Why are we becoming increasingly unfriendly/un-neighborly?

Question

It see seems like people are becoming more closed-off to others they don't know as the population grows. And it also seems like the bigger the city or town is, the less likely it is for people not to know their own neighbors. Do you agree? Why do you think that is? Why are we becoming more "un-neighborly"?

Personally, I am a very friendly person and I often smile and say hi to people I see when I'm walking my dog, waiting for a bus, etc. However, I've noticed that a lot of people just want to be left alone and sometimes even give me an unwarranted attitude. That's what made me think of the question and I guess I was just wondering why...some type of quality in human nature, etc.

I noticed this way before getting a dog :-P

Answer 1

i think there are: 1) just too many of us too close together.
2) people just don't care like they could
3) there just isn't any trust between us
4)and manners just aren't a priority
in some ways i think it is sad. it is also frustrating. but, that doesn't mean we can't smile...they are contagious ya' know!

Answer 2

There are studies on population density and the increase in violence. It seems when populations reach a certain level, the hostility and violence go up.

I, personally, think it's because people have less and less respect for the property of others. As an example, it's 9:30 p.m. and I have a little pack of 8-14 year olds setting off fireworks in my front yard. Now, they all have homes of their own, so setting them off in my yard is strictly a display of their lack of boundaries. However, the nice sheriff's deputy was very happy to kick all their little butts off the street for me and threaten them.

A couple of things...when I had a 8-14 year, she wasn't out without adult supervision at 9:30 at night...never screwing around in front of a neighbor's house...and certainly wouldn't have fire works. So, am I unfriendly and un-neighborly? Absolutely. I dont' want to be friends with people who can't raise their children to have a basic level of respect for others.

This is why I'm looking at buy several acres in the middle nowhere and would prefer it if it came with razor wire and landmines around it...and a moat with alligators...and gun towers.

Answer 3

I am also friendly. We live in a society where kids are taken, people walk into work and shoot their bosses, there are drive by shootings, all kinds of violence so people are just scared to talk to each other. It sucks, but I try to share my smile and a friendly hello, my theory is that if I smile at two people and they do the same the whole world will smile,and if you smile it is hard to be angry and hate.

Answer 4

FAST, Faster, and fastest! The world revolves around speed and hurry up. Microwave ovens, cell phone, music stuck in your ears, no one has to listen, computers do everything, Children stuck in front of TVs. Unfamiliarity breeds distrust, and distance, which brings out the me first. Try smiling at a stranger and saying Hi and see what happens. It is very interesting!

Answer 5

Britons see Americans as cruel, arrogant: poll
London: Britons see America as a cruel, vulgar, arrogant society, racially divided, crime-ridden, obsessed with money and led by an incompetent president, according to a newspaper poll published today.

As Americans prepare to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their independence tomorrow, the Briton's opinion about them has touched an all time low.

Only 12 per cent of Britons trust Americans to act wisely on the global stage, 'The Daily Telegraph' poll revealed. This is half the number who had faith in the Vietnam-scarred White House of 1975.

A massive 83 per cent of those questioned said that the United States doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks.

US President George W Bush fared significantly worse, with just one per cent rating him a "great leader" against 77 per cent who deemed him a "pretty poor" or "terrible" leader.

More than two-thirds who offered an opinion said America is essentially an imperial power seeking world domination. And 81 per cent of those who took a view said Bush hypocritically championed democracy as a cover for the pursuit of American self-interests.

US policy in Iraq was similarly derided, with only 24 per cent saying they felt that the US military action there was helping to bring democracy to the country.

A spokesman for the American embassy said that the poll's findings were contradicted by its own surveys. "We question the judgment of anyone who asserts the world would be a better place with Saddam still terrorizing his own nation and threatening people well beyond Iraq's borders.

this is a London news paper article copy and Paste, it tells you how britons feel about americans.these are not my comments.

Answer 6

i think people are becoming so involved in there own lives and success that they don't even notice other people. especially when we get older-eg/ when my neighbourhood was young, we all knew each other, cause the kids wanted lots of new friends. now that we are older, we still only really know the people we knew when we were young

Answer 7

It's because we live in a world where everyone wants the biggest and best. Why do people in L.A. need SUV's? We're too concerned with ourselves to stop and listen to the answer when we ask: how are you?

Answer 8

I think in large towns, people find others who are interesting, but they don't want to explore beyond the workplace...I prefer to meet people in a better way then walking up and talking...it's kinda wierd otherwise...

Answer 9

It's probably because of your dog. There are dogs in my neighborhood unfortunately and if I see one I am the first to tell it's owner that I don't like dogs.

Answer 10

You have the answer in the question Population density dictates behaviour