Sociopetal vs Sociofugal

             I have been trying to figure out the criteria for my research method for the parks I'm going to visit, and I came across sociopetal vs sociofugal design and found it interesting.
sociopetal: arranged so that each can see and interact with the others
sociofugal: arranged so that each can maintain some privacy from the others

         Being a student at Evergreen, I'm very familiar with sociopetal spaces designed to facilitate connectedness. Every time you walk into the library or use the computer center you have a full on sociopetal experience ready or not. Its interesting to stop and take a look around the public places you are at during the day and see how they are designed and what that design facilitates. Airports are notorious for being sociofugally designed. DMV's and traditional class rooms are frequent offenders of sociofugal design also. Public parks and open spaces are a mixed bag. Parks with athletic fields/courts and playground equipment usually uses sociopetal design to facilitate connectedness with people and others in their community(sociopetal). Large open spaces with paths and vista's usually facilitate connectedness with people and their environment(sociofugal). Each experience is important to us as individuals and collectively. I plan to visit parks in the urban environment that are sociopetally designed to connect people and activities that traditionally don't go hand.
             The "circle" or the "ring" is the basic sociofugal icon. When people are in a circle it makes it almost impossible not to make eye contact. When groups of people want to bond, they usually do it in a circle. Athletes huddle, campers gather around the fire, Knights strategize at the 'round table', having to look someone in the eye at close proximity brings out an honesty in people for better or worse. Even though urbanites live in densely populated area's, a lot of us don't really connect with our neighbor's. Neighborhood parks are a good place to bring people together and the way they are designed is crucial in determining socialpetal or socialfugal experiences.