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I would like to continue with the thoughts on being with people for the sake of the kingdom.
We have been looking at how we can 'live our faith; share our lives' amongst those we naturally interact with at home, work or play. That people today need places where they can have community and engage with others outside the home or work environment. This place is sometimes referred to our '3rd place'.
I would now like to think about where our 3rd place is. Now I can imagine that if you come from a church culture you will automatically think that the 'Church' is the default 3rd place for everyone! And if the traditional format is not working then we try to create a third place. It can work but if we are trying to engage the non-believer then why not go to where they meet.
Lets look at some possible 3rd places and how they could work.
1. The Town square: this could be looked at as the original 3rd place. Our forbears found this to be an ideal place to meet their neighbours from across the city. This space has diminished in our modern cities, although the rising popularity of the 'Farmers Market' could be an alternative new 'Town Square' 3rd place. It could be seen to be compromised by the commercial activity but it certainly is a possibility.
2. Neighborhood: Many years ago we would stand at the front fence and chat with those passing by, the front veranda was a design feature that promoted communal dialogue. Our modern day rear, private decking speaks volume about our lack of community. However we could make each others homes a 3rd place. Popping in for a cuppa, street BBQs, sharing tools and other combined activities would help develop our neighbourhoods back into places where we relax and engage each other.
3. The church: We have already touched on the church and I will come back to it again later. Certainly in the past it could be said to be a 3rd place.
4. The Pub: The pub did hold a place of sorts as a third place and still does provide some still. But it's major draw-back is the longer you stay the less control you will have on what you say; that is the effects of the alcohol make it a poor 3rd place. However this following quote does show that for some the pub is still a good place:
meet : chat : chill
“The bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ is a place where working class men and women congregate daily to seek sanctuary from the world of work and, with their words, forge an alternative space. Those who work behind the bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ are in the business of producing leisure: those who play here spend time and money they can afford to consume it but for producers and consumers, the real currency that drive the social economy of the ‘Smokehouse’ is talk.”
(A Place to Stand: politics and persuasion in a working-class bar. Julian Lindquist)
5. Café: This is the modern day 3rd place for many people. It started in the cafe's of Europe traveled to the Coffee Houses of the US via Starbucks and has settled comfortably in NZ. What is nice to see is that the dominance of the Global brand of Starbucks has not happened here. In my own city we have success stories in places such as: 'Coffee Culture', Underground, C1, Cafe Metro, The Coffee Smiths, Bean Scene, The Cup etc.
The cafe offers people young and old, all economic levels and political persuasions a place to eat and drink without pressure to consume or move on. Sure Cafe's are a business and will only survive when people buy their products. But the 'third place' is not focused on the act of eating and drinking in the fashion of traditional cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The food or drink one consumes is the entry fee, not the point. The 'third place' is a living room, but not in someones house; a workplace, but not in someones office.
So we see business people come for an informal meeting, friends wanting a neutral place to chat, mothers for time out, bikers having a breather and many others. The cafe can be a place to be with people but it can also be a place where you are amongst people but not with them:
· Cafe's are a place for people to come to, a place to not be alone, a place to be with other people, and a place where, without having to do anything people become a part of a community of sorts. During my observations and interviews, I noticed many of these same activities, including customers reading the newspaper, working on their laptops, conducting job interviews or small business meetings, etc. However, in this public space, most people appear to be isolated from one another, each closed off in their own private space. The focus of my research is on this self-created private space within a public place. I have identified three emerging patterns: the creation of the public environment, the self-creation of the private space within, and the elements of trust. The order of today’s activities is so demanding and fast paced. People are isolated in the workplace as well as in their homes. Coming to a cafe to work or study offers the prospect of being part of a community without really engaging – an invaluable opportunity given our extremely limited discretionary time.
6. The Mall: Many young people use the Mall as their 3rd place, a point of contact, a place to be seen, a place to chat or chat up. But is it really our 3rd place? Can commerce and community be compatible? I think there will be a limitation on how far the Mall can fill this social gap; it is not a place where you can really linger, feel relaxed and really be present with the other person.
7. Internet: As much as one would like to deny that the Internet can be a place to meet and have real communication with people, the reality is that for a rapidly growing part of society this is where they meet. The problem I have is are you ever really present when using the Internet as a 3rd place, do you really interact with a person or is it just a sharing of your thoughts?
I hope that the Internet is not the final answer to our 3rd place, but perhaps it is a part of the 'post-modern' way to socialise.
