Palmer social media is not a bad thing

If you’re not aware, this newspaper column has a large online following on social media. It’s simply the Palmer Alaska Buzz on Facebook. Daily there are at least 50 new postings of one thing or another. Sometimes there’s announcements, sometimes there are proclamations, sometimes it’s gossipy in a good way, sometimes it’s technical weather or nature oriented material relevant to our Palmer area. Many times it is just photos of our community. Sometimes it is bewildering and sometimes it is innocent. And sometimes it is just a bench.

It’s Just a Bench—Yep. It is just a bench. A comment about the appreciation of the public bench was mentioned on our Facebook page. It was something about—how nice it was to have a place to sit at the front of Fred Meyer’s Grocery Store. It was a nice comment. Quite a few people chimed in on responsive posts saying yes, it’s good to be able to change your ice cleats to normal shoes for the store. Yes it’s good to be able to rest with your grocery bags. Yes, elders and disabled folks really like benches. Yes it is a good spot to wait with the babies for a ride. Yes it is a fine social spot in Palmer. There was a lot of positive recognition and gratefulness for this particular bench.

The Conversation Swirls—There is growing consensus that benches are good in our town. Perhaps we should have more of them. Maybe they are destinations for people. Maybe they would encourage more pedestrian walking. Suggestions are offered for various locations. Comments consider more sidewalk spots and possibly the post office. Again there is agreement, thus far, that benches are indeed an unsung hero of good public spaces.

The Conversation Flips—As quickly as the enthusiasm was generated on the bench, suddenly it projects as an evil element. Public benches invite bad behavior. Benches attract a toxic element and substances. Benches become a catalyst for argument. Benches are open invitations for loitering. Soon comments become quite political in nature including crude comments and loathe-some descriptions. (Of course these comments are immediately removed by the administrator, but the controversy continues about the good and evil inherent in sitting benches.)

The Conversation Surrenders—Naturally when the icky comments are removed, the conversation sputters a bit. It’s difficult to go back to the earliest discussion of resting weary bones. Now the simple bench discussion has people looking for cover, because it became an uncomfortable topic. Hostile architecture is discussed slightly. Alternatives are offered to lessen the comfort of a bench with various accoutrements like straight metal backs or protruding arm rests to discourage laying down on a bench.

The Solution???—Don’t make benches too cozy. They are for sitting—not reclining. They should not be comfortable enough to rest easy for hours. And by all means, have more uncomfortable benches more places in town. Spikes nor flags are necessary but arm rails provide security from defensive behavior. Limit the uses of benches. Concrete bases provide less creative spaces for antisocial behavior. Benches alter a “pass through” space to a “social” space so consider carefully the social interaction spots you wish to promote.

Sometimes, Palmer Social Media is Amazing—After reading and culling and editing so many comments on two long “bench” posts, I feel as if Palmer has just taken a real class in successful communication on Urban Planning. It was just amazing to see the way our collective minds work when facing a situation or a problem. And folks, this is the joy of public hearings and comments.

Barbara Hunt lives, writes and paints Palmer, Alaska. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of our Palmer community. Barbara shares the good stuff weekly in the Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222