A lot of the things we do on a daily or weekly basis have ways of doing them that can either be private or communal, some of these which we do not think to consider as having that characteristic.
For example, bathing in the Roman Empire used to be communal, but then Rome fell and citizens in the splinter countries began taking baths privately.
Receiving mail is another example. There are countries which don’t have mailboxes and everyone gets their mail at the post office in the PO boxes. It was the United States which pioneered the idea of the modern mail system, which is why we associate it as a private act.
There are activities as well which don’t have any history as jumping between one or the other that might benefit from it, for example I think towns might benefit if internet was free and freely accessible but only at the local library.
What’s a non-communal aspect of life you think should be communal?
Property of the means of production
That’s got to be the nicest looking pool gym I’ve ever seen.
But why have two pools?
It’s the Gellert Thermal baths: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gellért_Baths
Still around, if anyone visits Budapest.
Yes! Making communal pixel art in speedos, why is this not a thing?
Transportation and gardening.
Communal gardens are a thing in many cities. My experience with them however has been skin to a HOA full of Karens
Look, if I could get three or four more sets of hands to put down the maximum amount of cannabis plants in my backyard, know they’d participate in the cleaning post-harvest, and all I’d have to give up was a couple Oz’s per set of hands? God, I’d be growing more than two or three plants a season, wouldn’t I?
Heck yea, would be a sweet setup.
As an American, not much honestly. Community means Christ in these parts.
Private property, specifically your toothbrush, comrade.
There’s always someone who doesn’t know so I’m contractually obligated to say that by property we mean the means of production and not any other personal belongings.
In Canada the mail delivery has shifted to communal mailboxes in new communities as a cost savings measure. Problem is asshole theives who smash them open and steal everyones mail at once.
We have free wifi at our library, as well as a lot of other things like meeting spaces you can book.
More communal transport seems to be needed. After work from home, and occasional bus to work, the time I had to drive to the office to swap equipment and sit in rushhour traffic for an hour was painful. Like there is no way every single person needs unique travel to work
In the US, nudity. People get really weird and obsessive of bodies when nudity isn’t exercised at places like beaches, changing areas, etc.
It’s not healthy to only see bodies as sexual because they are always covered up in public and then 100% sexual either in the bedroom or in porn. There has to be a gradient. Everything in moderation.
I feel like people are also a lot more insecure about their bodies because the only other naked bodies they ever really see are the perfect bodies in movies and porn. Nudity wasn’t a big deal in my family growing up and I think I owe a lot of my positive body image to that. I don’t really have any insecurities, even after being pregnant twice.
I agree. Most people kinda look similar. And you kinda tune it all out anyways once it becomes mundane.
Public bathhouses need to make a comeback. I go to the spa few times a year and soaking in a giant hot tub is divine.
Wish there was one within walking distance cause I would go like 3 times a week then.
I feel like it’s a waste of water to take a bath in my house because the water doesn’t stay warm and it goes away after I’m done. Plus the tub doesn’t allow me to stretch out.
What’s annoying is that some cities in America have spas or bathhouses, but are “men only” and really mean a place for gay men to hook up
This is an ideal space for Steve Jobs to put both his feet into
what if we held hands… in the communal toilets <3
communal commode.
simple tools like guns, hammers, screwdrivers etc. I still think you should be able to own them in case you need them more often or don’t have the time to get them due to an immidiate repairing. But I’ve read some lemmy post where some guys public library offered tools and I think that’s a great idea
We had that where I grew up, but mostly heavier machine tools like stuff to cut firewood, trailers to haul stuff etc. Cost just $10 a year and you could borrow it as much as you needed. Banger of an idea to be honest.
Yeah, no one wants to buy a log splitter and store it for 360 days a year, but those few days you can use it, it’s really useful.
Yeah, it really is a perfect item for communal ownership.
Also look for makerspaces, they provide all kinds of tools but it’s expected that you work on projects there and not at home. Not sure if you can borrow stuff.
Laundry. Why do each of us need to have a machine and space to leave clothes to dry when we could have a common space for that?
When I hear about the washing rooms where women would go to do their laundry, they sound so fun. A lot of work of course, but just a great place to sit back and gossip.
This is considered standard equipment in all apartments in Sweden, both co-op and rentals.
Counterpoint: laundromats are some of the most boring and depressing places. Harsh fluorescent lighting, always some TV droning away with an annoying channel you’d never choose to watch and don’t want to have to hear, commercial machines that vary from one laundromat to another so as an occasional user, you never know if you need to bring quarters or if it’ll take a card, plus sometimes people feel entitled to take your clothes out of the dryer if they want the specific machine you’re using, etc etc etc. Plus you can’t just run a load at your leisure, you’ve gotta schlep all the way to the laundromat with your clothes and detergent. I get why they’re necessary but I’m glad I’ve got my own washer & dryer.
Yeah laundromats are annoying. I was rather thinking to have some space in the apartment building to share with neighbors.
It sucks to have drying racks taking up all my living space.
Don’t you have a dryer?
No
Just curious, why not? It seems like the obvious solution. And if your space is limited, there are machines that do both washing and drying.
Yes, very limited space. Also the cost of running it. And I don’t want to invest in anything really because I don’t want to stay here. I’ll wait until I have a better place.
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In college there was a laundromat with a diner that served decent burgers. Was always a treat.
Hmm… you know what, that actually sounds kinda delightful!
I’ve had clothes stolen in shared laundry rooms. Not a fan.
Communal laundry rooms are quite common on some places.
Cooking because it’s a pain in the ass to prepare food in small batches (for 1-3 people). Plus clean up It’s basically as much work to make food for 2 people as it is for 8.
Construction and development
Masturbation.
You mean like what Peewee Herman tried to do?
That goes well with my idea of pooping.
I dunno, I’ve seen plenty of J.O. Bro communities. Seems pretty communal already in some spaces.
Cooking. Let’s all just cook one big meal each week and split it among 6 other people, and receive 6 meals in return.
You know, that’s not a bad idea. I only have to make one meal, but I get more variety in my food each day.
I bet it’s easy to get going to, you only need a few friends / family / neighbours to get started
Step 1. Get Friends.
That seems to be the hardest part. :(
I enjoy cooking; nothing takes the joy out of cooking quite like cooking for others.
That’s odd; I only enjoy cooking when I’m cooking for others. If it’s just me, I don’t give a fuck; pb&j, or I’ll order, or Soylent… Or I just don’t eat, much easier.
I’m with you. I’m perfectly content making myself ramen or some pasta or even just a bowl of cereal and toast.
But if I’m cooking for people, I’m actually putting in effort, dammit.
Exactly! I can cook, I just choose not to most of the time haha!
That’s fine; for me it’s more or less meditative to cook for myself. 3 years of food service was enough.
I’m also fat so I can make things exactly to my personal tastes(awesome) and as much as I want (less awesome if not outright dangerous)
And if i feel creative the only one dealing with the consequences is me
Ah, I’ve never worked food service (which I view as privilege; it sounds like it would be very hard for me as I struggle with sensory overload and emotional overwhelm, even in less busy and stressful environments) so maybe that has something to do with it.
I hear you on the creativity; while I was still young and learning, my ex-wife did refuse to eat my cooking after the second recipe I “modified” “creatively”. But really there was just too much lemon in the lemon chicken, and it’s not like it was mostly lemon. Just very lemony 😂
