I reckon we are already stood on opposite sides of the fence on this one, but I'll give it a go.
They are one of the few places in town (more importantly) villages were people can meet socialise and generally relax.

Pubs are important. In a time when more and more people are staying in at home watching telly, internetting and only heading out to go to work Mon - through till Fri, there are communities where people don't know their own neighbours let alone anyone else on the street. Pubs allow nay force you to be more community minded like it or not. Unless you are on some manic drinking mission, or are such an obnoxious tit, You WILL end up talking to people there, you will meet people who live nearby, you will then recognise these people in the street on other days and you never know you might even say hello….

The one I drink in has 3 old boys all in their late 80s all widowed they still come out for 2 pints a night, a game of dominoes and a natter with the locals (young and old). They will tell you that their evening jaunt, is the one thing that has kept the 3 of them sane over the years. And if one of them fails to turn up for whatever reason, people will ask why, and if no reason can be found someone will drop round by the house to make sure they are ok.

Given the descriptions you give I reckon you’ve been in some fairly shonky establish But why not look round to see if you can find a decent real ale pub near by. Go in have a pint enjoy the smoke free air, and chat to someone, then you might realise the pubs are important.

Edit: I just realised that I have never considered wobbly a barstool to be the end of the world? Usually they are good for the comdey value when someone drops off it through the night!
( The magic of chutney Shakes it like an Instagram filter!, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 15:08, 2 replies)

Do you live in Coronation Street?
Or Albert Square?
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Fri 16 Oct 2009, 15:39, closed)

nope, Ambridge
Next to the Grundy's ;)
Seriously though, while It might come across as a bit twee, out here in back woods Lincolnshire, the village pub is still an important bit of village life and communities really do take a hit when one closes.
( The magic of chutney Shakes it like an Instagram filter!, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 15:45, closed)

Agreed
Sadly, out of the three in our village there's only one left.

...and of course the moment the other two went out of business, the one left put it's prices up to stupid amounts, then got rid of the carpet and plays the jukebox at stupid volume so no-one can hear themselves think let alone have a conversation.

A sad, sorry state of affairs.

All that leaves is getting pissed at home on your own and going to work 9-5 monday to friday.

Oh joy.
(dchurch bah, Sat 17 Oct 2009, 11:29, closed)

no need for a fence
I'm not against pubs, they do indeed serve a lot of good purposes (the social cohesion for one thing, as you mention). I'm just saying that for me personally, a pub is not the best place for drinking, seeing friends, meeting new people or getting to know the people who live in my neighbourhoud.
Perhaps is has to do with the area in which one lives, but I still know my neighbours, we say hello, even have real conversations, and if something were wrong with one of them, I'd know without going to a pub for it.

What surprises me is the fact people so heavily defend pubs, it seems like you MUST spend time in them, lest you become a social paria. There are a lot of people who love and need pubs, but I'm not one of them, which is why I very rarely visit one.
(Poezestrepe, Sat 17 Oct 2009, 10:52, closed)