Dichotomy of the low versus high intensity meeting points
Ragnar Audunson elaborated the dichotomy of low versus high intensity meeting points. This dichotomy grasps the difference between those places where we experience and gratify our core interests and commitments – and meet those who share these – (high intensity) and those where we can meet and be confronted with people with different interests and values (low intensity).
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In case of religious people, the church, for sportsmen, the sports club, for students with similar interest a study club and, often enough the workplace can also be a high intensity place. At these places, the meetings are intensive and orchestrated around specific subjects and/or values. People can be sure that the others also share at least most of the values that determine their life and it explains why the characteristic features of these places is openness and confidence. Among the regular visitors of high intensity places (scout team, choir, sports club, civil community, bible class), everybody can be sure that the others will not laugh if he or she sincerely shares the thoughts in his or her mind, that the unattended personal belongings will not be stolen, plighted word has a value and – in general – the atmosphere is safe. It is not necessarily true in case of those communities where the members do not know each other and cannot be sure that the others share the same values. That explains why the society also needs low intensity meeting points where people can hear the opinions and values of others and get to know each other, promoting this way the strengthening of confidence also among strangers. In multi-cultural societies, low intensity places are necessitated to observe people of lower or higher educational level, different ethnicity or religion and learn about their customs. However, only value-neutral, open spaces are suitable for this purpose, like libraries, or other public education institutions that offer safe place for self-expression. At these places, there is a chance to spend time together also for those people who, due to the lack of common interest, lack of similarity in age or life situation would never be at the same place.
There is need for low intensity meeting points to increase social capital. In general, we can say that life is easier and simpler if people trust each other. In order to create trust and confidence, we need places where there is an opportunity and chance to meet life situations, cultures and norms different from ours and create common values.
References:
- [1] Audunson, Ragnar: The public library as a meeting-place in a multicultural and digital context The necessity of low-intensive meeting-places = Journal of Documentation (61. évf.) 3. sz. 429-441. p.
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