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There are fundamental issues to the dissolution of community (in the US): - People working more hours - People moving more frequently - Reduced home ownershi

There are fundamental issues to the dissolution of community (in the US): - People working more hours - People moving more frequently - Reduced home ownership rate - Lack of reciprocal interdependency: people don't "borrow hedge clippers" anymore - Deference to contractors and service providers over DIY* - (Discounting religious aspects) Downfall of church as the basis of local community - Fear of other and strangers promoted by mainstream media - Status snobbery increases greatly in a society where material needs are satisficed - It can feel like wasted effort or carrying the relationship to arrange social gatherings and parties when there is a lack of reciprocation * As far as I know, I'm the only one on the block who can operate wire strippers, soldering iron, backhoe, auger, vehicle jack, air compressor, angle grinder, and sourcing specialty items (sometimes from overseas). Most of the people on my block are introverted game players, TV watchers, and don't have many hobbies. Meanwhile, I'm bugging my second cousin for single prop Cessna engine hours over at thriving aero sales and training school in between doing PPG which doesn't need any licensure in the US.

operatingthetan 3y ago
>As far as I know, I'm the only one on the block who can operate wire strippers, soldering iron, backhoe, auger, vehicle jack, air compressor, angle grinder, and sourcing specialty items (sometimes from overseas). Most of the people on my block are introverted game players, TV watchers, and don't have many hobbies. I feel like you might be not talking to your neighbors at all. I live in a tech metro area and people are always working on their houses and have many hobbies. A neighbor borrowed a belt sander from me last week.
- em-bee 3y ago
  i have a few hobbies that you wouldn't notice if you didn't spend a significant amount of time with me. even the people who share one of those hobbies have no idea what else i do.
brindlejim 3y ago
These are all great points. Would add that wealth separates people. Both in the form of larger houses and lawns, and hiring contractors instead of entering into reciprocal interdependence. There's a weird gravity to media and entertainment that sucks people out of the old analog forms that include community (church) into new digital forms that impose for distance (games and TV). We have been replatformed for the sake of capitalism.

operatingthetan 3y ago

>As far as I know, I'm the only one on the block who can operate wire strippers, soldering iron, backhoe, auger, vehicle jack, air compressor, angle grinder, and sourcing specialty items (sometimes from overseas). Most of the people on my block are introverted game players, TV watchers, and don't have many hobbies. I feel like you might be not talking to your neighbors at all. I live in a tech metro area and people are always working on their houses and have many hobbies. A neighbor borrowed a belt sander from me last week.

em-bee 3y ago
i have a few hobbies that you wouldn't notice if you didn't spend a significant amount of time with me. even the people who share one of those hobbies have no idea what else i do.

brindlejim 3y ago

These are all great points. Would add that wealth separates people. Both in the form of larger houses and lawns, and hiring contractors instead of entering into reciprocal interdependence. There's a weird gravity to media and entertainment that sucks people out of the old analog forms that include community (church) into new digital forms that impose for distance (games and TV). We have been replatformed for the sake of capitalism.