445 I dont know who posted this in the news alert feed but I find it interesting: <p> _WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, separated by work, commuting and the single life, researchers reported on Friday. <p> Nearly a quarter of people surveyed said they had "zero" close friends with whom to discuss personal matters. More than 50 percent named two or fewer confidants, most often immediate family members, the researchers said. <p> "This is a big social change, and it indicates something that's not good for our society," said Duke University Professor Lynn Smith-Lovin, lead author on the study to be published in the American Sociological Review._ <p> It is part of what Durkheim called anomie, social atomization (which, let it be said has its good and bad sides, after all one of reasons why people migrate to cities is to escape small town life where your whole history is known by all and is everybody's business. Cities offer you the chance to reinvent yourself, which is certainly NYC's particular specialty.). I dont think it is a big change, or at least a recent change; it think it is what characterizes life in the States. I find when I am back in the States that it is almost impossible to see my friends, they never have time, everyone is caught up in the "corre, corre" of New York life. down here it is completely the opposite, the social graces are paramount, people always make time for you, and in fact it is sometimes hard to get things done because along the way there is so much hugging, kissing, chatting, coffee imbibing, and so on. The social rituals impose a slower rhythm which continually reaffirms one's ties to the community. I dont know how I would raise my daughter in the states, because that process is aided so much by the social mores down here, and the fact that we have an extensive family network. It certainly makes for a very healthy, happy and well adjusted child. <p> Pues, nada. Just felt the urge to comment. 30 2006-06-25T17:12:47Z 0 2008-03-12T12:54:39Z true 6687 false 1291 2006-06-27T15:06:31Z Santo Domingo true false socialy_isolated_americans 1 2008-03-12T12:54:39Z 62