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The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

blogs.scientificamerican.com

111–118 of 118 posts

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#111
post #104
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you be willing to share those sources?

They are not something private and hidden, it's more like a diamonds lying in the road dust because people are just too busy to stop and take a close look at something, unless it jumps right into them in a form of a colorful advertisement picturing a women with big tits offering you to try something. Basically those are random people, random articles/books/lectures I encountered and considered helpfull. I don't have…

I'd like to check out these russian-speaking sources if they are online.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#112

The Jews identified this problem and the solution thousands of years ago, hence their weekly Sabbath ritual of disconnecting from work/technology and focusing on their family/faith. I've got a growing appreciation for rituals that seem silly, worthless or out-dated. If the ritual has survived this long, deep examination is in order before altering or dismissing it.

Yes, but Jesus's revisionist take on it is worthwhile to keep in mind too:

"The sabbath was created for man, not man for the sabbath."

Disconnecting is good for many as a general practice. I myself have a "no technology day" once a month or so. And certainly taking a population recently freed from slavery and instituting a labor law ensuring a weekend was a great idea (whoever thought of it).

But that's the nice thing about weekends - each of us get to spend them as we choose.

If you are feeling disconnected from your loved ones and want to mutually agree to put away your phones, awesome.

But likewise, if you had a rough week and want to lose yourself in binge watching Stranger Things, that's cool too.

Let's not fall back into the ways of every generations before us in how we consider younger trends as we age. Even chess was condemned as corrupting the youth in its day.

A central theme to the success of all life in this world is balance. If you feel out of balance, adjust your own life accordingly to regain it. But it would probably be unwise to assume the balance that works for one works for all.

I doubt any one of us has an identical idea of what living the perfect life looks like. All we can do is figure out what our own version of that picture looks like and do our best to realize it.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#113

Title doesn't match the article, which appears to be about social media manipulation techniques making people feel disconnected and sad. But "death of social reciprocity?" According to my own research set to appear in the second clause of this sentence, sad people are apparently still thanking the Fortnite bus driver in record numbers.

Yes but how many of them would donate a spare kidney for him if he really needed it.

People risked their lives for each other. I’m not sure that it’s the same case with people who like your selfie.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#114
Nah, technology is pretty cool for this shit. Everyone likes their friends' posts. It's like an acknowledgement - I see you and I like that I do. iMessage reactions and FB messenger reactions are the same. I think if I looked through my group chats, most messages have reactions. And Find my Friends? You have that shit broadcasting and you'll run into each other all the time.

I feel so thoroughly connected with my friends. They're like a mesh that catches me when I'm down and bounces me back up. And it's so easy with tech.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#115
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is such an exclusively American problem.

The other American problem is completely unsocialized kids . Children are kept with their family or in tightly controlled social environments. They never experience unstructured environments or adults not from their family. From time to time, a colleague brings their child to work (because childcare fell through, or something), and they get to interact with strangers! It's weird, they are afraid, they don't know what…

New generation bad my generation good! The world's gonna end when those kids grow up.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#116
post #24

Is it just me or others also feel that this is only exacerbated by having 'always in ear devices' like AirPods (or any other earbuds for that matter)? Why is it not considered rude to have them on while you're having a discussion with someone?

YES it is 100% rude and weird imo. I was having a conversation with someone at an event, asked him a couple questions, and he only took his airpods out after a couple minutes. It felt weird and disrespectful. I told my colleagues about it and they agreed with me.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#117
post #111
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are not something private and hidden, it's more like a diamonds lying in the road dust because people are just too busy to stop and take a close look at something, unless it jumps right into them in a form of a colorful advertisement picturing a women with big tits offering you to try something. Basically those are random people, random articles/books/lectures I encountered and considered helpfull. I don't have…

I'd like to check out these russian-speaking sources if they are online.

You could check a pretty well-known economist Khazin e.g. worldcrisis.ru.

Re: The Death of Social Reciprocity in the Era of Digital Distraction

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, I haven't made the parent comment's sort of experience in either Berlin, London, or Paris. So it might be somewhat specific to New York. And I have trouble understanding what you are actually suggesting, but it seems to be an entirely technocratic take ignoring what actually makes cities liveable, with possibly some dehumanisation of homeless people thrown in for extra discredit?

In US cities it seems the norm is to never say a word to strangers about anything, ever, so it then follows that anyone who does talk to you is more likely trying to grift you. Which makes you even less likely to talk to strangers in the future, in a vicious cycle. I've never actually read Jane Jacobs but I'm pretty sure this isn't what she was interested in preserving. I don't know if it's technology, population chu…

Absolutely untrue one you get a hundred miles from the coast. (In California, say, east of I-5).
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