Massives As Your Third Home

sleepwellmyfriend writes "What is a third place? The first place is your home, the second place is work. Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks introduced third places as somewhere besides home or work where people can socialize and feel comfortable. Think Cheers. Massive multiplayer online games are third places as defined by their characteristics: neutral ground, leveler (no not that kind), conversation, accessibility, regulars, low profile, playful mood, and "home away from home". Online games also contain social capital, which like financial capital, can be acquired and spent, but for social gains instead of financial gains. In a social relationship sense, bridging provides breadth (diverse information and resources) while bonding provides depth (comfort and advice). In online games, players come from a diverse background so they are usually bridging social capital but bonding can occur for long time players."

"Playful" overall mood

[EssTiDee]

FTFA:
The Mood is Playful: The general mood of a third place is playful and witty. Players in online games crack jokes during heated battles, perform goofy actions with their avatars, and mock each others' appearances. Rarely are players overly serious about game matters.

Yeah -- that's really been my experience with online multiplayer games -- rarely are players overly serious about game matters. Seems to me the long-time players that the article claims are the real core of the community tend to be some of the *most* serious players i've ever encountered.

Its somewhat out of hand

[tont0r]

So you have your 'home' time. Then you have your work time (for real world people, this is 40+ hours a week). And then you want to toss in a '3rd place' time? How much time do you have left?

I mean, sure its great when you are 16 and your 'home time' will consist of playing sports with some kids down the street or watching tv (or video games in this case), your 'work time' is at max 15-20 hours a week, then you have all the time in the world to play an mmo. No need to worry about cleaning or making dinner. Mom has that covered.

But if you arent 16, you work 40+ hours a week, have to come home and make dinner (or go run to the store first to buy it),clean, relax for a bit, toss in a significant other or a child or two, and your mmo time is nearing zero.

We have enough busy things in this world to toss in a 'Third world'.

Re:My Bicycle and Kayak

[Anonymous Coward]

Because instead of sitting on an increasingly larger ass playing video games during his time off, he actually goes outside and does physical activity.

You'd be amazed at how easy it is to fit into a kayak when you're not 400lbs and growing due to a complete lack of physical activity outside of moving between computers and going to the store to pick up for Cheetos.

There can only be two types of people that spend their recreational time playing MMORPGs: the malnurished, and the morbidly obese.

Try doing something that involves physical activity for once. It's not pretentious. It's a fun and actually normal activity as opposed to slowly killing yourself over increasing some useless number another few points.

Re:Its somewhat out of hand

[bigbigbison]

I think you are right, up to a point. A lot of the thinking about "thrid spaces" that goes on with new media is in some ways reflective of the "Bowling Alone" theory as espouced in the book of the same name. In that book, the author says that we (particualrly Americans) used to be much more active in the public sphere with civic groups and, as the title suggests, bowling leagues.
So a lot of this is attempting to counter that saying that while people may not physically leave the house, they still do have social lives that do not involve work.
So while it is true that one may not leave the house while playing a mmorpg, but one does interact with other people and get some sence of escape from work and home.
I'm not sure why this article appeared on slashdot, particularly. The idea of muds and moos as third spaces is nearly as old as muds and moos themselves. Go to scholar.google and search for "new media" and "third space" and tons of articles turn up.

Re:Home Office

[JadeAuto]

On another note: something I find I do altogether too often in social situations (pubs, parties etc) is put on a "mask", a persona that makes me less vulnerable. In MMORPGs the implicit existence of a mask often means that people can be more "themselves" than they would otherwise. Maybe that's why it's such a good place for some people to relax and interact. Could be that it's doing wonders for the social skills of some people...

People when in public, must, by needs of society, be... well, inhibited by consience. When playing under the guise of an avatar, character, toon, whatever the 'mask' is, you naturally feel that you can show the true personality that lies at the center of your personality. You don't have to hold back in voicing your opinion online, because there is little to no threat of injury or consequence, whereas in the real world you don't always voice your opinion because you don't want to offend anyone.

I've played MMO's for 6+ years now... while I can't always say that the experiences have been totally 100% positive, I consider my time spent in the various games i've played to have helped me to figure out who I am and what my personality is. And it's helped me to focus on what aspects of my life and personality I'd like to improve on. You can learn alot about yourself (and others) when playing an online game, or being a part of any online community. I've sure found enhancements to my social skills from playing MMO's. It does indeed do wonders.

