Have you noticed? Driving through our neighborhood about 60% of the homes have a porch. All these have a couple of chairs, sometimes rockers, sometimes sofas, or porch swings. There is...

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Driving through our neighborhood about 60% of the homes have a porch. All these have a couple of chairs, sometimes rockers, sometimes sofas, or porch swings. There is never anyone in them! People seem to never sit out front of their homes anymore. Years ago people would sit outside and enjoy the cool of the evening, wave at neighbors, and occasionally come across the lawn to talk to someone from the area walking by. At times they would invite them to sit on the porch with them and offer tea or something else to drink.

We seem to have lost a lot by becoming more involved with our computers and televisions. It's one of those romantic nostalgic pieces of life we seem to be continually losing like steam engine trains and soda fountains where we could order a black cow or fizzy or a milkshake made with real hand-dipped ice cream.

We can't turn back time but in so many ways it would be nice if we could.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Depending on where you live sitting in front can be dangerous. I noticed when I moved to Indiana in the early 70's nobody had privacy fences. I guess knowing and interacting with your neighbors is a thing of the past. By the time I returned to California everyone was hiding behind privacy fences and most didn't know their neighbors. Sad state of affairs

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Curmudgeon wrote:

Depending on where you live sitting in front can be dangerous. I noticed when I moved to Indiana in the early 70's nobody had privacy fences. I guess knowing and interacting with your neighbors is a thing of the past. By the time I returned to California everyone was hiding behind privacy fences and most didn't know their neighbors. Sad state of affairs

When I lived in the city I found knowing my neighbors other than their names and just saying hello usually ended up causing me trouble.
Out here in the sticks we wave at each other when passing, speak when we pass in a store or see them having trouble ( ask if they need help) and give help if needed. Everyone seem very happy that way.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I live in the country and have a large porch with great seating. But the AC doesn't reach me there and I watch the news etc. in the evening. Seems a waste not to use it but then comfort is where you find it!

muggins88 Loc: Inverness, Florida

Growing up in southern Ohio, we had a front porch swing and all the family would sit outside in the evening and neighbors that walked by would stop and talk. Good memories

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

People nowadays are more busy doing various things.

pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

I sit out on our front porch a lot 9 months of the year here in Mass.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Front porches are likely a throwback to pre-industrial times when home owners would sit on their front porches to greet and talk to their neighbors who were out for a stroll. Now-a-days you sit on a front porch and what do you see? Noisy cars and trucks passing by.

I wonder how many house features are the same. Window shutters, for example, have absolutely no function other than possibly aesthetics yet at one time they served a valuable function.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

fourlocks wrote:

Front porches are likely a throwback to pre-industrial times when home owners would sit on their front porches to greet and talk to their neighbors who were out for a stroll. Now-a-days you sit on a front porch and what do you see? Noisy cars and trucks passing by.

I wonder how many house features are the same. Window shutters, for example, have absolutely no function other than possibly aesthetics yet at one time they served a valuable function.

Back then, many people were out and about, Not so much anymore.
My street is one block long. The only traffic we get is from people on the street coming and going, and an occasional delivery vehicle.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Sitting on the front porch may increase your odds of being a victim of a drive-by shooting...and it won't be with a camera. 😁

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

Sitting out on my front porch at my house I have a neighbor on my right that has a privacy fence. On my left is my neighbors house with no fence at all. My neighbors are friends like in my old days. Next door if they need anything they call and we get it to them, food or otherwise. If we need something we ask and the most often get it to us.
I'll bet that few, others than us don't have this kind of relationship any more. We are very lucky to have them next to us. Back in the past we had our concrete steps removed and had a wooden deck built wide enough to hold two swivel chairs so we can sit out front and watch our 12 bird feeders.
Life here is great except for the Grocery prices.

bobups Loc: Bath pa

My house didn’t come with a porch over here in bath maybe I’ll have to drive over to your house

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

When the weather is nice I sit out on my porch. Down here in South Louisiana, it's too hot in the Summer to sit outside for any length of time.

BebuLamar

I have never owned or lived in a house with the front porch.

Nodpete Loc: Naperville, IL

We have a front porch with a bench and a couple of chairs. Use it all the time. I have a radio out there (on low) and I drink my morning coffee and read the paper when the weather is warm. If someone walks by we may or may not say Hi, some cars wave. I'll sit out until the weather gets to cold. We seldom use our deck because it gets to hot even with an umbrella. We use to have a lot of trees in the back yard, as did our neighbor but most have been cut down due to old age so now we get a lot of sun, no shade. I'd replant but at my age they wouldn't get tall enough to give shade so I'll just sit on the covered front porch.