Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
I agree, especially as a majority of people leave home to just move into apartments that have neighbors so close everyone involved has to worry about walking too loudly... And now working online makes moving for a job less necessary...
But I do think there's an issue with the majority of homes not being built to be multi-generational. I live in a smaller house on the family homestead. But almost no one I know would fit in their parent's homes at all, and only a couple would fit there with the privacy needed for a married couple.
The culture shift will be quite slow as we have to fight both social norms and having to make adjustments to current and future buildings.
Here in Greece, houses are mostly built from reinforced concrete with a flat roof. When kids are old enough, another storey is built on top for them. When parents die, the "kids" move downstairs, leaving the upper floor free for their progeny.
It was odd to see so many homes with unfinished top stories in Greece, until my friend explained what you have just said.
It is really Americans who differ from most of the rest of the world where extended family living situations are concerned.