alt Hacker NewsI've starting thinking that the constant use of "there are no third places anymore!" is more cope and deflection of blame than an actual description of reality, often from people who want to use The Man or The System as a scapegoat for their own lack of socialization. There are still tons of third places, people are choosing to stay home instead of using them.
It's the same with "The Village" when deciding not to have kids. Everyone is allowed to move back to their hometown, or ask family to move closer. It's not always simple to do, but it's a choice people make not to.