What do think of this article.....?

Question

"Americans' circle of close friends shrinking" -Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, separated by work, commuting and the single life...-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060623/us_nm/life_friends_dc

worldwide speaking, do you think we are becoming lonnier because of this capatilism life we are in?

Answer 1

I've heard that the two biggest contributors to declining socializing were air conditioners and televisions. Before air conditioning, people would sit outside on hot nights, and many people slept on the roof or something. Because of this, neighbors would see each other all of the time and develop close relationships. After air conditioning, people shut themselves up indoors during the summer, because it was cooler inside (whereas before, it would have been more comfortable outside). This resulted in distancing between neighbors and neighborhoods.
The second factor I mentioned was television (and computers). People can amuse themselves for a majority of the day, if not the entire day, by themselves. They can simply turn on TV, or log on to their PCs. Now, people sit in front of a screen instead of play with other people. We shut ourselves up. This is a huge factor in the dilemma.
It really is a shame that people are becoming less and less social. Every time we find a way to improve connection (telephone, internet), we just drive ourselves apart. Why go out to meet your friend when you can simply call? And why call when you can go online? And why go online when you can send a text message? But that list was decreasingly social. Personally, I'd rather IM than text, and I'd rather call than IM. And above all, I would much rather see the other in person. Nothing can replace that.

Answer 2

I know at the job I have this is the case. Our office is a 24-hour operation. The friends I have on usually on a different schedule than me & there is not much chance on breaks to meet or talk to people.
Bu the time I am off work, I am too tired to go out.

We could be more isolated now than we used to be since we do more socalizing over the internet than in person, however.

Answer 3

Maybe, but what does it have to do with capitalism? Marx thought alienation stems from the fact that workers own nether means of production nor the product of their labor. Ask any child psychologist today, and they will tell you that many individuals who tend to feel alienated have experienced parental neglect or abandonment between ages two and six. Marx was a genius in that he could see the problem. But he lacked training to attack it...

Note also that the study didn't ask the question of whether people wanted or needed more trusted friends than they already have. So it's entirely possible that people have fewer friends because they want fewer friends. There is a lot of people out there who think that issues are to be discussed not with friends (who have their own complicated lives), but with therapists, who are trained to handle it and get paid for doing it, so there is no perception of inconvenience.

It is also important to remember that the shape of individual's social network changes with time. In the U.S., for example, participation in church-related activities has been declining for decades, while participation in professional societies and activist groups (from Greenpeace to Habitat for Humanity) has been on a seemingly endless upswing.

At the same time, friendship as a phenomenon is exploding among the under-30 crowd. Time magazine ran a cover story on it in the Jan. 24, 2005 issue. Find it in your local library, it's worth reading.

To recap, articles like this one are interesting, but you should consider them as food for thought, not as a thought substitute.

Answer 4

The assumption that we are constantly marinated in is the three economic assumption of unlimited rationality, unlimited capacity for consumption, and unlimited self interest. I am seeing a stronger institutionalization of self in all of out activities. There is a typical disgust for us relying on someone else for anything. Divorced, or widow/ered individuals are pitied for leaving the finances, washing cooking driving, to the other person instead of trusting them to do it so that they can specialize in another activity needed by the partnership. So much for Adam Smith ideals of economy of specialization.
So we have a strong sense of self. We got self respect, self help, self awareness, self actualization.... we even have self checkout at Home Depot. Anyone who lives for someone else is seen as weak or flawed in some way, yet half of the world typically lives for others, at least within their families. I'm not bashing Americans, of who thanks to there is undisputable dramatic improvements in the world. Even within our individualistic society, this disdain for self-lessness has pockets of holdouts such as mother/father hood were many parents, myself included, don't see changing the goals in our lives to accomodate our kids' development as a setback or inconvenience.

Anyhow, it's difficult to explain in less than a book, but it isn't really capitalism causing this. Even Marx, and more directly Mao suggested that it is individualism. For example, on the job, we may be given, at best, 3 days (unpaid) off for losing a brother or sister, a whopping 5 for a kid or parent. We are penalized for prioritizing our family commitments above work, or even appearing that we may do so. Maybe capitalsim causes individualism.
I'm am a supporter of capitalism, but not of pure individualism. People are meant and designed to not stand alone and be all purpose for themselves only.

So, we are getting lonelier- because we are told and because we tell each other we must be alone.

Answer 5

I think we are looking at some people who are lonely not all. It takes extra energy to connect with people. I am quite elderly and so fortunate to have good neighbors and friends who look out for me. When I worked full time, it was different, everybody was too busy.

A neighbor, 38 year old guy, had a heart attack in my house today! We(neighbors and friends) mobilized to care for him, took him to the local doctor, a nurse friend looking in on him.

Please be a friend and good neighbor, take the time, you might need them sometime.

Answer 6

Capatalism isn't to blame. It is the acceptance of anti-social influences like video gaming, computers, and the stand-offish behavior that is prevalent in entertainment media. But that is to name a few.

Answer 7

The fact that this question is being asked online is enough of an answer in my opinion.