Jan 24: Loneliness and Being Alone

 New Time:  We have adopted a Winter Season Time for Big Questions.  The potluck gathering will be happening at 6:00, with the discussion following at 7:30.  This may change again as the season progresses, but we will hold to this new schedule until further notice.

Topic:  An alert BQ regular attendee sent me a link to an article about how the dynamics of work and connection with others has changed dramatically over the past 40 years, and most amazingly the past 10-15 years, and which discusses how these changes play out in social development, voluntary isolation, and how we feel about ourselves and others.  (If you need a link to this article, please send me an email and I will make that happen.)   It provides graphs that show how the rate of face-to-face socializing over the past 20 years has changed by age, race, gender, marital status, income, and education level, just to mention a few categories.  It defines the time spent alone as being when a person is in a room with no other living person in that same room, but may be in contact with others via a screen of some sort (sorry Zoom attendees, but by definition you may be alone when you join with the rest of us, if you are by yourself).  

But I would start off by asking, is this something we didn't know already?  Haven't we all recognized that our lives have been changed by the screens we hold in our hands and that we sit in front of so many hours of the day?  The pandemic notwithstanding we were already slipping into and increasingly work-from-home work model before it came along, and were growing comfortable with individual and group meetings on-line, virtual shopping, texting rather than talking directly to someone, and home delivery of goods and meals.  Covid dropped the floor out from under this trend, and the line tracking the time we spend with other people face-to-face plunged to near zero.  Six-foot isolation stickers on the floor were the tip of the iceberg.  Wearing masks stifled communication and ensured you could never pick the person you were talking to out of a lineup of suspects at the police station.

The article explores this social phenomenon from many angles, and they prove very interesting reading?  If our children and grandchildren are growing up in a world where there is no novelty to having access to a screen in your hand, but a normal part of life, what is that doing to their social development?  Their social skills, like reading body language?  Ultimately, their mental health?  What do the studies say about this?  

An aside:  As an older person (I hate admitting that) I participated in the development of the "internet" from the early 1980's, and had one of the first non-military emails made available, then used dial-up 300-baud acoustic phone couplers to send individual letters one at a time to my buddies' computer several states away.  I know what 300 baud is because I sat there and watched the letters appear on the KayPro's orange square screen one at a time.  I like to remind people that while mass-market cell phones in various forms were available since the 1970's, the first iPhone from Apple was released in 2007.  (Here is a link to the Wiki page for The History of Cell Phones.  It gets bogged down in the development of cellular technology, which for many years was the limiting factor for data transfer and reliability.)  The cell phone with internet capability changed the world with its access to the Sum of All Human Knowledge through the instantaneous search engine, Google.  I remember the time before cell towers existed.  My kids do not.

OK, I'm back:   The article talks about teenagers and their relationship to loneliness caused by screens and screen time.  It shares this nugget:

In a healthy world, people who spend lots of time alone would feel that ancient biological cue: I’m alone and sad; I should make some plans. But we live in a sideways world, where easy home entertainment, oversharing online, and stunted social skills spark a strangely popular response: I’m alone, anxious, and exhausted; thank God my plans were canceled.

Where do we go to socialize?  Increasingly, we don't go anywhere.  We stay home.  The author talks about how we have become a nation of Secular Monks.  We forgo marriage until age 30 or later, and many live a monastic life of "intentional deprivation and ascetic self-control that includes cold showers (and ice plunge pools), intermittent fasting, data-driven health optimization, and meditation boot camps."   We look inwards, at ourselves and the life we lead, not at the impact we have on others, and we use fitness tracking watches and daily reports they provide that show to what degree we have failed to achieve our objectives as our measure of success.

There is a lot more in the article, but you can read it for yourself.  I look forward to seeing your on Friday at 6:00 or 7:30, so we can solve this problem of loneliness.

Jan 10: Paradigm Shift in the USA?

This week we deal with current topics using a historical reference as a guide.  A new attendee suggested we consider the issue of paradigm shift as a philosophical topic.  After thinking about this a bit I believe I have worked this into a topic we might discuss at this week's Big Questions meeting.  I have provided a copy of the conversation I had with my favorite AI as a starting point.  this includes a definition of what a paradigm is, and how the forces and ideologies circulating in the USA might be contributing to a fundamental shift in our national identity.  Enjoy!

<Des>

Paradigms shift.   They can change rapidly due to new information, a change in perspective, or a change in priority in a society or culture. What are the basic characteristics of a paradigm, and might the USA be at a point where our societal paradigm could change?

