In an attempt to
make Vancouver more engaged, the Mayors Engaged City Task Force has made a
recommendation for more communal tables. These are long tables with chairs put
on each side going from one end of the table to the other, open for strangers
to come and share a meal with other strangers. Many people think this is a
great idea; it can bring people together and make Vancouver a friendlier place.
However, many people prefer to go to a restaurant with the people they know and
talk to the people they know.
Those who agree
with this idea believe that an engaged city is one that can bring people
together so that they can speak and address issues of common importance, solve
problems that they share and bring a positive change to people’s sociability. Strangers
should be given the chance to get to know each other, and while dining with
others, it gives you the opportunity to engage in conversation and bond and
learn from each other. Also, it helps develop better manners, and the small social
skills used during the meal times can provide a base for future social
interactions. An example could be if new immigrants were coming to Vancouver.
If they were to go into a café that was filled with people who chose to keep to
themselves, remaining in an eerie silence and refusing to socialize unless
necessary, that would not be a very welcoming sight.
However, others
prefer to keep to themselves and only converse with the people they know. Ian
Tostenson of the B.C. Restaurant Association says that it’s a nice idea but
doubts it will change much. Many people like to go to a restaurant with the
people they know and talk to the people they know, not with strangers who decide
to take a seat next to them and have a conversation. It is found to be surprising
that the Canadians who are friendly, willing to give a tourist directions or
help with a flat tire, find the common joy of food to be too intimate to share.
I think this is
a great idea for people who are outgoing and willing to have a conversation
with someone they just met, and it can definitely help to bring people
together, making any place more engaging. However, I find it uncomfortable when
I am seated at a table next to another group of people. There is no
conversation, yet I still feel awkward about their presence. I have no
objections to being friendly and engaging, but I find that eating is not
something I would do with someone I do not know very well. There are people who
enjoy talking to others in an act of friendliness, but there are also those who
feel shy and awkward, and do not wish to socialize with strangers. I think this
should happen in Surrey, but not throughout the entire year. It would be good
for everyone to come together and socialize, and for the people who are shy,
for them to step out of their comfort zone and have a friendly chat with
someone. However, if this event went on at someone’s favorite café or
restaurant every day, specifically someone who does not feel comfortable in
engaging in conversations with strangers over a meal, it could prevent them
from not wanting to come back. Before the event starts, they could have
possibly gone there every day. But if they were put in a position that they
were not comfortable with, surely they would not want to return. If you like to
converse with strangers, go to a café or restaurant that has communal tables.
If you do not, you are not being forced to eat and engage in conversation with
strangers. Although it is recommended, it is not necessary if you do not want
to attend.
Links For Information:
Awesome article Amy. I like how you provided a "cause & effect" statement to support both arguments For example, "Also, [communal dining] helps develop better manners, and the small social skills used during the meal times can provide a base for future social interactions." Because we have communal tables (cause), we can develop better manners (effect). A good argument should include cause & effect in order to persuade the reader(s), and I think you did a good job with that! I think you should extend on some of your arguments, though. Why do you think many people mind if they sit next to strangers or not? Do you think there could be a way to get shyer people to interact with strangers when using the communal tables (for example, tell them to bring a more outgoing friend who can help them with interactions)? I also like how you extended, and included ideas that were not written in the article. Overall, I think you did a great job with this article.
ReplyDeleteAmy I enjoyed your post because you have alot of detail in your paragraph. You gave one main idea for each paragraphs and you also gave your own opinion to each paragraph. You gave the right idea of the topic your writting about and it really gives people an idea of communal dinning if they never heard about it. Overall i think you did really good on the topic! Good Job:)
ReplyDelete