The commentary ``The Introversion of America'' by Tom R. Halfhill (May) relates directly to my experiences living in a circa-1920 house--with a porch--in the small town of San Luis Obispo, California, and to my own ambivalence surrounding the prospect of virtual communities emerging on computer networks.
You may have read that the San Luis Obispo city council was considering an addition to the city's general plan that would require front porches on new residential construction, with the explicit intention of fostering neighborhood interaction. I'm in love with the little town I live in, but artificial attempts to preserve the closeness of this community will probably be overwhelmed by the inevitable reasons why a growing population turns away from relationships that are arbitrary and involuntary.
The front porches of our neighborhood are almost always vacant. It has to do with the ever-expanding range of choices we have. When we gain a new freedom, we tend to exploit it immediately without realizing what we're giving up. Perhaps San Luis Obispo's porch proposal and the attention it's received indicate that people are starting to question the choices they've made. Thanks again for your excellent essay.
Ken Broomfield
San Luis Obispo, CA
There are much better ways for a city to foster a sense of community in its neighborhoods than requiring builders to add front porches. Front porches don't cause social interaction; they facilitate the social interaction that's already happening. What next--will the government mandate fireplaces and hearths to promote family togetherness? If nothing else, however, at least it signals an awareness of the problem.
--Tom R. Halfhill
I appreciated your May commentary. A few months ago, I got a Unix/Internet account after a long period of goin
g without, and I have been enjoying it very much. But it can absorb a lot of time. Today was one of a series of beautiful days in Seattle, and I decided to turn off my computer and take a walk around the neighborhood. I took my issue of BYTE and my dog along with me, and I came upon your article while lying in the sun in the park. Thanks for a thought-provoking article.
Doug Johnson
Seattle, WA
Superb article! While walking to the train station in San Bruno, I passed through a residential district in the downtown area. There stood an old house with a nice, old-fashioned front porch. It was encased, top to bottom, all the way around, with metal bars. Thought you'd be interested.
Brad Taylor
Sunnyvale, CA
Virtual Communities vs. the Neighborhood
