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I think the claim made in the article, that minor social interactions like receiving a "Thank You" from the cashier instead of using a self-checkout booth, prev

I think the claim made in the article, that minor social interactions like receiving a "Thank You" from the cashier instead of using a self-checkout booth, prevents loneliness is really dubious. In fact, the article also mentions shallow conversations as creating loneliness, so it contradicts itself there. I don't get what the article is trying to say. Loneliness is a communication, information and anxiety problem. The first two, communication and information, are problems technology can easily help solve. Helping people getting over their anxieties is way harder of course, but technology used properly can help there too. People/governments just needs to take the issue seriously and start doing stuff to solve it.

VLM 10y ago
"Loneliness is a communication, information and anxiety problem. The first two, communication and information, are problems technology can easily help solve. Helping people getting over their anxieties is way harder of course, but technology used properly can help there too." I find it utterly fascinating that this summer is the 50 yr anniversary of the "Summer of Love" where the problems of loneliness of young boomers was solved by contraceptives, weed, and music, and now that generation is in total control culturally and politically, the solution to the problem half a century later is obviously a really nice new fitbit. (edited to add, and both solutions were the most "California" solutions imaginable in that era)
- Arizhel 10y ago
  The boomers are only partly in total control now; the Xers also have a lot of control. Regardless, the hippies who went to the Summer of Love are a tiny minority of the Boomers. Most boomers were rather conservative. The hippies either died out or faded into obscurity, while their mainstream peers are the ones who have taken control of society and given us a giant mess.

VLM 10y ago

"Loneliness is a communication, information and anxiety problem. The first two, communication and information, are problems technology can easily help solve. Helping people getting over their anxieties is way harder of course, but technology used properly can help there too." I find it utterly fascinating that this summer is the 50 yr anniversary of the "Summer of Love" where the problems of loneliness of young boomers was solved by contraceptives, weed, and music, and now that generation is in total control culturally and politically, the solution to the problem half a century later is obviously a really nice new fitbit. (edited to add, and both solutions were the most "California" solutions imaginable in that era)

Arizhel 10y ago
The boomers are only partly in total control now; the Xers also have a lot of control. Regardless, the hippies who went to the Summer of Love are a tiny minority of the Boomers. Most boomers were rather conservative. The hippies either died out or faded into obscurity, while their mainstream peers are the ones who have taken control of society and given us a giant mess.