GeofCoxMar 28

I often joke that Brittany is the most left-wing region in France - and has the highest number of cafés and bars per capita... but perhaps the two aspects are more closely linked than I thought.

This article - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/27/progressive-paris-far-right-french-capital-food-culture-community-extremists - links the increasing number of car-free and non-commercial social spaces in Paris with its continuing extraordinary left voting record - and suggests that the well documented disappearance of such spaces in the US and elsewhere may be a factor in the rise of the extreme right.

Progressive Paris has many weapons to fight the far right, but the best? Spaces where you can simply hang out

Drop into any of the French capital’s ‘third places’ and you’ll find food, culture, community – and an antidote to the disaffection extremists feed on, says Paris-based writer Alexander Hurst

The Guardian
Show threadMike 🇬🇧 🇪🇺Mar 29

@GeofCox
This resonates with a thought I had a couple of months ago about a group of flag-shaggers who were gathering each Saturday at a local crossroads.

In past times they'd have been going to meet up at a local pub (all closed round here) or to play in a Social type sports club - now all priced out of reach by private/council leisure centres, or in church based activities.
The space is getting filled online by right wing oddballs who gives these people a sense of togetherness and belonging (despite the fact they're just being used by millionaires).

Cafés and social centres as third spaces - for all generations - seem to be essential for the cohesion of a civil society.

Show threadMoof! 🔜 #JetLagTheGame NL3d ago

@MikeFromLFE @GeofCox Particularly important, though, are social spaces where you aren’t feeling pressured into buying something. Or if you are, it should be affordable, and include plenty of alternatives that are free of addictive substances: alcohol, sugar, sugar substitutes, and caffeine.

But just supplying some basic tap water costs little to nothing, and performs a service to society as a whole.

Show threadurbaer
@moof @MikeFromLFE @GeofCox libraries are good as third spaces free of the tequirent to ask users to open their wallet.
Apr 5 at 10:20pmWeb