"The Third Place"

A third place is a place where people can go and feel comfortable to have a conversation with anyone without any judgment. It is a place where a person enters it, leave all their personal problems at the door and join in to the comfort and social support by the people and the surroundings. They look like homey places, but no one is a host or a guest, they come and go as they please.

Oldenburg said that Third Places are important to economic and political life. He says economic, because it requires three capitals: physical, human and social., and he a political life, because the real democracy is more social than political.

Oldenburg said that if college administrators want to create a successful Third Place, they have to get rid of vending machines, because the place where they are held is only to get beverages versus having a homey and comfortable place that gives a strong sense of community and belonging. Third places have to be a place where students can learn things by talking freely, which helps them prepare for civic and political life as well as all careers.

I think that the Cavern is a good potential Third Place, because outside, there are chairs around in a circle and in the middle there is a camp fire, which any student can turn it on and feel comfortable with other students around and talk about anything. Inside, is very quiet, they have tea and cookies for anyone who wants it. There are rooms with couches, rugs, pillows and students can go and relax and also talk about many things.

The game room in Hicks Center, my favorite, is a good place also because many students go there. Nobody goes in worrying about school work. They go to have conversations with people, play games and have fun. It is not a very quiet room, but it’s not suppose to be silent, because people are suppose to interact. The pool room in the basement of Trowbridge Hall is also a good potential Third Place.

I think Biggby’s and Jazzman’s Café are good places. People go to get coffee, beverages, snacks, and sit down and talk about anything. There are tables and couches, which gives it that homey and comfortable feeling that exemplifies a Third Place.