The coffee lounge

JJinPA

I've been here a few times and have seen no place to sit, and where the heck is the pot?



Seriously, I remember decades ago there were coffee lounges that had couches and tables and shelves full of books.  Where did those places go?

I used to go places and see familiar faces.  Conversations were easy and natural.  I'll start a conversation in a checkout line (unless they act like I annoy them) but as far as going somewhere and talking for an hour or two, not for more years than I can count.

Rosie_Scope

Coffee's up on the counter @JJinPA, pull up a chair and help yourself to a cup!

Lots of social spaces have been disappearing over time, which is a shame for lots of people. I hope we can provide a virtual equivalent though!

66Mustang

What you say is funny and I think lots of people will be able to relate

People do seem less willing to chat these days but then sometimes I have to say I do find young people more approachable

When we are walking the dog and someone comes towards us on a bike or something, it's often the teenagers who will say "thank you" to us and the older people just ignore us

Maybe today people have constant access to the people they like most via their phones, so why would they "waste" time talking to strangers when they can talk to people they really like ... a bit sad I guess but maybe that's a reason??

JJinPA

66Mustang said:

Maybe today people have constant access to the people they like most via their phones, so why would they "waste" time talking to strangers when they can talk to people they really like ... a bit sad I guess but maybe that's a reason??

So the more we are connected the less we are connected.  That really is sad.  If you talk to someone enough they aren't strangers.

For me, I don't know anyone that shares my passions.  That might be a big part of being lonely.  Or maybe we don't know how to talk to anyone anymore unless we have an LED screen between us.  There is a certain false confidence when you don't need to look at someone's eyes.

Of course, it used to be siting and waiting for time to pass (maybe a waiting room) you sat in boredom so you'd talk to others waiting.  Now just pop up a website and amuse yourself in silence.

I miss the days when if you played a game it was with someone that sat across the table.

Back before the World Wide Web, the early days of computing, there were Bulletin Board Systems (BBS sites).  They were local.  You literally dialed up someone else's computer.  You talked to strangers that lived around the corner.  We would have picnics once a month where we would all get together in a park or somewhere.  You got to know the real person, and you had a face to go with the text.

Now relationships are anonymous.

I've spoken with people all over the world now, and in a way that can share ideas that never would have been shared, but there is a cost.

66Mustang

@JJinPA

I absolutely share your perception of things there, I guess it's a double-edged sword?

I'm in a situation that I find quite unusual and while I have come across lots of understanding people, if you put aside groups aimed at a certain thing, where you obviously meet similar people, I have never in 30 years of my daily life come across someone who actually can share my experiences like just through general life if that makes sense

In like 5 years being part of the "online disability community" I've found maybe a dozen people who I can relate to very much in one or more areas of life and also found one person that shares lots of things, to the point where at first it crossed my mind that are they taking the mick by saying they experienced loads of the same stuff, but they were very much genuine

That said I very much value real life interpersonal relationships ... maybe this is a weird thing for someone with autism to say but I actually value the internet less than most "normal" people do - except for the fact that it's more possible to find likeminded people which does make it a valuable thing for me

JJinPA

I don't know.  I'm not sure autism is a handicap so much as a realignment.  I can't say this is so about the entire spectrum of autism.  But personal experience suggests it's like getting a great deal of one characteristic while getting less of another.  My son was dxed to be on the autism spectrum.  Sure enough he is an oddball with many deficits but he has his talents also.  My wife decided I was on the spectrum after she studied up for the benefit of our son.  For me, I was near genius for mechanical understanding.  Even as a small boy there wasn't much I couldn't figure out how to fix.  I also had lighting fast reflexes, almost precognitive.

But then, set me in a classroom and I would lag well behind.  My recall has always been limited.  Wow I hated tests.  I can spell the same word six different ways within a single paragraph.  Zero pattern matching skill.  If it wasn't for that red squiggly underline I'd never get through a post.

Math?  No way.  For that I was never given much credence for my ideas (always wanted to be an inventor).  But math isn't for figuring things out.  It is a language for explaining what was figured out.  I never did well working for or with someone.  But give me tools and a bench and leave me be and I can build most anything.

I've heard autism referred to as a super power.  Sure, you suffer limitations, but for my observation there is always something that is at peak performance.  My superpower is anything and everything that can be bolted together.  What's yours?


On a different note, I had a 64 1/2 Mustang back in 75.  If you don't know, the first Mustangs were released early in the year to beat the seat belt laws, hence the weird year.  My brother had a 69 Mach 1.  My favorite 'stang has always been the 68.  I can't afford one now.  That's sad for a car that fully decked out sold new for under $3000.

If I could go back to the 60s I would in an instant.

