4 ms·

I don't know what society is. I don't think there's been a society for me to contribute to. All of us have our group of friends maybe, and our work life. But th

I don't know what society is. I don't think there's been a society for me to contribute to. All of us have our group of friends maybe, and our work life. But the rampant individualism and abandonment of the family unit leads us to no dialogue between peoples. Things just happen and we react to it. Go accumulate money and take vacation. I can't remember the last time I've seen more than three neighbors within a year time span. So no, I don't think I'm contributing to society. I'm only a student, after all.

anovikov 9y ago
I agree that there is no society any longer at least in developed countries. With rise of automation, there is no longer 'common good' and good old Communist class morale comes back into force: what's good for the creative class is bad for the working class. They can have a compromise based on force (compromise in speed with which creative class eats working class), but can't really have an agreement.
contravariant 9y ago
Students are the one group capable of making society better educated.
ElatedOwl 9y ago
>But the rampant individualism and abandonment of the family unit leads us to no dialogue between peoples. It's not like that everywhere. I live in a midwest metropolitan area (~230k people), when I walk passerbyers always say hi or wave. People are relatively friendly by default. Yesterday an older lady I'd never met before told me about the pace maker she had put in the Friday before. I'm rambling, but if you desire a sense of community or whatever there are parts of the US where this is very much a thing.
- nicolashahn 9y ago
  I live in San Francisco. Grew up in the South Bay. Last month I took a motorcycle trip up to Seattle along the California and Oregon coastline. I took my time, stopped a lot along the way. I was shocked at how friendly and inquisitive the people from the <5-digit-population towns were. Everyone was polite, seemed genuinely interested in conversation with me (a lot of questions about my motorcycle, but other topics too). Completely the opposite of the urban/suburban areas I was used to. This began immediately outside the greater Bay Area and let up only when going through medium sized towns or larger. Portland and Seattle were much like being back in SF. Anyways, I'm also rambling, but just wanted to add another piece of anecdotal evidence to yours. It's almost enough to make me want to try living in one of these towns for a while, which never really occurred to me before (at 25 it seems like everyone I know wants to be as urban as possible).

anovikov 9y ago

I agree that there is no society any longer at least in developed countries. With rise of automation, there is no longer 'common good' and good old Communist class morale comes back into force: what's good for the creative class is bad for the working class. They can have a compromise based on force (compromise in speed with which creative class eats working class), but can't really have an agreement.

contravariant 9y ago

Students are the one group capable of making society better educated.

ElatedOwl 9y ago

>But the rampant individualism and abandonment of the family unit leads us to no dialogue between peoples. It's not like that everywhere. I live in a midwest metropolitan area (~230k people), when I walk passerbyers always say hi or wave. People are relatively friendly by default. Yesterday an older lady I'd never met before told me about the pace maker she had put in the Friday before. I'm rambling, but if you desire a sense of community or whatever there are parts of the US where this is very much a thing.

nicolashahn 9y ago
I live in San Francisco. Grew up in the South Bay. Last month I took a motorcycle trip up to Seattle along the California and Oregon coastline. I took my time, stopped a lot along the way. I was shocked at how friendly and inquisitive the people from the <5-digit-population towns were. Everyone was polite, seemed genuinely interested in conversation with me (a lot of questions about my motorcycle, but other topics too). Completely the opposite of the urban/suburban areas I was used to. This began immediately outside the greater Bay Area and let up only when going through medium sized towns or larger. Portland and Seattle were much like being back in SF. Anyways, I'm also rambling, but just wanted to add another piece of anecdotal evidence to yours. It's almost enough to make me want to try living in one of these towns for a while, which never really occurred to me before (at 25 it seems like everyone I know wants to be as urban as possible).