The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Chapter 3

In chapter three Jacobs outlines what she believes need to be present in a city neighborhood in order for the social network to work properly. She states that there needs to be public shops, stores, restaurants and cafés for people to meet in public setting. The purpose of these public locations is for people to have conversation with others without letting that person in on their personal lives. Without these places, Jacobs explains, people would have to choose between inviting people into their homes in order to hang out with them or not have much contact with them at all. People will start to choose their friends very hesitantly and their social network will shrink. Hey will only befriend people very similar to themselves and this will cause all groups to be separated from one another and greatly increase the probability of discrimination. On the other hand if stores are available you there would not be an all or nothing type of attitude when it can to relationships with others. You could have a casual relationship with many people of all different walks of life.