "Tiny Houses". They are trailers people.... Ridiculously heavy and expensive trailers

    Rebranding run amok.

  5. What will they think of next? by Maritz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shoes, maybe? Perhaps they'll invent things you can put on your head if it's cold, or something.

    --
    I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.