There are, but they're all entertainment media. Books, television, games, every avenue of entertainment is being steadily hypercapitalized and compartmentalized. Communities aren't failing because people have entertainment, they've fallen apart because the outside world has almost no places left where people can freely gather. You don't meet your neighbors because there aren't any sidewalks, because the parks need to be driven to, because downtown has strip malls instead of boardwalks where people can gather.

I grew up hanging out in the Walmart parking lot because that's the only place we wouldn't be shooed away. Entertainment is what fills the absence of community, not the cause of it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

...they've fallen apart because the outside world has almost no places left where people can freely gather.

I'm sorry that has been your experience; it has not been mine. I can walk to several wonderful parks, I can bike (or take a $3 bus) to the beach, and I have world-class cycling destinations out my door.

Alternately, I have three or four libraries within about a 20m walking distance.

That said, yes, I do live in a high CoL area, so perhaps that was the point you were making.

[–] Ryantific_theory 2 points 11 months ago

I mean, that genuinely sounds amazing. Though I'll note that paying to go places is still an issue for the youth and the poor. When I was in college, and when I lived in California, there was a similar variety of options, though, driving was a necessity in San Diego.

If you've ever heard of suburban hell though, that's pretty much what I was referring to. There's a small library about a forty minute walk from me, across at least one highway and partially without sidewalks. A ten minute walk to a park that can seat fifteen, there is a scenic bike route, and no buses. And yet it's a vast improvement over what I saw in Texas.

The loss of unregulated, uncapitalized public spaces is a well recognized phenomenon (also termed 'third spaces'), one that grew even more pronounced during Covid.

[–] who8mydamnoreos 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I don’t know where you live, sounds awful. I certainly have sidewalks, walkable trails to public houses and parks. Multiple libraries with groups, activities, classes, community action groups. Two large commercial areas, one a vibrant downtown area, the other admittedly is a dead mall. Natural areas, concert venues, small shops. I could go on. Have you really tried to meet your neighbors? I can’t avoid mine just walking the damn dog. Maybe im privileged, but I would rather stare out my windows than pay for multiple streaming services.

[–] Ryantific_theory 2 points 11 months ago

I think it's pretty apparent you don't live in the suburbs or outside of a large city lol. Even then, when I lived in Texas the urban sprawl meant walking anywhere was completely off the table, and biking meant sharing 55 MPH roads. Other states have been better, but the issue of vanishing public spaces has been an issue raised since the 80's (third spaces, if you're interested).

All that said, even being active in community and spending time with friends, should people not be allowed to watch tv in their downtime? Should we ban the mindless internet browsing, Lemmy?