[maroonblazer]

I like this idea but I can see the following challenges that would need to be overcome:

1) In the case of coffeeshops, many people go there to work. The noise of people gabbing could drive them away. This is a pet-peeve of mine; the local Starbucks seems to double as a daycare, making it really difficult to focus.

2) How likely is it that the people gathered share enough common interests that they want to talk to each other? E.g. in my case I'd want to be able to strike up a conversation about politics or philosophy or music-making or tech. If no one already-gathered shares any of those interests then I'm not staying very long.

These aren't insurmountable and there's probably others that haven't occurred to me. Again, I like the idea.

[random_rr]

Neither of those are truly challenges.

1.) The coffeeshop isn't an office - people can talk. If it's too loud, that's on you (the person using it as an office) to find another place.

2.) You already have something in common - you want to talk!

I've seen this idea of the "talk table" work in retirement homes, not sure how well it would fare with a younger crowd.

[maroonblazer]

1.) Fair point.

2.) Right, I do want to talk, but the number of subjects I can converse about is a tiny fraction of those on offer. If I show up and the topic is rebuilding engines or flower arranging - two topics I know nothing about - I'll have nothing to contribute.

[aisofteng]

Part of being social(ly well adjusted) is giving a shit about what someone else is interested in instead of requiring everyone to have the same interests as you.

[oldmanjay]

Contributing by being interested and actively listening is more important than knowing everything about everything.

[maroonblazer]

Good point. In retrospect I misunderstood the gist of the article. Loneliness can be remedied simply by being around and engaged with other people. That doesn't require holding forth on whatever's being discussed.

[cylinder]

The history of coffeeshops goes back hundreds / thousands of years and they were almost always used as forums for public discussion, debate and socializing. This crosses across borders, present in both Middle East and England. Only recently have Americans turned them into quiet places to sit and (pretend) to work on a laptop. If it were up to me they'd all be banished.

[sliverstorm]

Yes, how dare other people socialize in a coffee shop, aka my personal office!

[Anasufovic]

Depending on what you're drinking at the coffee shop it might be enough to just pay for an actual coworking space.

[kosma]

How dare other people work in a coffee shop, aka my socializing space! ;)

[onion2k]

If no one already-gathered shares any of those interests then I'm not staying very long.

A slightly ironic statement from someone whose blog apparently covers "frankly anything". :)

[paulddraper]

Well my pet peeve is the local Starbucks seems to double as an office, making it really difficult when I bring kids.