undefined | Better HN

0 pointsjustinator2y ago0 comments

Many coffee shops in my town have closed due to high rents. The ones that have stayed have had their hours shortened. The one I got to is only open for 8 hours/day. My drink is now $6 too.

Libraries have to constantly prove their relevancy. My town again had a huge city council fight to fund a new library district - it wasn't pretty.

There was an announcement last week that the largest gym in town is closing. My gym costs $100/month and that's one of the cheaper ones.

Many of the bookstores in town are still open, but the used bookstores are mostly long gone. A lot of them are turning to be more like gift shops with books. The only used bookstore left is also a coffee shop (another favorite).

One of the bigger outside seating, family-friendly (cringe for me) bars with food trucks and all that has been run through the mud lately because of their ties with an anti-woman, anti-gay church that rented (well had been given for free) space for worship there. It all gets messy.

And let's not forget Covid shut most all this down for a time and people changed their daily living patterns.

Helps for any third space left that this is a university town where PHD graduates stay as well as a training ground for athletes of all types (though leaning more on endurance athletes).

0 comments

deanCommie2y ago

Much of what you listed is a consequence of the Internet, which COVID exacerbated. It's unfortunate but society always changes, and this is one of them. It's OK to accept it and allow it to happen. Except one:

> Libraries have to constantly prove their relevancy. My town again had a huge city council fight to fund a new library district - it wasn't pretty.

This I worry is more funded by alt-right anti-intellecutalist culture warriors who are not happy that libraries include books on subjects they don't agree with.

This is worth fighting for. The internet is not a replacement for a library and more importantly librarians.

Not only that but since so much of society is inaccessible without the internet anymore, we need to have public spaces with internet access.

In my head we need to consider libraries on the same level of societal importance as police departments, firehalls, and hospitals. They all must be free and universally accessible or there's no point to the centuries of progress humanity has made. [0]

[0] obligatory edit - police departments ARE overfunded due to illogical unsubstantiated fear-mongering, and because they are forced to do work that they should not be responsible for, specifically challenges of mental health, drug addiction, and poverty. Which end up causing crime, and so the police get asked to fix the symptom rather than the root cause.

justinatorOP2y ago

>This I worry is more funded by alt-right anti-intellecutalist culture warriors who are not happy that libraries include books on subjects they don't agree with.

It's more that people don't want to pay for libraries and they think libraries will breed a place for homeless people to exist. The town is extremely well educated. There are also many wealthy, entrenched people here that do not want to mingle with poor people. Lot of NiMBYing. The wealth of the town unfortunately does not bread empathy.

carlosjobim2y ago

The internet shadow libraries are by far the largest and least censored to have ever existed in history. And they are accessible to all instead of just the people living in the exact right spot. They are so much better than any physical library, that it is really beyond any comparison.

A physical library is a nice and comfy environment, usually in a good location as well. But it is not honest to try to argue for them in any way as better than online tools. If the purpose is finding books and information and obtaining it, comparing a physical library to online libraries is like saying it is better to eat using your feet instead of with utensils.

itishappy2y ago

Internet libraries are accessible to those with access to the internet, which happens to be just one of many services offered by your local library! When my laptop was stolen I accessed the internet exclusively through a local library for about a year. I'd go most days and play League of Legends until they kicked me out. Good times!

> If the purpose is finding books and information and obtaining it, comparing a physical library to online libraries is like saying it is better to eat using your feet instead of with utensils.

There's your issue! Libraries have much broader scope than just physical books. They offer free childcare, classes and meetups, digital lending (also free). If you're struggling to find something on the internet, an actual human is there to help! They can even offer suggestions on books or websites tailored specifically to you, and they won't collect and sell your personal info to do so!

The internet is great, I spend a lot of time here, but libraries are great too!

1 more reply

carlosjobim2y ago

The explanation for all of these places closing down seems to be rent. They can't make enough money on being a third place to pay increasing rent to their greedy landlords.

So outdoor spaces with food trucks and drinks are becoming the new third places – which doesn't really suit every climate.

justinatorOP2y ago

Money is a big factor and again it gets messy. I think the median cost of a house here is north of $800k. Rent is also high. Hard to hack it as a barista, librarian, book clerk, gym trainer, etc.

rchaud2y ago

> So outdoor spaces with food trucks and drinks are becoming the new third places

And as with most 'modern' reboots, it's worse than the thing it replaces. Outdoor seating is worse than indoor, plus food trucks price gouge like crazy because they can.

justinatorOP2y ago

>So outdoor spaces with food trucks and drinks are becoming the new third places – which doesn't really suit every climate.

Everyone here owns $500 puffies so the drinks will flow (there's also an indoor space that's large). It's the anti-gay, anti-woman religion tie for me that makes me decide not to be a patron (not that I drink all that much...)

michaelrpeskin2y ago

Heh, I know exactly which town you're talking about. I host my own little "third space" workout group after the gyms closed for lockdowns, and it's been super successful. If you want to ever stop by let me know.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsjustinator2y ago0 comments

Many coffee shops in my town have closed due to high rents. The ones that have stayed have had their hours shortened. The one I got to is only open for 8 hours/day. My drink is now $6 too.

Libraries have to constantly prove their relevancy. My town again had a huge city council fight to fund a new library district - it wasn't pretty.

There was an announcement last week that the largest gym in town is closing. My gym costs $100/month and that's one of the cheaper ones.

And let's not forget Covid shut most all this down for a time and people changed their daily living patterns.

Helps for any third space left that this is a university town where PHD graduates stay as well as a training ground for athletes of all types (though leaning more on endurance athletes).

0 comments

deanCommie2y ago

> Libraries have to constantly prove their relevancy. My town again had a huge city council fight to fund a new library district - it wasn't pretty.

This I worry is more funded by alt-right anti-intellecutalist culture warriors who are not happy that libraries include books on subjects they don't agree with.

This is worth fighting for. The internet is not a replacement for a library and more importantly librarians.

Not only that but since so much of society is inaccessible without the internet anymore, we need to have public spaces with internet access.

justinatorOP2y ago

>This I worry is more funded by alt-right anti-intellecutalist culture warriors who are not happy that libraries include books on subjects they don't agree with.

carlosjobim2y ago

itishappy2y ago

> If the purpose is finding books and information and obtaining it, comparing a physical library to online libraries is like saying it is better to eat using your feet instead of with utensils.

The internet is great, I spend a lot of time here, but libraries are great too!

1 more reply

carlosjobim2y ago

The explanation for all of these places closing down seems to be rent. They can't make enough money on being a third place to pay increasing rent to their greedy landlords.

So outdoor spaces with food trucks and drinks are becoming the new third places – which doesn't really suit every climate.

justinatorOP2y ago

Money is a big factor and again it gets messy. I think the median cost of a house here is north of $800k. Rent is also high. Hard to hack it as a barista, librarian, book clerk, gym trainer, etc.

rchaud2y ago

> So outdoor spaces with food trucks and drinks are becoming the new third places

And as with most 'modern' reboots, it's worse than the thing it replaces. Outdoor seating is worse than indoor, plus food trucks price gouge like crazy because they can.

justinatorOP2y ago

>So outdoor spaces with food trucks and drinks are becoming the new third places – which doesn't really suit every climate.

michaelrpeskin2y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse