The Nyon Whatsapp Chat as Third Space

For several months there was a chat room that provided people in and around Nyon with a third space that they could dip into, to see about social opportunities. The concept of the third space dates back to the 1920s or earlier. The first space is the home, and the second space is the office. The third space is a bar, pub, or other space where people go to hang out when they’re not at work.

In this day and age we work in offices, sat at computers, and we might cross thousands of people as we commute to and from work, but we’re often isolated by the same tech that provides us with connection. Earphones isolate us. So do distracting apps.

With a Whatsapp chat we have that third space where we can be in Geneva or Lausanne for work, or elsewhere. We could spontaneously say “Anyone want to meet up after work?” or “Anyone want to skate tomorrow?” and people could see it and join in.

The value of an open chat is that anyone can offer something spontaneously, and if there is interest it can be expanded, and if not then it can be forgotten. The point is that the return on investment, for a spontaneous suggestion, if people are interested is huge, and inconsequential if not.

The current model that replaced the third space discussion forum is a hierarchical system. You have to write a description, add a date, add a time, a meeting point, write a blurb and more. You then need to get it approved. The result is that what took 5 seconds before takes an hour or more today.

The third space, where we could chatter had tremendous value because it provided a communal space to be spontaneous. When it was barricaded behind the “admins only” wall, for conversation, it lost all of its value, especially when it is used to promote events in Lausanne and Geneva.

The entire reason for that niche third space is that it allowed people to be sociable without driving to Geneva, or Lausanne. By being a local chat it added to the “village” ambiance.

The Bulletin Board

When you replace a third space with a bulletin board, you undermine the community and you stop spontaneous meetups. You funnel all of the community’s energy into silos. Cross-pollination of ideas die off, and you’re left with a dormant community at the seasonal peak of social activities.

The Irony

Running and cycling groups are the third space, rather than a virtual platform or a physical location. The third space is the runs and the rides that I go on. The third space stretches from Morges to the Vallée de Joux towards La Cure and down towards, and around the Salève. The third space is huge. Strava and meetup help me see when and where to meet people, but since events are regular I could simply have a default place to be on specific days of the week.

I can’t call Strava a third space, because conversation is minimal, but within this environment it makes sense. That minimalism, in Whatsapp groups makes no sense.

In the end I just wanted to write that Whatsapp should be the third space but that mid to late adopters don’t like that notion, so it’s a bulletin board. When was the last time you studied a bulletin board at a shopping centre?