Your article reminded me of an insightful reading from Steven Johnson: "Where Good Ideas Come From". Johnson explains how pubs in Britain once thrived as spaces for exchanging ideas, but as drinking intensified, the quality of intellectual interaction diminished. Coffeehouses then emerged as ideal public places for thoughtful dialogue and creative exchange.
This resonates with my own preference for sharing a cup of coffee with friends, colleagues, and students. Coffee shops—whether Juan Valdez in Latin America or Starbucks globally—seem to be reclaiming that role as modern hubs for social connection and idea-sharing.
In a complex world, with a constant pressure on our own biases (social media) could be a root cause of derailing the consumption on weed and facing a loneliness society. The solution is also on our hands, less display interaction with apps that enhance our biases, and more face to face interaction with other minds that challenge our current paradigms (sharing a good Colombian coffee, of course).
When I was 15-16yo the pressure to try alcohol while i was hanging out with my friends it was too much that today I hate family and close friends events just bc of that. But yes we need to socialize more for sure.
I was a big drinker from 16 - 25 (British culture) but now at 39 I couldn’t dream of meeting for a “drink”. It’s either lunch/coffee/dinner, a walk or an actual activity
Alcohol and weed sure are bad for your health, but I fear that phones, screens, social media are the new risky versions that people partake in now. Making us dumber than weed does and as anti-social as a drunk is.
And that spans from young kids all the way up to our 65+ year old parents that are also addicted to scrolling
Freddy, me encantaría leer las consecuencias del canabis prontamente de tu parte. Lo primero que me dijo mi circulo de compañeros cuando dije que deje el alcohol, fue “¿por qué vicio lo vamos a remplazar?”
Freddy, I think your point about generational change is valid, but the evidence shows that economics and urbanism play a much stronger role today than in the past.
- Economic inequality: A meta-analysis of 70 studies found that inequality significantly reduces civic participation and community life【Oxford Academic, 2022】.
- Cost of leisure: Research shows that the relative price of recreational activities has increased compared to wages, limiting access for younger generations【NBER, 2020】.
- Urban planning: The Congress for the New Urbanism highlights that decades of car-oriented urban design and suburban sprawl have accelerated the disappearance of “third places” like cafés and pubs【CNU, 2024】.
- Digital displacement: Studies confirm that digital entertainment at home competes directly with social spaces, reinforcing isolation【Science Array, 2025】.
So while previous generations did socialize despite having fewer resources, today’s structural conditions — higher costs, urban sprawl, and digital culture — make it harder to sustain third places. It’s not only a generational shift; it’s a multifactorial transformation.
Gracias por escribirlo, Freddy. Hay algo clarisimo y es que las conversaciones con 3/4 cervezas son mas profundas que con 1-2 porros. Otro punto para el alcohol jaja.
We really need to tackle loneliness, but bars and drinking culture shouldn't be the only way out, especially as those spaces start to fade. While board games are a great start, there has to be more we can do to bring people together phsycally and make real connections. If you were going to design a space or an experience to help people meet, what do you think the best alternatives would be?
Story very insightful and well supported by data. Indeed, we as a society are loosing the pleasure of having a conversation, meeting new people and even staring at the horizon doing nothing. Also, the shift from alcohol consumption to other types of substances seems not to be a clever move; actually I think there will be a next era of products to fight against loneliness at the cost of our mental stability, just like in Huxley's "Brave new world".
Your article reminded me of an insightful reading from Steven Johnson: "Where Good Ideas Come From". Johnson explains how pubs in Britain once thrived as spaces for exchanging ideas, but as drinking intensified, the quality of intellectual interaction diminished. Coffeehouses then emerged as ideal public places for thoughtful dialogue and creative exchange.
This resonates with my own preference for sharing a cup of coffee with friends, colleagues, and students. Coffee shops—whether Juan Valdez in Latin America or Starbucks globally—seem to be reclaiming that role as modern hubs for social connection and idea-sharing.
In a complex world, with a constant pressure on our own biases (social media) could be a root cause of derailing the consumption on weed and facing a loneliness society. The solution is also on our hands, less display interaction with apps that enhance our biases, and more face to face interaction with other minds that challenge our current paradigms (sharing a good Colombian coffee, of course).
When I was 15-16yo the pressure to try alcohol while i was hanging out with my friends it was too much that today I hate family and close friends events just bc of that. But yes we need to socialize more for sure.
Yeah. I felt like that for a while. I'd rather have that discomfort than not hang out now.
My mom says men need alcohol to socialize more than women do. "Women have no problem getting together over coffee or dessert".
I was a big drinker from 16 - 25 (British culture) but now at 39 I couldn’t dream of meeting for a “drink”. It’s either lunch/coffee/dinner, a walk or an actual activity
Alcohol and weed sure are bad for your health, but I fear that phones, screens, social media are the new risky versions that people partake in now. Making us dumber than weed does and as anti-social as a drunk is.
And that spans from young kids all the way up to our 65+ year old parents that are also addicted to scrolling
Freddy, me encantaría leer las consecuencias del canabis prontamente de tu parte. Lo primero que me dijo mi circulo de compañeros cuando dije que deje el alcohol, fue “¿por qué vicio lo vamos a remplazar?”
So, 🍄’s with friends then?
The thing is, it's a really loooong trip and I don't have 6h to 12h of illumination.
Freddy, I think your point about generational change is valid, but the evidence shows that economics and urbanism play a much stronger role today than in the past.
- Economic inequality: A meta-analysis of 70 studies found that inequality significantly reduces civic participation and community life【Oxford Academic, 2022】.
- Cost of leisure: Research shows that the relative price of recreational activities has increased compared to wages, limiting access for younger generations【NBER, 2020】.
- Urban planning: The Congress for the New Urbanism highlights that decades of car-oriented urban design and suburban sprawl have accelerated the disappearance of “third places” like cafés and pubs【CNU, 2024】.
- Digital displacement: Studies confirm that digital entertainment at home competes directly with social spaces, reinforcing isolation【Science Array, 2025】.
So while previous generations did socialize despite having fewer resources, today’s structural conditions — higher costs, urban sprawl, and digital culture — make it harder to sustain third places. It’s not only a generational shift; it’s a multifactorial transformation.
Gracias por escribirlo, Freddy. Hay algo clarisimo y es que las conversaciones con 3/4 cervezas son mas profundas que con 1-2 porros. Otro punto para el alcohol jaja.
Un saludo.
Saw your YouTube video and it's a very interesting research.
We really need to tackle loneliness, but bars and drinking culture shouldn't be the only way out, especially as those spaces start to fade. While board games are a great start, there has to be more we can do to bring people together phsycally and make real connections. If you were going to design a space or an experience to help people meet, what do you think the best alternatives would be?
Story very insightful and well supported by data. Indeed, we as a society are loosing the pleasure of having a conversation, meeting new people and even staring at the horizon doing nothing. Also, the shift from alcohol consumption to other types of substances seems not to be a clever move; actually I think there will be a next era of products to fight against loneliness at the cost of our mental stability, just like in Huxley's "Brave new world".
Well yes. MDMA exists.