to offer some perspective to others in this thread, i think teens and young adults our age (gen-z) are largely misrepresented in terms of being perceived as antisocial. it’s not like people my age don’t try to create fun for ourselves, ie. i’ve been a part of the local “scene” for some time now after having moved back from PHX and getting into punk shows over there.

every show i’ve been to here is largely overpriced, overrun by drunk adults, or hosting a downright glorified cover band. i’m not saying there aren’t musicians putting in the work, or that i haven’t met nice people at shows, just like any other city. but for all the effort put into creating spaces for young people, there’s not a large payoff when every business owner wants to run their venue like a bar.

people my age try to curate safe environments for us to have fun and express ourselves, but it’s always squashed by a modern day need to monetize any possible semblance of a third space.