Facebook and other social media outlets are often compared to online, modern-day coffee shops. They are where people meet, greet, share stories, woes of the day, quick nods and smiles, and many times more than a few laughs.
This fine morning, as I initiated my membership in the B & J’s American Cafe Coffee Club, I was reminded both of how similar they are and also how much more colorful the real coffee shop can be.
A guy walks in and asks the waitress in a friendly tone, “It’s quiet in here, where are all the crazy people?” She points to me at the counter and says, “Here’s a new one.”
He sighs with that assurance and replies, “Okay, now I feel better.”
As a group of age-acquired-experience folks chat over coffee, I am amazed how technically adept they are. Their topics included 4G coverage on Verizon, one guy was checking his email via a connection of his buddy’s that he was tethered to, talking about fact checking things they researched on snopes.com, how fast their internet connection was at various joints in town (Heads up, business owners: We are paying attention -- make it easy for us to connect!), and how many network are available from B & J’s.
Grouchy, funny barber-like conversations overhead:
Nice Guy 1: How is your dad doing, Doug?
Nice Guy 2: Well he is sick right now in the hospital.
Nice Guy 1: Wish I would have known, I would have gotten him a dirty card!
Nice Lady 1: Why is he staying there? There are cheaper places to rent a room and get a lousy meal.
Their Facebook use came up as an interesting subject:
Guy 1: I don’t know on there at all. It is such a gossip site.
Lady 1: That’s why I go on there - to talk about all of you after I leave here.