The Overhead Wire Daily | January 24th, 2024 | Loneliness
There’s been a lot of discussion about loneliness after it was declared to be an epidemic by the US Surgeon General. Yesterday we shared an item by Alan Ehrenhalt on the subject but we’re also seeing the idea splinter off into what I believe are related sub-discussions.
There are a couple of items that connect for me on this subject today. First is an opinion item in Bloomberg discussing the Introvert Economy. Allison Scharger notes that younger generations just aren’t going out as much and staying in to be online, even with friends. Many of us got sucked into that world by the pandemic and lockdowns and perhaps just stayed there. But as an introvert myself, even I couldn’t take that much time away from larger groups of friends and family and I’m really feeling a need to get back out again, though everyone has their own pace.
Others seem to need more human connection as well. I read a few years ago that grocery stores in the Netherlands would keep a lane open that was slower and allowed for more human connection that some of the patrons craved. And today’s item in CNN that discussed how self checkout lines are actually dampening customer loyalty because the stores are shifting the work of checkout from employees to customers. And although it doesn’t mention it, there’s something emotional missing as well when you aren’t connecting with a cashier.
I do think that idea of shifting the work on individuals is becoming an important marker. Social interaction was easier when you did it more often. But these frictionless solutions to commerce online and in person are making it easier to avoid connection, perhaps to our detriment.
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Speaking of getting together… if you’re in the Bay Area we’re hosting a happy hour with Urban Environmentalists Bay Area, Streets for People, and Seamless Bay Area at Elixir on Thursday February 1st at 6pm. It’s easy access to BART at 16th/Mission and I hope folks can join us!
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