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In reply to the discussion: Americans are the loneliest, most isolated people [View all]Lydia Leftcoast
(48,217 posts)34. Not all churches
Certainly not the one I attend or the ones I have attended in the past. (If I accidentally walked into a right-wing church, I would turn and walk right back out.)
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How so? Would traveling outside of the country help us change the isolation lifestyle? nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#2
Canada's entire population doesn't even reach California's 38 million.
SleeplessinSoCal
Mar 2014
#142
If you live in Germany, you immediately notice that the system is completely different.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#12
Even here on DU, when we hear someone is broke or in need of money, we basically say...
randome
Mar 2014
#17
welcome to du--quite an alphabet soup you have!! I think the closest thing we have to what
niyad
Mar 2014
#213
Yes, thousands of influences, the country's ideology, its laws, who has the most power, etc. nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#42
My grandpa was born in northern Spain, where villages were isolated from other villages
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#117
I think this is the core difference. Having worked in Europe, one is certainly exposed to
RKP5637
Mar 2014
#86
Mobile devices have usurped the television for pushing advertising. People are glued to their
japple
Mar 2014
#146
I've noticed this too. The less and less one does something, the less the habit of it...
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#226
Yup there are superficial & sporadic contacts, but few "for-life, give-your-all" friendships, family
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#8
Did I say churches should be prohibited? I merely said they've turned right wing and quite fascist
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#133
Big difference in friendliness between US & Germany/Ireland/Scotland/England/France
Divernan
Mar 2014
#88
Yes, I went by myself to a concert at Edvard Grieg's home in Bergen, Norway
Lydia Leftcoast
Mar 2014
#108
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss! Enemies all around us, you have only yourself to handle it, you
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#11
While the article contains many valid points, I think it's important to remember that
Sheldon Cooper
Mar 2014
#16
Yep. People have "alone time" all over the world. But isolation (what we have here) is not
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#24
Perhaps only someone who has lived elsewhere would notice the isolation in the U.S.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#45
The Japanese are known for their "introversion" yet have very close friends and family, neighbors
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#52
There have always been isolated people, just as there has always been cancer.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#164
The greater the influence of capitalism, the less reverence for the elderly. I'd hate to think they
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#171
Unrelated, but here's a very brief explanation of differences between American and Japanese
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#179
I'd seen a hugely long documentary on the respect required for communicating in Japan
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#191
My brother, who now lives in Spain (but was raised here), traveled to Japan for business
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#202
I agree. Too much discourse and "conventional wisdom" is framed by extroverts
Populist_Prole
Mar 2014
#112
I spent seven years in a town that is widely deemed "a good place to raise kids"
Lydia Leftcoast
Mar 2014
#109
Yes, in this case we've substituted capitalism for family, neighbors, of-the-heart friendships, etc.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#61
Well, in much of Europe (where there are better govt social support systems), people also have
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#54
"However, it makes a workforce of individuals that can be treated like widgets"
woo me with science
Mar 2014
#198
Live alone yet don't feel lonely or isolated. Since I stopped driving, though, feel more connected.
pinto
Mar 2014
#37
Many Americans are descended from immigrants who came by themselves or with 1 or 2 others
FarCenter
Mar 2014
#43
If that's true, why is "solitary" a punishment in jail? Why is it that putting people by themselves
jtuck004
Mar 2014
#58
It depends. If they are introverts because they are happy with the solitude, proud of
jtuck004
Mar 2014
#156
I agree with you. I've noticed that a few here have said they prefer to be alone, despite the fact
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#205
The article merely discusses the person found dead to make the point of the rest of the
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#225
But it was a mission, which is a temporary period of time, and they went elsewhere to do this
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#212
Socialization in places where people are close, tight and warm, is not forced.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#59
I wasn't born here, so I'm commenting on what I noticed and added this article. nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#70
you are a skilled straw-man fabricator. that's a compliment. high paying job in today's world. ;^p
Adam051188
Mar 2014
#113
Very interesting observation. Do you think it's because of the physical separation of homes?
