LOCATION
What are dichotomous locations?
Topophilia, the sense of place, is often an important aspect of most human endeavours. People emphasize the significance of various places to them in terms of familiarity and comfort on the one hand, and unfamiliarity and discomfort on the other. The “home fires” idea associated with the personalized arrangement of one’s own residence is often contrasted with the impersonal similarity of multitudinous hotel or motel rooms. The sense of place however, can extend out from the home to include the neighbourhood, city, region, country, and continent on which one resides. And different locations usually do have a different sense of place. It may be the foliage; it may be the presence or absence of rainfall or sunshine; it may be the time zone, it may be the elevation above sea level; it may be the longitude or latitude; it may be the people and their language, their religion, their ethnicity or their eccentricities – but whatever it is that makes another location distinct, the uncomfortable feeling one gets from being in an unfamiliar place may persist for prolonged periods of time. Alternatively, it may be a welcomed change, but in either case it will be a distinct feeling.
How are dichotomous locations used?
People usually do pay attention to the place they are currently in, or the places between which they are going. Most of us shop at a different micro-location from where we live, whether it be down the street or across town. If something is to be sent to us, by mail or a mover, we need to provide a correct address (location) to assure the delivery is made properly and promptly. People may be either proud of their residence or working locations, or ashamed of them. They may be “up town” or “on the wrong side of the tracks.” We use locations to find people, to track them, and to evaluate them. Government services are provided according to location – people in different locations are eligible for different provisions. Many governments also control the use of locations through zoning laws – so that types of activities and structures are clustered into different areas rather than being randomly dispersed. So place does matter.
Marketing and various other surveyors regard locational data as an important indicator of the information they are trying to assemble and use. The combination of computer and communication technologies has enabled the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), whereby advertising is addressed, services are delivered, traffic is routed, infrastructure is planned and operated, and regulations are applied. As citizens and consumers, people need to be aware of the geographical implications of their residential and work locations, as well as their travelling patterns and leisure activities – living on a flood plain can result in ruinous water damage; living in a residential area limits the commercial options for a property, but it entitles those living there to many community services. Well-being requires locational knowledge.
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