Obviously capitalist alienation has a part here, but also isn't this just kinda life? As you get older more and more of the family and friends you've known since you were young die off, until eventually there's barely anyone left you remember?
Granted it doesn't have to be that way, you can make new family/friend relationships when you're older, but I think at a certain point in their lives alot of seniors are less open to making new emotional investments in people after experiencing all that death.
In addition to the alienation of capitalism, I wonder if this chart is showing us some of the worst effects of having a hyper-individualistic society?
Today's seniors would have been getting bootstrap-pilled damn near from birth, and maybe that's what we're seeing here?
And just speaking personally, after making it 70+ years on this planet and seeing all the death, I feel like that would make me want more connection in my life, not less.
That would make sense if the chart started doing that in the 60-70s range and there are other cultures where being with an extended family is considered "normal".
The saddest is if you actually live to real old age, like 90s or over 100. Then not only has everyone you have ever known died, but your children have died of old age, too. All you have left are grandchildren who have no time to visit you and great-grandchildren who regard you as some kind of facehugger because you're so culturally alienated from them. Great-grandparent, what are your preferred pronouns?
Obviously capitalist alienation has a part here, but also isn't this just kinda life? As you get older more and more of the family and friends you've known since you were young die off, until eventually there's barely anyone left you remember?
Granted it doesn't have to be that way, you can make new family/friend relationships when you're older, but I think at a certain point in their lives alot of seniors are less open to making new emotional investments in people after experiencing all that death.
In addition to the alienation of capitalism, I wonder if this chart is showing us some of the worst effects of having a hyper-individualistic society?
Today's seniors would have been getting bootstrap-pilled damn near from birth, and maybe that's what we're seeing here?
And just speaking personally, after making it 70+ years on this planet and seeing all the death, I feel like that would make me want more connection in my life, not less.
Time spent with comrades: :stonks-up:
There's something I want to say to tie our individualized society into this as a symptom of late stage capitalism, but the words aren't coming to me.
I've grieved in my life but it has never stopped me from seeking out new relationships because they're worth the hurt at the end.
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That would make sense if the chart started doing that in the 60-70s range and there are other cultures where being with an extended family is considered "normal".
seems to be virtually fucking impossible after your early 20's unless you're a particular kind of person and/or in the right place at the right time
The saddest is if you actually live to real old age, like 90s or over 100. Then not only has everyone you have ever known died, but your children have died of old age, too. All you have left are grandchildren who have no time to visit you and great-grandchildren who regard you as some kind of facehugger because you're so culturally alienated from them. Great-grandparent, what are your preferred pronouns?