Or…
We have been looking at how we can 'live our faith; share our lives' amongst those we naturally interact with at home, work or play. That people today need places where they can have community and engage with others outside the home or work environment. This place is sometimes referred to our '3rd place'.
I would now like to think about where our 3rd place is. Now I can imagine that if you come from a church culture you will automatically think that the 'Church' is the default 3rd place for everyone! And if the traditional format is not working then we try to create a third place. It can work but if we are trying to engage the non-believer then why not go to where they meet.
Lets look at some possible 3rd places and how they could work.
1. The Town square: this could be looked at as the original 3rd place. Our forbears found this to be an ideal place to meet their neighbours from across the city. This space has diminished in our modern cities, although the rising popularity of the 'Farmers Market' could be an alternative new 'Town Square' 3rd place. It could be seen to be compromised by the commercial activity but it certainly is a possibility.
2. Neighborhood: Many years ago we would stand at the front fence and chat with those passing by, the front veranda was a design feature that promoted communal dialogue. Our modern day rear, private decking speaks volume about our lack of community. However we could make each others homes a 3rd place. Popping in for a cuppa, street BBQs, sharing tools and other combined activities would help develop our neighbourhoods back into places where we relax and engage each other.
3. The church: We have already touched on the church and I will come back to it again later. Certainly in the past it could be said to be a 3rd place.
4. The Pub: The pub did hold a place of sorts as a third place and still does provide some still. But it's major draw-back is the longer you stay the less control you will have on what you say; that is the effects of the alcohol make it a poor 3rd place. However this following quote does show that for some the pub is still a good place:
meet : chat : chill
“The bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ is a place where working class men and women congregate daily to seek sanctuary from the world of work and, with their words, forge an alternative space. Those who work behind the bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ are in the business of producing leisure: those who play here spend time and money they can afford to consume it but for producers and consumers, the real currency that drive the social economy of the ‘Smokehouse’ is talk.”
(A Place to Stand: politics and persuasion in a working-class bar. Julian Lindquist)
5. Café: This is the modern day 3rd place for many people. It started in the cafe's of Europe traveled to the Coffee Houses of the US via Starbucks and has settled comfortably in NZ. What is nice to see is that the dominance of the Global brand of Starbucks has not happened here. In my own city we have success stories in places such as: 'Coffee Culture', Underground, C1, Cafe Metro, The Coffee Smiths, Bean Scene, The Cup etc.
The cafe offers people young and old, all economic levels and political persuasions a place to eat and drink without pressure to consume or move on. Sure Cafe's are a business and will only survive when people buy their products. But the 'third place' is not focused on the act of eating and drinking in the fashion of traditional cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The food or drink one consumes is the entry fee, not the point. The 'third place' is a living room, but not in someones house; a workplace, but not in someones office.
So we see business people come for an informal meeting, friends wanting a neutral place to chat, mothers for time out, bikers having a breather and many others. The cafe can be a place to be with people but it can also be a place where you are amongst people but not with them:
· Cafe's are a place for people to come to, a place to not be alone, a place to be with other people, and a place where, without having to do anything people become a part of a community of sorts. During my observations and interviews, I noticed many of these same activities, including customers reading the newspaper, working on their laptops, conducting job interviews or small business meetings, etc. However, in this public space, most people appear to be isolated from one another, each closed off in their own private space. The focus of my research is on this self-created private space within a public place. I have identified three emerging patterns: the creation of the public environment, the self-creation of the private space within, and the elements of trust. The order of today’s activities is so demanding and fast paced. People are isolated in the workplace as well as in their homes. Coming to a cafe to work or study offers the prospect of being part of a community without really engaging – an invaluable opportunity given our extremely limited discretionary time.
6. The Mall: Many young people use the Mall as their 3rd place, a point of contact, a place to be seen, a place to chat or chat up. But is it really our 3rd place? Can commerce and community be compatible? I think there will be a limitation on how far the Mall can fill this social gap; it is not a place where you can really linger, feel relaxed and really be present with the other person.
7. Internet: As much as one would like to deny that the Internet can be a place to meet and have real communication with people, the reality is that for a rapidly growing part of society this is where they meet. The problem I have is are you ever really present when using the Internet as a 3rd place, do you really interact with a person or is it just a sharing of your thoughts?
I hope that the Internet is not the final answer to our 3rd place, but perhaps it is a part of the 'post-modern' way to socialise.
Or…
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