Younger generations are even more guilty of doing this. The most common ways people try to avoid surrounding dwellers are by pretending not to see them, staying inside when someone is outside, acting like they’re not home, wearing headphones or faking being on a call. “It’s sad,” she adds. “More attention needs to be drawn to this systemic issue. Humans need community like they need oxygen and yet today there is little time to cultivate true community connections.” She suggests that the disappearance of front porches might be another. “People used to occupy the front porch in the evening, greeting neighbors out for evening strolls or walking their dogs. But now we disappear onto the back deck, seeking solitude, choosing introversion over extroversion.” “In my childhood neighborhood, parents parented all the kids on our streets. We knew everyone, and many years later, though most of us have moved away, we see one another at funerals as our parents passed on,” she fondly recalls. “This would require what would amount to a herculean effort, but most of us do not have time or energy for this. After work, picking up the children from daycare, or greeting them at home after school, getting supper ready, dealing with homework and a little time before bed, when do parents have time to go out and build community with their neighbors?” Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
