the nice people next door and you
I was doing some research this week and stumbled across an interesting paper from in the June 2006 American Sociological Review: Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two Decades. Using data from 1984 and 2004’s General Social Survey, the researchers look to prove something about the changing nature of social networks (“core discussion networks”) and make estimates about the number of social isolates.
Particularly stunning was the low number of survey respondents who listed a “neighbor” as a confidant. Only 7.9%, down from 18.5% in 1985. (The survey is sort of open ended, so, you could list your spouse/significant other, your neighbor, your mom, your friend and it all counts as a percentage point)
“Whatever the reason, it appears that Americans are connected far less tightly now than they were 19 years ago. Furthermore, ties with local neighborhoods…have suffered at a higher rate than others. Possibly, we will discover that it is not so much a matter of increasing isolation but a shift in the form and type of connection… the evidence that we present here may be an indicator of a shift in structures of affiliation.”
[from http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/June06ASRFeature.pdf]
Don’t make me go into the long “pro list” on befriending the neighbors. You don’t have to be creepy or watch them through your windows. But you should make an effort to talk to them, because clearly, there are lots of advantages many of folks out there are missing.
(Thanks for letting me still post here, Tim)
April 13th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Were you surprised by the findings?
Take into account the stains on social interaction, MySpace, Facebook and um, that other one, …. no, just MySpace and Facebook, and I’m surprised people ever get anything done.. let alone talk to each other.
(that was pointless. long story short, I hate MySpace)
More importantly, I’m far from being your neighbor, gnd and timothy. Yet, I always feel welcome here at bluishbarn. It’s a sort of my daily respite, whether or not I find anything new or even linger here for more than 30 seconds. You are not my neighbors, but I’ll treat you like one.
(that’s kind of scary actually)
April 16th, 2007 at 9:30 am
um, who is this guy? he creeps me out.
jk
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
hey, I just figured out today that I *am* your neighbor (at work, at least) - the company I work for, Pure Visibility, is down in the Pineapple Building on Depot St. who knew! Hope to make it to some event soon.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Oh, we love the pineapple building! Stop by this summer once screening start up again!
We once trudged through your “backyard” to rescue our rocket cam out of a tree behind the train tracks. Someday we’ll post videos of that fateful Wheeler Park launch and the rocket’s death by “thermal event”
(Timothy, I think that video was taken before the “neon column building” went up. Let’s post that soon)
April 24th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Edward, it’s nice to meet you here among the comments. I do hope you can make it out to something here when we start screenings again in May so we can meet in person. I’ve always wondered what exactly goes on in that Pineapple Building. My friend Scott Trudeau once put me in touch with you about a Drupal workshop, and I’ve lurked around your Bi Bim Bop site a few times thinking of what I could sound intelligent talking about to the group. Andrea (aka girlnextdoor) likes it too, and maybe one of these days we’ll come out together. Anyway, thanks for the comment and the link, neighbor.