Communities

[ysabetwordsmith]

Musing on an essay: the commodification and enshittification of community

The fact that community is becoming a wellness trend—often with an aesthetic and hefty price tag—is very telling to me. Very exposing of the larger game at play here. Because upon hearing “loneliness kills”, the impulse wasn’t to rebuild the free, accessible infrastructure of community, and ask why we’re all too exhausted and automized to connect. It was to commodify connection—sell us Community as a product: friendship coaches, curated community memberships, networking events with entry fees, apps that gamify making friends.


Here we talk a lot about community, family skills, and ways to support healthy relationships. I find the commercialization of community to be very problematic. It's much better to create places that naturally encourage interaction.

So check your neighborhood. Are there third places where people can socialize outside of home and work or school? Are there little eateries like a coffeehouse or a deli or even a parking lot that always has a couple of food trucks? What about an indoor space like a mall or community center for hanging out in bad weather? Are there parks or other greenspaces? How many street trees are there? How far apart are the benches or other seating? Can you think of at least one place that has a community bulletin board and/or a rack for flyers? Where can you go to find people and news about local activities? And how much of that is free and readily accessible to neighbors?

If you're coming up short, identify the gaps. Then ask, what is the next smallest thing that would help? Go do that thing. Neighborhoods are made up of people; they don't just happen. So if people don't like the way things are, change something.

Comments

[siliconshaman]

You know, the whole 'Grindset' thing that developed in the 90's, where anything & everything is a hustle, and money is king, has done more harm to society than anything else.

The commodification of community is like reading research that having green plants in an office promotes well-being... so you start a business renting plastic plants to businesses.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> You know, the whole 'Grindset' thing that developed in the 90's, where anything & everything is a hustle, and money is king, has done more harm to society than anything else.<<

I agree that it is harmful, but I think the breakdown of the extended family is worse.

>> The commodification of community is like reading research that having green plants in an office promotes well-being... so you start a business renting plastic plants to businesses.<<

Agreed.