In Search of a City: A Guest on the Front Porch
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
Last week I shared my view that blogs have replaced the conversations we used to have with one another on the front porch. I also asked for you to share your thoughts by submitting a guest blog. Eric Davies submitted this blog offering his thoughts on the topic of blogs as a virtual “front porch.” Would you like to join us on the front porch? Send your thoughts to information@downtowncolumbus.com.
In his August 31 blog, Cleve Ricksecker discussed the purpose of his weekly downtowncolumbus.com blog and described it as a virtual “front porch” within the electronic communication medium. I would agree with his assessment, but exercise my endorsement with caution. Electronic communication in any form is ultimately only as authentic as the interpersonal connections we make in our communities.
A few years ago (okay – quite a few), a witty and wise English professor, who taught one of my final courses at Bowling Green State University, was about to leave BGSU to teach at an institution in a larger city. In one of our last classes of the semester, she responded to a student’s comment that suggested her family would buy a large house within a new subdivision in an up-and-coming exurb of the city she planned to call her new home. The professor rebutted this statement by saying, “The only type of house I will buy is one where I can sit on the front porch and have a beer with my neighbors.”
Although suburban and exurban neighborhoods/subdivisions may have strongly connected neighborhoods, the infrastructure on many does not foster interpersonal relations. Traditional, older-style walkable neighborhoods, including downtown Columbus and other neighborhood business districts, are places that encourage social interactions that do not occur in large suburban office parks and isolated cul-de-sac oriented subdivisions.
Similar to neighborhoods, technology also can foster connection or isolation. Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, email, the Internet and cell phones all provide information, education and some level of connection. None of them can provide connection that amounts to the same depth as results from three dimensional community living and conversation, whether it occurs on real front porches or sidewalks, in cafes or living rooms.
Once upon a time, people sat on front porches and in cafes and argued about the great and not-so-great issues of the day. They discussed politics, art, religion, government, sports, events and other topics.