@lordbowlich restaurants have moved in the same direction.
IT's all hard surfaces and industrial design, which means there's nothing to absorb the sound, and you can't hear the person across the table from you over the noise from the people across the building.
We're starved for community, and our few remaining 'public' spaces make it worse.
I never lived on a college campus, but I had lots of friends that did. I spent a large portion of my late teens and early 20s in the Public Spaces that college campuses provide. Every building, it seemed, had a huge ground floor with tables and electricity and wifi, and some of them also had free coffee.
I imagine that this is what it would be like if we made libraries more focused on being community spaces, gave them longer hours, and encouraged socialization or events in the evenings.
Pick up some #Bepis cola at your local Ģ̸̸͠͏r̸͢͟į͟z̴͞҉͢͡b̨͢͠y̧̧̛'̷̷̢́͡ś̡ convenience store.
Anarchist. Cat. Anarkat. White Cis Male. Don't worry, I'll die eventually. Polyamorous & pansexual. Sometimes I say dumb stuff. When that happens, tell me. I'll figure it out.
Location? Idunno. The walls are grey and plain, and it's difficult to get to. Could be a bunker. Or a suburb. Hard to tell.
I drive. A lot. Many attempts have been made on my life by whatever spirit is behind bad drivers, but I'm still around.