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#67
You grew up in a real neighborhood. What a pleasure. Kids nowadays don't go play outside. nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#75
LOL! I also grew up "outside." We went inside to eat, shower, sleep, do homework or if we were in
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#83
Good point (about TV). I wonder why we Americans were so willing to isolate ourselves for it?
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#68
I think you're right. Work here in the U.S. is a hostile environment that leads to exhaustion and
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#129
My son's experience living for a year in 2 very remote, tiny Indonesian villages.
Divernan
Mar 2014
#73
Not surprised at all, Americans are bred to be competitive and combative, it's what
RKP5637
Mar 2014
#78
I agree they're raised that way. I'd be interested in hearing more of your thoughts on this.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#79
No, just my ramblings on DU. Part of my background is in the social sciences and out of
RKP5637
Mar 2014
#107
Ok. I also find that in other countries there are introverts (for ex., the Japanese) but they have
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#110
This might not be the best word, but I've heard some describe American behavior as
RKP5637
Mar 2014
#124
What worries me is that Americans might not even have real cliques? Just the illusions of cliques?
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#127
And especially in older age. There are IMO doubtless millions of heartbreaking stories that
RKP5637
Mar 2014
#135
Agree--competition is definitely rewarded & sociopaths take full advantage
marions ghost
Mar 2014
#94
"But often in the past I found myself investing in friends that were really just competitors."
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#136
I think MSM fear mongering has played a role in people isolating themselves.
notadmblnd
Mar 2014
#82
That's such a good point. I hadn't thought of how the MSM instills fear which leads to further
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#84
Do you think the more successful a country is, the more broken down its social ties?
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#111
Absolutely. If we all got together, we could write the definitive book on why our society is broken
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#222
I have no confidante. I write in my journal about hopes, fears, dreams.
riderinthestorm
Mar 2014
#161
Yup, when we die, only we die for ourselves. However, having a confidant used to be a vital part
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#163
I can enjoy solitude for days at a time, but eventually it depresses me
Lydia Leftcoast
Mar 2014
#122
What I mean - in the countries I lived in, even introverts had tight relationships with family
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#104
Thank you for taking the time to type this out. I feel exactly the same way.
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#220
Oddly, the article you link is about Facebook and loneliness and does not cite
Bluenorthwest
Mar 2014
#105
It includes Facebook in the article and title, but isn't exclusively an analysis of Facebook
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#106
No, the title is 'Is Facebook Making Us Lonley'. No nation is compared to another
Bluenorthwest
Mar 2014
#116
Did you read only the title? Or did you read the entire article's assertion as to isolation in the
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#118
Within all societies are extroverts, introverts, loneliness and happiness, but all societies are
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#140
Only about that? How about feeling guilty about not having read the article? :) nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#123
Yes, and on the other hand, they think if they say "hi" to someone daily, that's a true friend,
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#130
I'm so sorry. Maybe it helps to hear that this is a nationwide problem nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#178
When you are an introvert in a society that expects you to be an extrovert, it's tough.
alarimer
Mar 2014
#149
There's a difference between introversion and social isolation. Look at the Japanese...
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#162
Well, maybe it's the system of life here that you detest, and the way people are affected nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#190
I agree. The greater the insecurity, the higher the isolation. And may I add:
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#160
Oh, I know it sounds sad so let me explain (of course, you may still be sad for me :)
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
Mar 2014
#188
Another thing: being an outlier (GLBT for example) is impossible in many "close" communities
riderinthestorm
Mar 2014
#180
Yes, but I've heard that being an outlier can create a closely-knit group?
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#181
That's exactly the #1 thing the corporatists don't want us to do - organize nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#192
The outsourcing of manufacturing has contributed greatly to this isolation.
Enthusiast
Mar 2014
#196
Thanks for the awesome post. Job loss does destroy extended families, friends, neighborhoods,
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#201
Yes. I think too many of us became like cattle, just moving forward on to the slaughter -
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#210