Third Places are public places where people can gather and interact.

First places = home and second places = work

According to Roy Oldenburg, a proponant of the need for "Third Places" in our modern, isolationist society where we have few central meeting places:

"Third places allow people to put aside their concerns and simply enjoy company and conversation. Third places may include beer gardens, main streets, pubs, cafés, coffeehouses, post offices, and other third places that are the heart of a community's social vitality. They can promote social equality by leveling the status of guests, providing a setting for grassroots politics, create habits of public association, and offer psychological support to individuals and communities.

Totally unlike Main Street, the shopping mall is populated by strangers. As people circulate about in the constant, monotonous flow of mall pedestrian traffic, their eyes do not cast about for familiar faces, for the chance of seeing one is small... their neighborhood is only a minority portion of the mall’s clientele.”

I was first introduced to the concept of third places at my church (mine is a Unitarian Universalist as I have mentioned several times- accepts all religions- hindu, muslim, jew, christian, agnostic, etc.). Our minister wanted us to consider the church as a potential third place, but I really only go there a few times a month so it wouldn't really be a true third place for me.

But I would like to suggest that for many of us JSH is our third place. This is our space to talk to people other than family or co-workers about the topics of the day, or just about our day in general....

What do you all think?

i use to go to the bar but i don't drink anymore so this has kinda become my third place.

ah for me I like to go fishing

Since I’m retired I only have two places now (no more work place!)

And I’d have to say that my first place is home alone because I have no one living with me.

My second place would be Internet forums. I can’t say JSH though, because I actually spend more time on music composing forums.

I would actually like to find some real people to hang out with. Perhaps even play music with. But currently I don’t know anyone, and I’m not even sure how to find people like that. I absolutely hate bars. I don’t drink alcohol, and I’m not interested in talking about professional sports, or hunting, or fishing. In short, I’m not interested in typical bar talk. Been there, done that, and didn’t care for it.

So yes, the internet has become a sort of replacement for live social contact. It’s not as fulfilling though.

home
work
college

JSH
Post time lounge (Longwood, Fl)

Coffee shop Sunday mornings...a friend's shop Saturday mornings.

Too many choices for "3rd place", but the first two that come to mind:

Bookstores
Coffee shops

I interact at home with my two dogs and with the Internet.

My meetings are great places to meet people.

My job is like St. Elsewhere. We have certified nuts assistants, license practical nuts, registered nuts, director of nuts, the medical deranged nut who comes in the morning to check up on us and all the real nuts we have to watch over.

Yup, I can see JSH being a third place.

I have many, but don't get to visit any of them as frequently as I would like. Kip's Pub - a bar in the neighborhood. About 15 Valley 7' pool tables, a back room with a 9 foot drop table, and three dart boards, several games, a dj booth for Weekends and parties, Several TV's including a big screen, and of course the ever present Juke Box. I know all the employees, even the owner. I can walk into Kips anytime and there are people there from all walks of life, with all manner of human issues, and all manner of relationships. No one has ever judged me and those that are judged are championed from some unexpected places. This is where I have made most of my friendships, and because, for me, it's was all tied to pool, I can go almost anywhere that has pool tables, in the entire Indianapolis area, and there I will find friends.

When Kips can be in schedule, as it used to be when times were more prosperous, I have found another such place, JSH.

For me the best 3rd places are filled with diversity and community. Cheers to us all!

TLW, Jess, Bay and Redy- Yes, it does seem like bars, coffee shops and book stores are the most common third places. Which makes sense to me- that's where I hang out too... and the beach. Redy- you make your pub sound like the most fun!!!

Robert- fishing is fun but the 3rd place is about talking to people- do you fish with others? That sounds fun...

King- a lot of people have that issue- when they quite drinking they lose that venue as well. I have never had any drinking issues but when I quit smoking I couldn't go to bars for at least a year because it made me want to smoke. Coffee shops were out for the same reason! So I wasn't too much fun...

Abra- JSH could still be a third place for you- you could have more than one. Have you tried music stores? There are some here where people hang out- not the kind that just sell CD's but the kind that have actual instruments? But I think you said you live in the country so that's probably not a good option...

Hillfolk- what are "my meetings"?

Wench (and others)- I think this is a good third place too!

softball field or the lake