A lot of the things we do on a daily or weekly basis have ways of doing them that can either be private or communal, some of these which we do not think to consider as having that characteristic.
For example, bathing in the Roman Empire used to be communal, but then Rome fell and citizens in the splinter countries began taking baths privately.
Receiving mail is another example. There are countries which don’t have mailboxes and everyone gets their mail at the post office in the PO boxes. It was the United States which pioneered the idea of the modern mail system, which is why we associate it as a private act.
There are activities as well which don’t have any history as jumping between one or the other that might benefit from it, for example I think towns might benefit if internet was free and freely accessible but only at the local library.
What’s a non-communal aspect of life you think should be communal?
Laundry. Why do each of us need to have a machine and space to leave clothes to dry when we could have a common space for that?
Counterpoint: laundromats are some of the most boring and depressing places. Harsh fluorescent lighting, always some TV droning away with an annoying channel you’d never choose to watch and don’t want to have to hear, commercial machines that vary from one laundromat to another so as an occasional user, you never know if you need to bring quarters or if it’ll take a card, plus sometimes people feel entitled to take your clothes out of the dryer if they want the specific machine you’re using, etc etc etc. Plus you can’t just run a load at your leisure, you’ve gotta schlep all the way to the laundromat with your clothes and detergent. I get why they’re necessary but I’m glad I’ve got my own washer & dryer.
The place I use lately has a bookshelf and a machine that serves free coffee. Pretty comfy in there tbh
Yeah laundromats are annoying. I was rather thinking to have some space in the apartment building to share with neighbors.
It sucks to have drying racks taking up all my living space.
Don’t you have a dryer?
No
Just curious, why not? It seems like the obvious solution. And if your space is limited, there are machines that do both washing and drying.
Laundromats are minimal-involvement small businesses, so not communal in a strict sense of the word.
In a more social-oriented society, I could imagine a communal laundry being part of a social hub, people could meet up and play games, watch movies, etc while waiting for laundry.
In college there was a laundromat with a diner that served decent burgers. Was always a treat.
Hmm… you know what, that actually sounds kinda delightful!
This is considered standard equipment in all apartments in Sweden, both co-op and rentals.
When I hear about the washing rooms where women would go to do their laundry, they sound so fun. A lot of work of course, but just a great place to sit back and gossip.
I’ve had clothes stolen in shared laundry rooms. Not a fan.
Communal laundry rooms are quite common on some places.