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Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

theatlantic.com

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Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#131

Post by smcin »

ViktorRay wrote: post #13
paulpauper wrote: post #8

As far as I am concerned, I have not observed this. I see plenty of people hanging out at restaurants and elsewhere. Many places are packed. It seems like there has been this trend of journalists writing these finger in the wind op-eds opining about a society that never existed or about something which is not a problem for most people but is turned into 'a thing' for the sake of pageviews and virality.

It’s possible that these journalists are in their own bubble or echo chamber. The journalists who write this stuff have become isolated and spend excessive amounts of time doomscrolling or arguing about random crap on Twitter. So they assume that’s what everyone is doing. Meanwhile lots of people are just out here living life. Plenty of places where I live are filled with people hanging out. Hardly anybody glued to t…

See my post above: this isn't an opinion piece and the data is from research by Jean Twenge, who is cited by Jonathan Haidt for her research on the correlation in socialization changes and heavy social-media use, esp since 2016.

The Atlantic headline is overly broad, but read the actual piece.

> Plenty of places where I live are filled with people hanging out.

Right. What area? What demographic?

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#132

Post by skyyler »

Gigachad wrote: post #113
icedchai wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After almost 4 years of WFH, I totally despise it. I miss in-person collaboration and going to lunch with coworkers. I work for an all remote company, unfortunately. I’m thinking about renting a spot at a coworking space.

Feeling the same. It’s just so soulless. Working in office wasn’t sunshine and joy all the time, but at least it wasn’t isolating.

I think it all comes down to if you have a social life outside of work.

I do, and remote work is a dream. For me, having more time and energy for parties and events is quite the opposite of isolation.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#133

Post by marssaxman »

swed420 wrote: post #118
samtho wrote: post #50

Even though the direct effects of the pandemic have mostly disappeared, it still does not undo the years of staying at home that we have become accustomed and habituated to. Rapid inflation didn’t help, either. For those lucky enough to survive layoffs, they doubled down on work either dedicating more of their time or attempted to insulate their risk by becoming overemployed. Those who have time for friend outings ma…

Most seem to have tricked themselves into believing otherwise, but unfortunately COVID and its risks are far from over. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/how-the-press-manufactured-co... https://whn.global/scientific/covid19-immune-dysregulation/ https://whn.global/scientific/covid-effects-on-the-brain-a-s... Stay safe out there.

Are they really "tricking themselves"? It seems more likely to me that different people simply have different risk tolerances, in both degree and kind.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#134

Post by Gigachad »

skyyler wrote: post #132
Gigachad wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Feeling the same. It’s just so soulless. Working in office wasn’t sunshine and joy all the time, but at least it wasn’t isolating.

I think it all comes down to if you have a social life outside of work. I do, and remote work is a dream. For me, having more time and energy for parties and events is quite the opposite of isolation.

Nah don't agree. I'm out all the time after work and it's great, but I used to get to talk to people during work as well. 8 hours of your day now spent sitting alone at home is a huge chunk of your time regardless of what you do on the weekend.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#135

Post by tarboreus »

swed420 wrote: post #118
samtho wrote: post #50

Even though the direct effects of the pandemic have mostly disappeared, it still does not undo the years of staying at home that we have become accustomed and habituated to. Rapid inflation didn’t help, either. For those lucky enough to survive layoffs, they doubled down on work either dedicating more of their time or attempted to insulate their risk by becoming overemployed. Those who have time for friend outings ma…

Most seem to have tricked themselves into believing otherwise, but unfortunately COVID and its risks are far from over. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/how-the-press-manufactured-co... https://whn.global/scientific/covid19-immune-dysregulation/ https://whn.global/scientific/covid-effects-on-the-brain-a-s... Stay safe out there.

Sure, and the flu isn't over, either, last time I checked it's still circulating and a large number of people die every year from it.

Eventually you have to go live your life.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#136

Post by skyyler »

Gigachad wrote: post #134
skyyler wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it all comes down to if you have a social life outside of work. I do, and remote work is a dream. For me, having more time and energy for parties and events is quite the opposite of isolation.

Nah don't agree. I'm out all the time after work and it's great, but I used to get to talk to people during work as well. 8 hours of your day now spent sitting alone at home is a huge chunk of your time regardless of what you do on the weekend.

Ah, I didn't consider that aspect. I live with my wife who is an artist so I'm never really alone at home.

If I was single it would probably be a little more isolating, yeah.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#137

Post by swed420 »

tarboreus wrote: post #135
swed420 wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most seem to have tricked themselves into believing otherwise, but unfortunately COVID and its risks are far from over. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/how-the-press-manufactured-co... https://whn.global/scientific/covid19-immune-dysregulation/ https://whn.global/scientific/covid-effects-on-the-brain-a-s... Stay safe out there.

Sure, and the flu isn't over, either, last time I checked it's still circulating and a large number of people die every year from it. Eventually you have to go live your life.

More died of COVID in Jan 2024 than total flu deaths of 2023.

COVID also leaves far more people disabled from post acute sequelae.

That's not living your life imo.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#138

Post by swed420 »

marssaxman wrote: post #133
swed420 wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most seem to have tricked themselves into believing otherwise, but unfortunately COVID and its risks are far from over. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/how-the-press-manufactured-co... https://whn.global/scientific/covid19-immune-dysregulation/ https://whn.global/scientific/covid-effects-on-the-brain-a-s... Stay safe out there.

Are they really "tricking themselves"? It seems more likely to me that different people simply have different risk tolerances, in both degree and kind.

Seems to be a complex combination of things in my experience probing people on what they do and don't know about risks and precautions. Would be easier if capitalist media didn't lie to people to prop up its archaic consumption based economy.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#139

Post by hollerith »

dylan604 wrote: post #31
ryandrake wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, I wish that could become a cultural norm. As things are now it would be a kind of awkward request, but I bet it would really help if it were acceptable.

Make it understood that it's a theme party. As long as it's not a surprise on arrival. Promote it on the socials when you do the invite. It's not like you invite people individually anymore either. Its the 2020s, gamify that shit!

When I hear "gamify" or "gamification", I think 2000s, not 2020s.

Re: Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out

#140

Post by Izkata »

cassianoleal wrote: post #109
toldyouso2022 wrote: post #68

Americans are scared of saying the wrong thing. Meanwhile I say things that would get me arrested in the uk and fired in the US, daily, and I have lots of friends and an active social life, in person, no phones, no problems. If you can't tell your friends what you think, social places become a second workplace, of course you don't wanna go

I'm curious about what it is that you say that would get you arrested in the UK. Short of publicly and loudly admitting you committed a crime, or actually committing one (e.g. being a racist towards someone, plotting terrorism, etc.) I can't think of anything.

The UK's hate speech laws are very broad, for example arresting an autistic girl because she said a cop looks like her lesbian aunt: https://nypost.com/2023/08/11/autistic-girl-screams-and-crie...
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