Why Meeting Others In Person Will Help Save Us
I explore the need for humans to interact and how this can help us with worker solidarity.
Many people need to get out of doors and physically interact with humans to build community. (Of course some due to physical/mental limitations, this isn't possible). This is harder to do now because we no longer have any real 3rd spaces like community centers to go and just hang out. So this is why many people go to a digital 3rd space (the “digital public square” aka Social Media) to interact with others.
Humans are meant for warm interactions (in person) so we can understand and communicate better. But as the corporations would have it, we are being systematically stripped of it. This is also where a lot of ORGANIZING and meeting people different from you can take place which can counter bigotry and prejudice.
Our 1st space is our home, 2nd space is school or work, our 3rd space is SUPPOSED to be in areas where humans gather but now it's diminished or paywalled so we only meet people in our particular class, religious belief or identity. This is why organizing is so important. Many people now relegate their 3rd space to a church, mosque, synagogue or temple. But that's all there's left. Even then, many churches are also having members on Zoom instead so they can get church service at home.
We need to counter this by creating 3rd spaces so we can become a community again. This will help us to fight a system that seeks to divide us. I invite all to do what they can (respect your limitations, of course) and get outside. BE with people. Make NEW friends. Build relationships. Change starts with you and if there are many other "You's", then community grows. Let's get together and make community normalized again!