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this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2024
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Asklemmy
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Technically yes, but I don't mean technology as phones/laptops/tablets/etc. Imho, the biggest factor in social isolation is atomization due to bad urban planning. When everything and anything is only accessible by car, you lose any connection with your local neighbourhood and local stores/cafes/etc.
In environments where people walk around the neighbourhood, doing small daily shops, going to local businesses and taking mass transit to work/school/restaurants/bars, then you're much more likely to interact with people rather than driving around in your social isolation-mobile.
Urban planning can be considered a form of technology, which is why I said technically yes.
EDIT: Oh, another big factor here is the loss of the third place. It still exists in some places (local pubs in British towns, local coffee shop in Portugal, etc), but in places without a socially normal "hangout spot" that is separated from both home and work/school, it's much harder to meet acquaintances which may in time become friends.
This is a very true concept.
We recently built a house in a neighborhood that purposely has no privacy fences, it’s open concept. All of our yards have low cedar fencing you can clearly see through. This encourages neighbors to actually get to know one another. It works; I haven’t felt this connected to people since I grew up playing with the neighborhood kids. Everyone living here feels the same way. Oh and I’m an introvert. I just realized that continual isolation is not great for mental health.
Get out there and actually ask how your neighbor is doing and be interested in their response. Be willing to help. You’ll feel better than you have in a long time. We are social creatures and need that. Feel like the world is collapsing? Then get out of your own way and help someone else. It’s a feeling you can’t buy. The richest people are those that have the most connections. They’re usually the happiest and most mentally stable too. It all starts by being willing to say how’s it going? Where are you from? What brings you here? Everyone has a story and we all love to talk about ourselves. It just takes some longer than others to open up.
I have an elderly retired neighbor that sits in front of his house most days and hands dog treats out to the dogs being walked by. He knows all of them and their owners. He’s made some awesome connections and friends. Everyone knows him and when someone is in need he isn’t afraid to ask the other neighbors to help. It’s a great relationship with someone others would see as a nosy neighbor. For us he’s a connection to other neighbors we haven’t met yet due to time at work, etc. He’s one of my all time favorite people just because he actually cares about us all. Be that person. You can do it!