Bars are notable for staying open late, but I’m not really familiar with alternatives that might operate similarly. I think many cafés (at least around my area) tend to close a few hours earlier by comparison, which would be my go-to for an alternative otherwise, so what other options are there?
Is hackerspace the common term for these? I think I’ve also seen makerspace, or at least it sounds like there’s overlap. I may have to do some more searching along these terms, but any time I’ve read of these it seems like they’re more around larger cities or university towns/cities, which I don’t happen to live in at the moment.
Hackerspace is the original term, but some places call themselves Makerspaces instead because “hacker” has a negative connotation with the common populace. A hack, in the original sense is almost equivalent to ‘redneck engineering’. It’s a non-formal environment, probably doing non-standard things…thus a hack.
They are generally found around larger cities, universities, etc – there’s not enough population otherwise to keep them running as they’re generally member-funded, and they still gotta pay things like rent.
Fablabs are similar, but corporate-owned and you’re expected to use tools and GTFO; not stick around and be social.
Interesting.
For me, Makerspace always made more sense. You go there to make something. Hacking, while not negative, always has the meaning of modifying existing things to me, which does not always apply.
I hack together an item = I merge several items into one. I hack an item = I modify an item.
Not a native speaker, so I’m unsure if that is the correct usage.
I always expect to see avid golfers show up to a hackerspace and get confused….
Or horseriders :D
Or trash novel writers ;D