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Why the downvotes? Don't newspapers also reduce the interaction among customers... I don't mind cafes banning or discouraging squatters or switching off wifi, b
by awa 17y ago
Why the downvotes? Don't newspapers also reduce the interaction among customers... I don't mind cafes banning or discouraging squatters or switching off wifi, but why are they stopping people from checking email during breakfast even when they are using their own USB modem/connection.
- drewsing 17y agoInteresting point. I agree with you in that newspapers take away from interaction. Laptops, though, can consume people in so many different ways, which makes it harder to approach a conversation with someone. You never know if someone is checking email, doing work, or just social masturbating on Facebook. There is a thicker "invisible social wall" when trying to approach someone with a laptop because you don't want to bother something important, so very few people even try to start a conversation. When someone's reading a paper, you know they are interested in the day's current news, which makes an easy conversation opener. You know they aren't busy doing their taxes or writing a paper.
- robryan 17y agoI look at this another way, if I'm sitting at a cafe with someone else, usually a newspaper will stimulate conversation by commenting on articles. Laptops on the other hand encourage communication with people not actually in the cafe, lowing interaction at the cafe. Maybe a better middle ground was banning laptop use on a weekend beyond the quick checking of email, part of this would involve not allowing laptops to be plugged in.