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I go to the gym every day and what I can say is that if it used to be a third place, now it has become more of a non-place[0]. Nobody talks to anyone anymore. P

by 440hz 3y ago

I go to the gym every day and what I can say is that if it used to be a third place, now it has become more of a non-place[0]. Nobody talks to anyone anymore. People don't look at what's around them and are glued to their smartphones all the time while they rest. If you approach someone to ask something, and if they are also wearing headphones, make sure you repeat what you want to say, because inexplicably these cheap knockoff headphones have perfect sound isolation. When we talk about the increase in loneliness, I can't help but associate it with the launch of the iPhone and the social apps. I wonder if the benefits brought by this device really outweigh its cons. Furthermore, every month I organize a meetup with people who want to practice English (I live in Brazil) and usually 10 to 15 people attend. I think people want to connect with other people, but technology isn't helping them find those opportunities. I use meetup.com, but the person has to download the app or go to the website. I think most of my potential audience don't even know it exists because it's a very US thing. [0]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-place https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-place

doublerabbit 3y ago
The gym has never been a social place. Everyone is there for a reason, normally to get fit. We however do live in a very fearing world. With the stories that are spewed out daily, there is always a worry of "Is this person I'm going to meet going to X". So it's safer to judge based on online social imagery, where the true creep holds. Meetup / group sites while have an advantage point in meeting the tech they introduce are flawed. They are difficult to navigate, and again it falls symptom to the likes where AirBnB where anything worthwhile is normally berried at the bottom and you need to sieve through to reach the others.
datavirtue 3y ago
The repeal of the fairness doctrine was the final nuke. Boy has that come home to roost.
- nradov 3y ago
  The fairness doctrine only ever applied to broadcast media. It was never a thing for online services, cable TV, or print media.
JackMorgan 3y ago
As a life long gym rat, CrossFit is definitely the exception to this. And not even every class, you'll really want to ask the instructors which class is the "social" class. I've seen boxes where 4/5 classes are people woodenly exercising and leaving, and then one class everyone is friends and always are throwing parties and having a good time.

by 440hz 3y ago

doublerabbit 3y ago

The gym has never been a social place. Everyone is there for a reason, normally to get fit. We however do live in a very fearing world. With the stories that are spewed out daily, there is always a worry of "Is this person I'm going to meet going to X". So it's safer to judge based on online social imagery, where the true creep holds. Meetup / group sites while have an advantage point in meeting the tech they introduce are flawed. They are difficult to navigate, and again it falls symptom to the likes where AirBnB where anything worthwhile is normally berried at the bottom and you need to sieve through to reach the others.

datavirtue 3y ago

The repeal of the fairness doctrine was the final nuke. Boy has that come home to roost.

nradov 3y ago
The fairness doctrine only ever applied to broadcast media. It was never a thing for online services, cable TV, or print media.

JackMorgan 3y ago

As a life long gym rat, CrossFit is definitely the exception to this. And not even every class, you'll really want to ask the instructors which class is the "social" class. I've seen boxes where 4/5 classes are people woodenly exercising and leaving, and then one class everyone is friends and always are throwing parties and having a good time.