The Front Porch

Based on this essay, “The Front Porch”, McCovey seems to value close relationships and private time. McCovey talks about how sitting on the porch fell victim to the invention of automobiles and electricity, leaving no visible reason to continue sitting on the front porch. Sitting on the porch was mostly done because there was nothing else to do. Now that we have luxuries like cars and air conditioning, I think McCovey feels that we are taking our private time for granted. He discusses sitting on the front porch with his grandparents, sounding nostalgic when he states that people no longer sit with their families and have alone time.
To some extent, I agree with McCovey. I also value privacy and personal relationships. Electricity and automobiles were around long before I was, so it’s hard for me to say that life would be better without them. I understand McCovey’s viewpoint. A front porch is a place to sit and relax, to get away from your every day distractions. Now, the television is our distraction. While I also value privacy, I believe that there are many different ways to have your own alone time, and I accept that times have changed. Every generation has something that most people will inevitably become consumed by, and our is television and entertainment. I agree with the values McCovey embodies, but I also understand why they are hard to keep up with.