Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

TBH your question strikes me as having a trolling tone. But I'll answer in good faith anyway. I'm pretty sure most people here understand why people like going to communal places to sit, enjoy snacks and drinks, and read or work quietly.

The question is, why is everyone else using it as a library with snacks. As I said, it's always packed in the late evenings.

The neighbouring coffee shops are also packed until midnight.

Here are some ideas:

- Why not, it's nice to do.

- Some of us are happy to pay for it.

- Lots of people want an evening place, aka "third space", but don't care for bars, alcohol and shouting. They want to quietly sit and read late at night, socially around other people, with some talking some of the time, but not constantly.

- For many, home is not suitable for working, studying or relaxing. It depends a lot on the home.

- It helps to be around other people to focus and relax, and it's nice to have an ice cream and/or bagel and/or drink while doing it.

- There's no library nearby.

- There's a great library further away, but it's shut in the evenings. (Our libraries are often packed with people. Until they close, then everyone has to find somewhere else.)

- If you enjoy reading/writing around strangers being a bit fun and lively, you won't get that in a library. But a bar is too much. Maybe it doesn't work for you, but for me and many others, the buzz from people just being happy in the vicinity is quite helpful.

- No affordable co-working spaces. The few co-working spaces are either rent-per-month (too expensive if you don't use them a lot), or closed in the evening to daily renters. Anyway, the day rate (~$20/day) is too much if you're only out for a couple of hours, and don't have good money (most people I see around are not working in IT, btw).

- Not enough friendly communal spaces. (Btw, I've helped run one of these. It was really hard work!)




Consider applying for YC's W25 batch! Applications are open till Nov 12.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: