Topic: Members Leaving Really Sucks.....Sad Sad Sad.

[rhos1355]

All these recent events in this forum about people getting ignored, getting the hump with others, calling each other names, leaving the forum, returning again and so on has made me wonder about the strange world we live in nowadays.
We barely can be bothered to cross the road to say hello to the new neighbours, when we meet someone in town, we just offer a quick nod or wave or "you allright, mate?" and scurry away to our boring lives. No-one talks face to face anymore. People seem to have fewer and fewer real intimate friends. Friends you'd get up at 3 am to drive to the airport on a working day. Why? Is it because we've become too selfish with our time and headstrong with our opinions? I dunno.
But then we have invented media like forums, facebook, yourspace, blogging sites, twittering sites etc where we offer the most intimate details of our lives for the whole world to see. Things you'd not dare tell your family or spouse.Spending hours and hours chatting on-line with people you'll never see or meet in real life. Strange.
What lonely lives we lead.
Jeez, where's Raul when you need him?
He usually has an explanation for these things.

[burmashave]

It's funny you should mention that. Just the other day, I heard about a survey in which people reported that the amount of contact with other people had gone up over the past 10 years; however, the amount of meaningful contact had drastically decreased in the same short period of time.

[Laminar]

I'm not usually one to make sweeping statements about society, but it seems more and more we're leaning toward short attention spans and greater self-obsession. Whether that's the fault of the evil media, evil bad parents, or evil whatever else, I can't say.

[Inigo Montoya]

 I think it is more than just being selfish and such. At least with people that have families. When younger, I spent a lot of time with friends, I was never on any instant messenger or anything like that. When I started my family, I had a lot less time. I worked 2 - 3 jobs to make sure my kids have what they need. My wife also works. Given the amount of time work requires, there is not a whole lot of time to spare. So the majority goes to spending time with my kids and getting things done around the house. That does not leave much time for outside activities. So I go on facebook to at least keep up a little. For me, I can spend 15 minutes and catch up with some of what is happening, at least a little. For me, given my busy life, something has to be put on the back burner some. SO what goes? Family, home improvement and maintenance, or time with friends? Obviously family HAS to come first. I doubt anyone would disagre with that, especially those that gripe about how parents do not teach there kids anything. Of course a person wants to keep their house in decent shape. Not just or looks but safety and a good roof. So the last is friends. So since I cant see friends as much, I can keep somewhat up to date on what they are doing.  Once my kids are older, not such a big deal.
So while social media might have something to do with it, I do not think it is a cause, just an effect.