<Gemini>

A paradigm is essentially a fundamental set of beliefs, assumptions, and values that shape how we perceive the world and operate within it. It's a framework that defines what is considered normal, acceptable, and important. Here are some of its key characteristics:

Shared Assumptions: Paradigms involve widely accepted ideas and premises that are often taken for granted. These assumptions influence how we interpret information and make decisions.

Values and Priorities: Paradigms establish what a society or group deems important, desirable, and worth pursuing. They guide the allocation of resources and the setting of goals.

Practices and Norms: Paradigms shape the typical behaviors, customs, and institutions within a society. They define what is considered appropriate conduct and how things should be done.

Explanatory Framework: Paradigms provide a way of understanding the world, explaining phenomena, and solving problems. They offer a lens through which we interpret events and make sense of our experiences.

Could the USA be at a point of potential paradigm shift?

There are indeed several factors suggesting that the United States might be on the cusp of a significant societal paradigm shift:

Increased Polarization: Deepening political and social divisions are challenging long-held assumptions about national unity and shared values. This polarization is fueled by differing views on issues like healthcare, immigration, climate change, and social justice.

Eroding Trust in Institutions: Public trust in traditional institutions like government, media, and organized religion has been declining. This erosion of trust can lead to a questioning of established norms and a search for alternative ways of organizing society.

Demographic Changes: Shifts in demographics, including increasing racial and ethnic diversity, are altering the social landscape and challenging traditional power structures. These changes can lead to new perspectives on identity, representation, and social justice.

Technological Disruption: Rapid technological advancements are transforming how we communicate, work, and live. These changes can disrupt existing social and economic structures, leading to new ways of thinking and behaving.

Economic Inequality: Growing economic disparities are raising questions about the fairness and sustainability of the current economic system. This can lead to demands for changes in policies related to taxation, wealth distribution, and social welfare.

Environmental Concerns: Increasing awareness of environmental issues, such as climate change, is prompting a reevaluation of our relationship with the natural world and the need for more sustainable practices.

These factors, among others, suggest that the United States may be experiencing a period of significant societal change. Whether these changes will lead to a full-scale paradigm shift remains to be seen. However, it is clear that many of the fundamental assumptions and values that have shaped American society are being challenged, and the potential for significant transformation is present. <end>

<Des>

At the conclusion of the US Civil War in 1864 the emancipation proclamation coupled with national reconstruction and reconciliation created an environment where basic societal structures were abandoned and a new national identity was formed. Was this an example of a new paradigm being formed in the aftermath of the war?

<Gemini>

You're hitting on a really important point in American history! The period following the Civil War, marked by Reconstruction, definitely contains elements of a paradigm shift, although it was an incomplete and contested one. Here's why:

Elements of a Paradigm Shift:

Fundamental Change in Social Structure: The abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment fundamentally altered the social and economic order of the nation, especially in the South. This was a massive shift in how labor was organized, in social hierarchies, and in basic human rights.

Redefining National Identity: The war forced a re-evaluation of what it meant to be an American. Could a nation founded on the principle that "all men are created equal" continue to tolerate the institution of slavery? The war's outcome, at least in theory, affirmed the ideal of equality and forced a reckoning with the nation's past.

New Laws and Institutions: The 14th and 15th Amendments, granting citizenship and voting rights to Black men, were revolutionary changes that aimed to institutionalize the new paradigm of racial equality. The Freedmen's Bureau and other Reconstruction efforts attempted to provide support for newly freed people and integrate them into society.

Why it was Incomplete and Contested:

Resistance to Change: The South, deeply entrenched in its pre-war social order, resisted these changes fiercely. This resistance manifested in the form of Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and white supremacist violence, all aimed at undermining the new paradigm of racial equality.

Lack of Full Implementation: While the laws were in place, their enforcement was often weak or non-existent, particularly in the South. This allowed for the continuation of discriminatory practices and the erosion of the gains made during Reconstruction.

Shifting National Will: Over time, the national commitment to Reconstruction waned. Political compromises and a focus on other issues led to the abandonment of federal efforts to protect Black civil rights in the South.

In Conclusion:

The Civil War and Reconstruction period represents a significant attempt at a paradigm shift in the United States. It involved fundamental changes in social structure, national identity, and legal frameworks. However, the resistance to these changes and the incomplete implementation of the new paradigm meant that it remained contested and ultimately fell short of its full potential. The legacy of this incomplete shift continues to shape American society today.

It's important to remember that paradigms don't always shift cleanly or completely. There can be periods of overlap, resistance, and even regression. The Reconstruction era is a prime example of this complexity.  <end>