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I guess it depends on the place, honestly. The best communities I've been a part of -- in my short existence -- revolved around bookstores. Maybe that's subject
by greenie_beans 7y ago
I guess it depends on the place, honestly. The best communities I've been a part of -- in my short existence -- revolved around bookstores. Maybe that's subjective, but I can also argue that Signal, WhatsApp, etc aren't the only viable community centers.
Also, I'm from rural US, and those places do revolve around churches, but the pockets of enlightenment revolve around bookstores. IMO, a healthy community has a strong group of intellectuals. Intellectuals tend to gravitate to bookstores.
And yes, you can definitely blame Amazon for putting bookstores out of business. I'm too lazy to find stats to support that, but there is definitely evidence that Amazon is to blame.
And sure, libraries are for the community's benefit in an ideal world, but I'm talking about the real world.
- CiPHPerCoder 7y agoI never disputed the premise anyway. Just that the conclusion doesn't follow from it. If communities die when bookstores die, sure, you can blame that on what killed the bookstore. But regardless of blame, whose responsibility is it to ensure communities continue? (This isn't the same thing as blame.) My point isn't "bookstores are the wrong answer". My point is "bookstores aren't the only correct answer". Diversify.
- greenie_beans 7y agoYeah. I'd agree with that. I also think you, CiPHPerCoder, should implant yourself in a local bookstore and maybe you'll see what I'm talking about :)
- CiPHPerCoder 7y agoThere isn't one within 20 miles of my house, so I think I'll pass on that. :P
- greenie_beans 7y agoBlame Amazon! :P