General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Americans are the loneliest, most isolated people [View all]WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)I'm young, 47, and active, but my family is in California and the only people I talk to daily are on Facebook, non of whom live near me. After about a week or more, my Mom would get around to calling me. But I live in an apartment building in Chicago and someone would suspect something (don't want to get graphic) and not because we see each other often, either. I live in a building with 23 units and rarely see anyone!
More to your point, you're right, this society is absolutely sick. I work in mental health. I'm convinced the way we live contributes to many mental health issues beyond depression. Our society is as bipolar/manic-depressive as people I know.
Interestingly, my mother is Italian and lived in a house with 3 generations. Her grandparents spoke Italian, her parents both languages, but the kids only English. She said she hated it and was happy to leave for the suburbs. I, on the other hand, hate suburbs. I love, for instance, public transportation. I love that we pack ourselves in trains and buses and "violate" each other's personal space, but no one cares. I often just look around and see everyone on the crowded train just doing their own thing with someone standing above them or very close next to them.
I romanticize the bits and pieces of what I hear about other cultures and draw conclusions that the Italians or Spanish got it right. I have no idea, I just know we are sick, and our society is sickening, and I believe there is causality.
As for me, I used to live with people, but it never worked out. It's about me. I can go on and on about me, but I won't. But I am a product of cruel, capitalist society that I detest. So in that respect, I'm just as messed up as our society, so I'm not hard on myself. I just work with others and it seems to be soothing.