- How to maintain intimacy/friendships in our impersonal modern world.Panera Bread, San Diego, CA
First, as I write this it is May 15th. So, please remember to sign up for Civilized Conversation's Spring Sun and Fun Potluck Party on Saturday May 18th. It's a CivCon event posted like any other event.
For June 3rd, I'm departing again from the planned schedule. This is rare, but we have had a lot of heavy duty political/social issues topics lately. So, I thought we would postpone our look at the global underground economy - which requires a lot of research on my part, BTW - in favor of a more personal topic, of which we've had few lately.
Romantic intimacy & deep friendship. Finding either, doing it right, and holding onto it has been hard enough in the past, at least for many Americans. What will the future bring? Maybe this is an old guy talking, but our social milieu seems to be growing less and less...personal and face-to-face. Also, more mass market and niche market and, even on social media, more performative and less real, if you will.
Is this new world less amenable to forming intimacies and real friendships? Seems like a good question for CivCon. We have nibbled on in past meetings. Maybe the root is social media; or declining social trust, both in American institutions and in each other; or in identity politics and polarization, or just all the recent culture shocks like COVID and Trumpism. Or, maybe other things. Our related mtgs have included:
- 2023 What makes a relationship last?
- 2020, Love under lockdown and dating/relationships in different stages of life.
- 2018: Dating & relationships in the social media age?
Check back right here the week before June 3rd, and maybe there will be a few more targeted optional readings.
And remember the party on Nick's amazing deck this Saturday May 18th at 3:30. Please sign up and comment on what dish/beverage you plan to bring.