"In the pub there is a general freedom from anxiety–any man with the money can be certain of a welcome. Paul Halmos describes the pub of the period as "the only free, non-esoteric, non-exclusive, weatherproof, meeting place for the ordinary worker."
. . Sherri Carivan, an american sociologist whose doctors degree was based on her visits to San Francisco bars, describes public drinking places as open regions–people who are present wether aquainted or not, have the right to engage others in conversation and the duty to accept overtures from them. The concept was developed by Erving Goffman and goes beyond the obligation not to snub others, to the point where a person can not be offended when someone else approaches him/her.
from "Personal Space" Pg 122
Posted by delpesco at February 18, 2004 01:37 PM