Which do you think makes for a better society: capitalism with as few restraints on it as possible, or a form of social democracy with protections for the masses?
Share why if you wish.
Category: Social
Wallflower Or Life Of The Party?
When you are at a social gathering, do you tend to be a wallflower, or are you more likely to be the life of the party?
Share why if you wish.
Wallflower Or Life Of The Party?
Do You Belong To Any Clubs?
Do you engage any of your hobbies through clubs? Or is there a group you belong to around some central theme?
Share why if you wish.
Is Personal Interaction A Vanishing Practice?
As our technology has gotten more advanced, in many ways we are using it to replace human interaction. What is it costing us?
Under the right circumstances, you could go for days, or possibly even weeks, without being in the same room with someone else. After all, you can order your groceries online and have them delivered to you. Many jobs can be done remotely. Just about anything you need can be purchased through the internet.
Even if you decide to leave your house, interaction can be kept to a minimum. You can avoid any awkward chit chat with grocery store employees by opting for the self-checkout line. Wearing headphones or ear buds ensures people will not talk to you.
We’ve even, as a society, decided that a voice-to-voice phone call is too much. Civilized people text instead.
Even sex is being configured to take place alone. Porn is available to anyone at any time, and now we even have remarkably realistic sex dolls or robots.
The reason for our self-imposed isolation is fairly obvious: interacting is hard! And it can be awkward at times. Everyone has their own preferences. Some people like to talk about anything and everything; others are quiet. One person might be a hugger, while another doesn’t even like to shake hands. Maybe you don’t know what to say most of the time.
As more and more our lives are spent minimizing the time spent with others, are we getting out of the practice of making small talk? Is it harder to bond with someone now, compared to a decade ago? Is personal interaction a vanishing practice? How can we engage more with others?
Related questions: What are our responsibilities to others? How can we encourage meaningful conversation? Do you feel lonely? What role does community play in your life?
How Has Social Media Changed Your Social Life?
Social media platforms have grown in popularity and reach. Billions of people around the world use them. How does that use impact an actual social life?
The promise of social media is that it would help you to be, well, more social. Ideally, a social media app like Instagram, Facebook, or Tik Tok (as well as many others) would allow you to stay in touch with friends and family in a new and more immersive way.
That hope is in the very name “social media”. If you want to keep in touch with someone, you can do so in a way you couldn’t before. You might even be able to meet people who share your interests that you might not otherwise have the chance to meet. It is a new dimension that you can add to your social life.
The reality, though, is a mixed bag. While you can see just what your loved ones are up to (not to mention getting a peek at the lives of celebrities!), it is more complicated than that.
Studies show more people than ever experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. Children who grow up with social media may have more difficulty interacting with peers in a real life environment. Who hasn’t seen a couple at a restaurant not talking to each other, but instead staring at their phones?
Do you have any anecdotes about how social media has directly impacted, positively or negatively, your real life? What are the pros and cons? Does it depend on which app you use, or how or when you use it?
Related questions: What do you get out of social media? Why does social media often bring out the worst in us? What makes us comment on social media? Can an internet friend be a true companion?