> Friends are good for unspecialized labor, but when you get into skilled labor it falls apart. I wonder if this alone holds a lot of explanatory power for why

> Friends are good for unspecialized labor, but when you get into skilled labor it falls apart. I wonder if this alone holds a lot of explanatory power for why people in many increasingly developed countries tend to have increasingly fewer close friends in their personal lives. Labor gets increasingly skilled and specialized (and requiring facilities, supplies, and support staff owned by large companies) leaving fewer opportunities to directly help people who live next door. And skilled/specialized labor pays more, so people have the money to just hire out any help they need. Thus fewer friendships form around a natural need for help from neighbors and the ability to meet such needs -- because both have decreased significantly. And along with less needing/helping, human connection and trust also suffer significantly. In the past, local community groups, especially churches and social clubs, helped significantly with fostering human connection; but those also are suffering significantly.