For me - this is the vital expression of the issue: “All of this time alone, at home, on the phone, is not just affecting us as individuals. It’s making society weaker, meaner, and more delusional.”
But so many pretended - and continue to pretend - Covid was little more than the flu, even as our neighbors died and were buried.
A night alone away from a crying baby is one thing. A decade or more of chronic social disconnection is something else entirely. And people who spend more time alone, year after year, become meaningfully less happy.”
It would be interesting to find out if acedia is trending up along with social disconnection.
Sobering. I sense how this is a growing reality and the negative tendencies. I’m grateful this is not my reality—sometimes the cost of movies and dinners out is part of my reality but almost weekly we go out with another couple—which makes me wonder about those who are single and how we can incorporate those relationships as well.
Would love to hear a bit more from you, Scot, on the implications of this article/topic for the church. Are we due for a reset on the importance of learning and practicing hospitality? What could it look like within the church and within our community? The deep theological challenge of “self vs. other” seems somehow at the core of what might be a grand opportunity to bring Light into growing darkness.
"it’s no surprise that the erosion of the village has coincided with the emergence of a grotesque style of politics, in which every election feels like an existential quest to vanquish an intramural enemy.” Isn't that a definition of a computer game?
"Tech giants" are distortedly formed people. Clever people screaming for connection and attachment. Zuckerman at least admits his whole life work started out as a desire for a girlfriend. Musk's overt demand for connection by his intense interest in having so many children . . . and advocating that the rest of us need more children is grotesque. Children need more actual attention, the planet doesn't need more people. The planet needs more people who care about people.
Very interesting! We go out to eat every Friday evening and every Sunday afternoon, with friends in a church I pastor. On both occasions of eating out, the restaurants are crowded. On the first Wednesday of the month, we have a free supper at the church. We generally have more people at the meal than we do in church on most Sundays.
Scot, I know we get to hear from you thru the books you review, but it also nice to hear directly from you, like this and your post yesterday. Thanks
Thank you Scott.
For me - this is the vital expression of the issue: “All of this time alone, at home, on the phone, is not just affecting us as individuals. It’s making society weaker, meaner, and more delusional.”
But so many pretended - and continue to pretend - Covid was little more than the flu, even as our neighbors died and were buried.
A night alone away from a crying baby is one thing. A decade or more of chronic social disconnection is something else entirely. And people who spend more time alone, year after year, become meaningfully less happy.”
It would be interesting to find out if acedia is trending up along with social disconnection.
Sobering. I sense how this is a growing reality and the negative tendencies. I’m grateful this is not my reality—sometimes the cost of movies and dinners out is part of my reality but almost weekly we go out with another couple—which makes me wonder about those who are single and how we can incorporate those relationships as well.
Would love to hear a bit more from you, Scot, on the implications of this article/topic for the church. Are we due for a reset on the importance of learning and practicing hospitality? What could it look like within the church and within our community? The deep theological challenge of “self vs. other” seems somehow at the core of what might be a grand opportunity to bring Light into growing darkness.
"it’s no surprise that the erosion of the village has coincided with the emergence of a grotesque style of politics, in which every election feels like an existential quest to vanquish an intramural enemy.” Isn't that a definition of a computer game?
"Tech giants" are distortedly formed people. Clever people screaming for connection and attachment. Zuckerman at least admits his whole life work started out as a desire for a girlfriend. Musk's overt demand for connection by his intense interest in having so many children . . . and advocating that the rest of us need more children is grotesque. Children need more actual attention, the planet doesn't need more people. The planet needs more people who care about people.
FIND A KID NEAR YOU AND BE A FRIEND.
Very interesting! We go out to eat every Friday evening and every Sunday afternoon, with friends in a church I pastor. On both occasions of eating out, the restaurants are crowded. On the first Wednesday of the month, we have a free supper at the church. We generally have more people at the meal than we do in church on most Sundays.