We’re All Only 6 Degrees of Seperation
Paris has always been a city made up of little villages called quartiers. When you live in an area for some time, you begin to know your local merchants and they begin to know you as well, but more often than not, people just don’t seem to know their neighbors very well.
Well all that started to change when a website called Peuplade started bringing people in each village a lot closer together. The way it works is sort of like a virtual bullentin board. You answer a questionaire about yourself, (there are no questions about jobs, sex, or age to keep away any type of discrimination) and voilà, all the details that you have given appears on a map of your quartier and people can get in contact with you or you with them.
This isn’t just your average “I’m looking for a baby-sitter for my kids.”, or “I’m selling my old bike.” type of board. It’s more about meeting your neighbors who may have the same sort of interests you have, like jogging together. Or perhaps you can do an exchange with a neighbor watering your plants while you’re on holiday, and then you taking care of their cat while they’re on theirs.
Peuplade post upcoming events, like having an “apéro de quartier”, (a friendly drink at the local café, bistro or bar), or a neighborhood outing, or a dinner party. They even have get-togethers on the Métro! On June 5 there’s an apéro in the open air at La Defense starting around 20h next to the carousel. Bring your own drinks and food so everyone can watch the sunset together. So far, 173 people have signed on for this evening picnic.
This idea started in the 17 arrond. and has proven to be so popular that it is spreading throughout Paris. Even apartment buildings are starting their own mini-peuplade. In large cities where so many single people can feel lonely, this is a great idea. Like they say, “If you don’t want to eat alone tonight, or perhaps you want to go see a film with a group, …. then come to one of our meeting places and there’ll be at least 2 or 3 happy people to join you!” As a matter of fact, people have become fast friends and some have already fallen in love; there’s a Peuplade baby who has joined the ranks!
I love this idea! It shows how really connected we all are to one another. Six degrees of seperation! I’m not sure, however, if it would work in large cities in some countries like the U.S. It’s too bad, but it’s also a whole different mentality where crime is high and people are afraid of letting strangers know personal details about their lives.
Photo Credits: Flickr
Tags: 6-degrees-of-seperation, b5media, bicycles, bistros, cafes, france, Grande-Arche-de-la-Defense, paris, Paris-Traveler, Peuplade, the paris travelerRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Announcements, Interesting Locals, News & Events, Outdoor Activites
0 opinions for We’re All Only 6 Degrees of Seperation
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: