Talk us into it
The role of conversation in a changing society and public realm
Conversation has long been the cornerstone of our society. New technologies enable us to speak to people anytime, anywhere. However, there is growing concern – both in the UK and elsewhere - that we are talking less than we used to. This work suggests that this is a misconception and that the issue is actually much more complex.
A series of crises, from ASBOs to concerns over security, and the adherence to outdated ways of thinking about social involvement have intensified concern about our sense of community. The way that we engage with those around us has changed. We no longer necessarily connect with either conventional structures like community societies or even less formal associative fora, like markets. Community involvement remains of vital importance, but structures of engagement no longer reflect the ways in which people are comfortable in having their say.
This work asks some questions about our assumptions of community and the possibilities implied by changes in our society and the nature of our conversations. It proposes that, by combining what we know about conversations with what we know about the changing nature of community, we have the opportunity to reinvigorate the public realm to engage a wider range of people and give voice to the wider range of opinion on which our society is now built.
