Porch sitting

Porch sitting, i.e., sitting on a front porch or stoop, usually of a private residence is a leisure activity which can be a direct or indirect form of social interaction. The activity is a staple of most urban areas in the United States and helps contribute to a lively atmosphere for the people sitting and also for passers-by. It is most common during good weather, especially on warm summer nights and weekends.

Porch sitting was once considered to be a status symbol.

As well as being a good way to connect with neighbors, it is also an important form of community security by helping to prevent crime. Front porches were originally mandated in the planned community of Seaside, Florida, as a way to reduce air conditioning usage. Its planners perceived an enhanced sense of community and front porches subsequently became an important element in the New Urbanism movement. During the summer of 2006, All Things Considered broadcast a series of stories dedicated to the role of the front porch in American life and literature.

There are now thousands of (tongue-in-cheek) Professional Porch Sitters Unions in all 50 U.S. states and at least three other countries.

Sitting equipment varies greatly across cultures and historical periods, reflecting the diverse uses and social meanings of these everyday objects.

Some see a potential downside of sitting on porches: the intrusiveness of porch-based surveillance.

On hot summer days, it was formerly cooler out on the porch than it was inside the house. Air conditioning has thus replaced porch sitting and enabled people to socialize in the comfort of their homes although porch sitting is still common in areas in which the climate is warm.

Other causes of a decline of porch sitting are television, which provides other entertaining sights, and the motor car, which made street views noisier and unpleasant.