As society has become technologically advanced and more reliant on technology in general, shared and communal spaces have begun to disappear. Third places, or shared spaces, are essential to building interpersonal connections, yet they are almost non-existent outside of the college atmosphere.
“Third places” is a phrase coined by Ray Oldenburg in his novel “The Great Good Place” and is defined as “public places on neutral ground where people can gather and interact,” according to Project for Public Spaces. “First places” refers to a person’s home and “second places” refers to work. According to Oldenburg, in order to have a balanced and happy life a person must have meaningful engagement in all three areas.
Third places are the main areas where people can socialize and build relationships with other people. Interacting with others in shared spaces can be a way for people to widen their perspectives and deepen their sense of community and belonging. Third places are a significant tool that can be used to connect people and can be seen as a way to keep them together.
Having communal areas like cafes, libraries, parks, clubs, recreational centers or any public or group areas in general is extremely important for the development of one’s socialization. Social-health and our overall well-being rely on a sense of community which can rarely be formed through the first two “places.”
The interactions at home likely involve family members or people you are extremely familiar with. On the other hand, interactions at work might provide more perspective and opportunities to engage with new people, but it is likely that all of the people who work there have something in common and will soon enough become familiar as well.
Unlike home and work, third places force people to actively scout out interactions. By going to a public place, a person is taking the initiative to be open to meeting new people and building a community with the people surrounding them. Having a relationship with the people in your community ultimately allows you to have people to depend on. Additionally, they can also be a new way to make friends.
Without third places, the majority of social interactions would either rely on technology or buying something, which ultimately commoditizes relationship-building. All people should have access to socialization and be able to make connections with others, regardless of whether or not they have money or technology.
Because so many public places require purchasing something, one of the last times someone has easy access to them is at school. At Augustana, most areas are third places. Spaces like The Brew, the library, the dining hall, Gus’ Snack Bar and most studying areas can be a way to interact with other people.
It is easy to access places that allow communicating with your peers in college, which causes us to rely on being able to easily meet and talk with others. Because college is one of the last times a person can access several different third places, students should take advantage of their opportunities. Unfortunately, being surrounded by so many shared areas and interactivity can also make the adjustment to a post-college life with no third places difficult.
After college, students will have to go out of their way to find third places that will allow them to build community and do things they enjoy alongside other people. Even though they may be difficult to find, third places are worth the trouble as they cultivate a sense of belonging and attachment to one’s community.