66Mustang

I agree with you wholeheartedly about autism, well, in some cases, as you say. I’m sure people who can’t cross a road safely or wash themselves wouldn’t refer to it in the same way but, for me, I decided a while ago that I don’t actually want to “cure” my autism, I just want to be able to deal with the drawbacks a bit better

That is a pretty cool “superpower” that you have, and honestly not something I’d expect somebody with autism to have!!! I would have assumed something more academical or theoretical. I guess that even with experience of the condition I still have preconceptions about its nature!!

I’d say my “superpower” is kind of 2 things but they merge into 1. I always try to see all sides of an issue, but to the point where sometimes I come across as taking the controversial side and questioning what’s seen as unquestionable…and also I am obsessed with things being equal, and justice, but this comes with a cruel/dark side as I consider applied cruelty to sometimes be necessary in bringing some people to justice

Unlike your “power” mine does not have any practical application…  

That’s an interesting car history there!! I am guessing you are from the USA based on your username? I didn’t know what about the Mustangs and seat belts!! I suppose, if it makes you feel any better, $3,000 in the ‘60s was probably close to $50,000 now so it would have been quite something to afford one even then!!

A ‘60s Mustang is like £30-40,000 here for a good notchback and £60,000 for a fastback, I actually prefer the notchback but still that’s out of my price range!! Out of curiosity how are prices like for ‘60s Mustangs in their homeland? I am assuming they are maybe more expensive here, as all classic Mustangs here are imports as they only officially started selling them here in 2014

JJinPA

66Mustang said:

I agree with you wholeheartedly about autism, well, in some cases, as you say. I’m sure people who can’t cross a road safely or wash themselves wouldn’t refer to it in the same way but, for me, I decided a while ago that I don’t actually want to “cure” my autism, I just want to be able to deal with the drawbacks a bit better

Same here.  I'd like to improve my deficits, but not at the cost of my assets.

"That is a pretty cool “superpower” that you have, and honestly not something I’d expect somebody with autism to have!!! I would have assumed something more academical or theoretical. I guess that even with experience of the condition I still have preconceptions about its nature!!"

It's not so much.  Just logic.  Cause and effect as one part interacts with another.  Academic and theoretical?  Those are abstracts.  I am horrible with abstracts.  No logic to it.

"I’d say my “superpower” is kind of 2 things but they merge into 1. I always try to see all sides of an issue, but to the point where sometimes I come across as taking the controversial side and questioning what’s seen as unquestionable…and also I am obsessed with things being equal, and justice, but this comes with a cruel/dark side as I consider applied cruelty to sometimes be necessary in bringing some people to justice"

I tend to examine things from several perspectives too.  It annoys me when someone is stuck on their point of view when there is clearly another side to it.

Equal: I'm Libra.  I can't help myself. 

I tend to favor the underdog.  Fair play.  The world is **** because of those that take more than they give.

Unlike your “power” mine does not have any practical application… "

I'll disagree.  Having a voice that keeps the playing field level is so important.  Keep voicing your opinion.  There are those that will listen.

"That’s an interesting car history there!! I am guessing you are from the USA based on your username? I didn’t know what about the Mustangs and seat belts!! I suppose, if it makes you feel any better, $3,000 in the ‘60s was probably close to $50,000 now so it would have been quite something to afford one even then!!

A ‘60s Mustang is like £30-40,000 here for a good notchback and £60,000 for a fastback, I actually prefer the notchback but still that’s out of my price range!! Out of curiosity how are prices like for ‘60s Mustangs in their homeland? I am assuming they are maybe more expensive here, as all classic Mustangs here are imports as they only officially started selling them here in 2014"

There is probably an easier way to respond to points in a reply.

Yes.  USAian.  I have a distaste for calling myself an American because Canadians and Mexicans are Americans too.  What gives the US the right to that label?  Maybe a Statie?  I've spent most of my life in the US southeast.  Sothern at heart.  Circumstances beyond my control have dropped me in this frigid north.

I'm not a steadfast Mustang guy.  I love them for sure (72 and older).  Pretty much any American muscle from the 60s.  It's like women.  How can we not love more than one? 

Mustang sales surprised me.  I found a site that lists sales per year.  I won't list the address for fear of losing this post.  But for example, 64-65 (not seat belted sales) 121,538.

Ford was shocked at the popularity of it.  Their plan was to provide a low cost car for students.  But everyone bought them and quickly.  They upped production in 65 with 559,451.

Your 66 is the biggest sale year with 607,568 produced.

Sales dropped year by year after that with 72 having fewer than 126,000 sold.

That is still a lot of cars.  More than 2 million sales over 8 years of production.  With that many available the market for them is saturated.  Chevelle, GTO, Firebird can bring higher prices.  Fords routinely sell for less because (I believe) they saturated the market when the cars were new.  So, unless it's a Shelby, or a limited high end model (Mach 1) then you could find Fords for $50k (US) and under and most often $20K and under.

Chryslers seem to bring the highest sale prices.  As I expect, because their share of the market then was smaller.

I do love details.