Robert Putnam

Once upon a time, we did have public libraries, but in general, public libraries are no longer serving the purpose of connecting people as they once did. And that makes it harder even for people who would like to connect. So it requires social coordination. Does this make sense? I'm generalizing from the single example of physical space to all of the other things.

Once upon a time, we did have public libraries, but in general, public libraries are no longer serving the purpose of connecting people as they once did. And that makes it harder even for people who would like to connect. So it requires social coordination. Does this make sense? I'm generalizing from the single example of physical space to all of the other things.

Once upon a time, we did have public libraries, but in general, public libraries are no longer serving the purpose of connecting people as they once did. And that makes it harder even for people who would like to connect. So it requires social coordination. Does this make sense? I'm generalizing from the single example of physical space to all of the other things.

If the undeniable attractions of not having to worry about other people outweigh The kick of endorphins we demonstrably get when we're around other people, well, it's not that our biology has changed, but it's that the social or technological setting has changed.

If the undeniable attractions of not having to worry about other people outweigh The kick of endorphins we demonstrably get when we're around other people, well, it's not that our biology has changed, but it's that the social or technological setting has changed.

If the undeniable attractions of not having to worry about other people outweigh The kick of endorphins we demonstrably get when we're around other people, well, it's not that our biology has changed, but it's that the social or technological setting has changed.

environmental factors, all the social institutions around us make it less easy. And there's another factor today, if we want to get into this, I don't know how far you want to get into politics, but- I want to go into politics next, so let's do it.

environmental factors, all the social institutions around us make it less easy. And there's another factor today, if we want to get into this, I don't know how far you want to get into politics, but- I want to go into politics next, so let's do it.

environmental factors, all the social institutions around us make it less easy. And there's another factor today, if we want to get into this, I don't know how far you want to get into politics, but- I want to go into politics next, so let's do it.

Well, even at Thanksgiving, there are people that are in my Thanksgiving that I basically, I love them, but they have really crazy political ideals. And so we tend to shy away from those talks, and therefore political polarization, which is to some extent, and we can get into this, the consequence of social disconnection is also then it reinforces social isolation.

Well, even at Thanksgiving, there are people that are in my Thanksgiving that I basically, I love them, but they have really crazy political ideals. And so we tend to shy away from those talks, and therefore political polarization, which is to some extent, and we can get into this, the consequence of social disconnection is also then it reinforces social isolation.

Well, even at Thanksgiving, there are people that are in my Thanksgiving that I basically, I love them, but they have really crazy political ideals. And so we tend to shy away from those talks, and therefore political polarization, which is to some extent, and we can get into this, the consequence of social disconnection is also then it reinforces social isolation.

By the way, I basically agree with Derek Thompson's account, but there are a few things in his account that I disagree with, and maybe it would be useful to get to that at some point.

By the way, I basically agree with Derek Thompson's account, but there are a few things in his account that I disagree with, and maybe it would be useful to get to that at some point.

By the way, I basically agree with Derek Thompson's account, but there are a few things in his account that I disagree with, and maybe it would be useful to get to that at some point.

Well, I think it's a great piece. Of course it's a great piece, and I basically agree with almost everything. One part that doesn't seem to me to fit the evidence, he claims that our close ties are as strong as ever. And then there's this intermediate village, he calls it, where this slacking of ties is going on. Yeah. And then out in the more distant arena, it's low under any circumstances.

Well, I think it's a great piece. Of course it's a great piece, and I basically agree with almost everything. One part that doesn't seem to me to fit the evidence, he claims that our close ties are as strong as ever. And then there's this intermediate village, he calls it, where this slacking of ties is going on. Yeah. And then out in the more distant arena, it's low under any circumstances.

Well, I think it's a great piece. Of course it's a great piece, and I basically agree with almost everything. One part that doesn't seem to me to fit the evidence, he claims that our close ties are as strong as ever. And then there's this intermediate village, he calls it, where this slacking of ties is going on. Yeah. And then out in the more distant arena, it's low under any circumstances.

I think he's wrong about the intimate ties. And the best evidence that I know of, including some recent evidence that has just come out in the last couple of weeks, say that family ties, close intimate ties, have been slackening. First of all, over this period, many fewer people are getting married, which is one kind of intimate tie. Secondly, few people are having fewer children. And why is that?

I think he's wrong about the intimate ties. And the best evidence that I know of, including some recent evidence that has just come out in the last couple of weeks, say that family ties, close intimate ties, have been slackening. First of all, over this period, many fewer people are getting married, which is one kind of intimate tie. Secondly, few people are having fewer children. And why is that?