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This is more "extreme sensory deprivation is bad" rather than "extreme isolation is bad". There is lots of evidence of extreme social isolation having minimal

This is more "extreme sensory deprivation is bad" rather than "extreme isolation is bad". There is lots of evidence of extreme social isolation having minimal impact on people's mental stability over long periods. It's not that we need people, it's that we need to be able to form our own narrative. We need to know what we're doing, why and what it's getting us. Extreme isolation of small groups seems much worse, especially long term where increased rates of social deviance becomes evidenced.

prawks 12y ago
Any examples of isolation of small groups? Sounds like it would make a fascinating case study.
- gregw134 12y ago
  There was a family in Russia that lived in isolation from the time of the Tsars until the 1970s. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-40-years-this-russian-family-was-cut-off-from-all-human-contact-unaware-of-world-war-ii-7354256/?no-ist http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-40-years-this-russ...
  - soperj 12y ago
    Tsars were in control before ww1 not ww2.
    - aquadrop 12y ago
      Yes, that makes the story more fascinating. They left home during revolution and actually, youngest daughter was still living there alone up until recently (2010-2011 I think).
      - soperj 12y ago
        I think you're reading the story wrong, they even talk about the Bolsheviks killing the guys brother. They would have gone into the wilderness just before WW2, years after the revolution(Based on them being there for 40 years, and being found in 78).
- doxcf434 12y ago
  Vice has a show called Far Out, which documents people who have lived on their own for many decades. http://www.vice.com/far-out http://www.vice.com/far-out
- electromagnetic 12y ago
  The Pitcairn Islands are the one example I can think of right now. There was a large sex assault trail against numerous inhabitants, meaning the island now has the highest rate of sex offenders per capita in the world. They also used to have a strict moral code forbidding dancing, drinking or smoking.

prawks 12y ago

Any examples of isolation of small groups? Sounds like it would make a fascinating case study.

gregw134 12y ago
There was a family in Russia that lived in isolation from the time of the Tsars until the 1970s. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-40-years-this-russian-family-was-cut-off-from-all-human-contact-unaware-of-world-war-ii-7354256/?no-ist http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-40-years-this-russ...
- soperj 12y ago
  Tsars were in control before ww1 not ww2.
  - aquadrop 12y ago
    Yes, that makes the story more fascinating. They left home during revolution and actually, youngest daughter was still living there alone up until recently (2010-2011 I think).
    - soperj 12y ago
      I think you're reading the story wrong, they even talk about the Bolsheviks killing the guys brother. They would have gone into the wilderness just before WW2, years after the revolution(Based on them being there for 40 years, and being found in 78).
doxcf434 12y ago
Vice has a show called Far Out, which documents people who have lived on their own for many decades. http://www.vice.com/far-out http://www.vice.com/far-out
electromagnetic 12y ago
The Pitcairn Islands are the one example I can think of right now. There was a large sex assault trail against numerous inhabitants, meaning the island now has the highest rate of sex offenders per capita in the world. They also used to have a strict moral code forbidding dancing, drinking or smoking.