Re:What people want to hear vs. reality

[JaredOfEuropa]

There is nothing in WoW that even closely relates to Cheers. It is more like a microcosm of real life, right down to the fact that you have materialism is the dominating force in keeping people's noses to the grindstone.

There are other MMORPGs than just WoW.

I played Ultima Online for a good while (hence my nick). I'd say that UO itself isn't a 3rd place, but it has lots of 3rd places in it. Some in the form of a virtual version of a real 3rd place such as a bar; in other cases it might be a guildhouse where you'd drop in, meet some friends and then set off on an outing together.

The "neutral ground" aspect definitely holds; there were plenty of MMORPG players just hanging out or poking around a bit, even in WoW. A lot depends on where in the game world you go... just as in real life. If you go to a gym and just park your beer belly at the juice bar and order snacks and booze, expect to be called some real life equivalent of "noob". Conversation may not be the main activity in WoW, but in some areas in UO (And various other games) it most definitely was.

The leveler argument is totally incorrect: imagine if someone mentioned they were gay on public chat in WoW. I doubt they would be warmly received.

Same holds true for a real life bar. The "leveler" aspect does not mean a total absence of status and mores; it means that those in the 3rd place are (mostly) separate from those the outside world. The point is that a priori acceptance in the 3rd place does not depend on the status in the outside world. Gays, rich folk, religious nuts, they are all equally welcome in most bars... but the regulars might turn a cold shoulder if you openly come out of the closet, brag about your wealth all the time, or start to proselytise.

Re:I Don't Think That's Very Fair

[steveo777]

That's why I almost never read/respond to AC comments. I Keep them at a -3 so that most of them are invisible unless modded very high. With the new comment system, they don't stay as filtered, but it's easier to see when an AC has something good to say from time to time.

Just want to let you know that I'm there with you. I'm from the same "blue" state, though my views tend to be conservative, and I am a Christian. But I have friends that are both Christian conservatives and embrace-everything bleeding liberals. All I can say is that if someone shouts in your face about not being open minded, but won't listen to you, forget 'em. I run into it all the time... people who think they'd do me a service by telling me my faith is a sham but won't even take the time to listen to why I believe it. Most of the time they haven't actually read a Bible passage, in essence these particular people don't even know what they're talking about or refusing to believe. Shake the dust off your feet and let them wallow in whatever their problems are. I'll listen to you if you're willing to listen to me. I'll even let you go first. My bleeding liberal friends have had this to say about me. "For a Republican and a Christian, he's pretty open-minded."

I don't want to start a religion flame war, but it's the best example I can give. AC's aren't typically worth responding to. And neither are people who don't care to listen.

Re:My Bicycle and Kayak

[eboot]

Truly you are an inspiration to us all sir,

Not only do you do physical activity but you manage to do it with your head firmly up your own ass

Also based on the fact you have decided to post your comment on a website specifically for geeks shows that despite your physical prowess, you are not particularly bright.

I guess people who read books recreationally are the same? Or avid chess players?

Not Mr.Schultz... This is Ron Shea!!!

[barfy]

Both are from the Pacific NW. But "A Third Place" is the mantra of Mr Ron Shea not Howard Schultz. He is the owner developer of Crossroads mall, Lake Forest Mall, and importantly Third Place Books and he is the current owner of the Honey Bear Bakery (which lead seattle in the slice of cake and a coffee movement), which no longer exists in its original location.

Third Place describes the environment that he has tried to create at the Malls and the Third Place Books in the old PCC in Seattle. They have large central courts that are utilized by the general puplic, gaming communities (he likes chess it would appear), community theater and concerts. Along with a variety of food.

His idea is creating the "Third Place" that you go to hang out. After work and home.

He has been moderately successful, but not as univerally accepted as you may think. I think he is right that there exists the concept of third places, but alot of them exist spontaneously, (like Cheers) and only up to a size where everyone knows your name. And they aren't as successful larger than that. But the concept is successful enough, and they are very pleasent places to visit.

Re:This third home is a waste of time.

[Anonymous Coward]

My definition of "successful" is enjoying myself. If I enjoyed MMOs then playing 30 hours a week would be a success.