I found the TED talk about coffeehouses very interesting. I think it is imperative to discuss this topic in relation to social changes within our society. Nowadays, people typically go to coffeehouses to work or spend time with friends, not to talk to random people. I do think that the modern ‘equivalent’ is a bar or brewery — just like Dr. McClurken brought up in class. I never really thought about those spaces as somewhere to converse with people outside of your social circle, but I do think this is true. It’s very easy to strike up a conversation with people at these places.
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I also thought it the topic of bars as somewhat of an equivalent to modern day coffeehouses was interesting. The more that we discussed this during class, the more I realized bars are actually a really good place to talk to random people about different topics.
I agree that we need to look at how the past has evolved into what we have today and why. For instance, how coffeehouses are less for socializing with random people and more to catch up with people we know or to enjoy the atmosphere by ourselves. I also found the comparison we made in class that social media is a new kind of “coffeehouse” represents how ideas never fully go away but evolve over time.