No, Existing in a Third Space Will Not Solve Your Loneliness
Traditionally, a third place is the last step of Oldenburg’s ‘place theory,’ in which home is considered first, work second, and any public gathering space in which the community can relax and enjoy themselves would be third.
The first vision for these spaces was meant as gathering spaces for certain members of the community. It did not involve capital or money, just a place or activity where you could exist without concern. The issue with this is that Oldenburg’s vision was muddied by his sexist and homophobic filter. The dynamic of a shared community could never truly exist due to the nature of the theory itself.
These issues were never addressed with this theory, and so many of the same ideas carry into our present day. The other issue is the commodification of third spaces. If you were to search the term on TikTok, you would find ‘aesthetic’ edits or AI creations of a false reality. That version of third spaces has never existed.
My point is that you must involve yourself in a community or organization and do some work on your own to find your friends or community members, not rely on aesthetics alone to cure your loneliness. You must reshape this vision and allow yourself to become someone better, someone you could never imagine being in the first place. Then, you may be on the right track to overcome your loneliness.
interesting point. well-written and made me think.
Ronan speaking facts once again.