Are we aware of this?

Ok I have seen in my life recently that people just don't talk to people anymore. I have been living in my current home for just over a year, and I don't know one persons name in my sub-division. Can't even say I said hello to my neighbors. We live in a society where we just minimize our contact with anyone we don't already know. I can count on my hands how many times we have used the front door. We just pull in our garage and many times close the door before getting out of the car. This is just a very weird way of living life and I am embarrassed that I am guilty of this. I was raised in the manner that you were watched by all parents in the neighborhood. If you did something wrong it got back to your parents and in most cases you were taken to them asap. The neighbors watched out for each other and helped out when ever in need. I think that I will be changing how I live my life, I am gonna take the steps to try and get to know people in my community especially my street.
Just a thought I have been having lately.

Well America has also changed alot in the way the average person views another person, it also has a lot to do with the region you live in, in some states with smaller towns that is still the norm.

I live in an apartment, and I don't always get a chance to learn my immediate neighor's names, but we do speak to each other all the time, and ask how each other's days have gone.

At Christmas, I do try to make little treat plates and take them to each of my neighbors (I'm the only one who does this). I enjoy seeing the smile come across their faces, because its so unexpected. :)

I've noticed something similar to this with the fact that people seem to prefer to have less direct contact. They would rather type something to someone over the internet, or send a text, than talk to someone over the phone or in person. Many people my age prefer NOT to speak over the telephone, claiming it is "awkward." I personally prefer direct contact with people even though I am somewhat less eloquent when I choose to communicate in that manner. Anyway, this was the main reason I decided to delete my MySpace and FaceBook accounts around six months ago - because I think people have simply come to rely too much on them as a way to communicate. If a friend wants to speak to me, I want to do the best I can to make them contact me directly. Anyway, it's not exactly the same as what you mentioned, and don't get me wrong, I still do a large amount of communication over the internet, since it is pretty much required in the reptile business. Just felt like mentioning this as the general avoidance by people of direct contact with others is something that has also been bothering me lately.

I don't think many of my neighbors speak fluent English. I live in an apartment complex, with one to the side and one behind. I hardly ever see the ones behind us, and they're very quiet. Next door I see their kids alot, and see the dad rarely. Hardly ever see the mom, though I think she just had a baby. My mom always taught me to never make eye contact with strangers, and I guess she grilled it into my head cuz I still don't today.

My BF's mom knows her neighbors, barely. They've been in that house for 18 years and have had some neighbors come and go. For the most part, she just listens to everyones drama/news and relays it to us kids.

I dont talk to my neighbors much....

Ive said hi to one lady....

Then told the other neighbor to keep his dogs crap off my yard a few times....

I am perfectly content though.

Bet if you were facebook friends with them, you'll chat with them!

Ye Charlie I would have to know them to add them lol. I have been slowly going down hill from how I was taught in regards to being neighborly.

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Originally Posted by monk90222

Bet if you were facebook friends with them, you'll chat with them!

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That's what I don't like about Social Networking sites. Since you're "friends" on FB, that means your "friends" in person... But you never go out of your way to call, txt, or meet up for a meal. We deleted our FB because it started snowballing into that... People we hadn't talked to in YEARS were all of a sudden in on what we were doing... If they were that interested, why didn't they call in the years since?

Granted FB has it's good things. But for us, the annoying-ness of it all outweighs those good things.

It is that way where I live too. I was raised in a neighborhood where everyone knew everyone (well at least within a few streets of your house.) I grew up knowing my neighbors and going to school with the kids around me. (Didn't know it but one of my best friends today lived a few streets up from me when we were younger and I didn't know her then).

But now, where I live, everyone keeps to themselves. A policeman lives across the street and the only thing he's ever said to me is why was I letting my dog pee on a patch of grass "near" his car. There is a lady a couple townhouses over that was waiting on a family member to come over to help her dig her car out of the snow a few weeks ago. I offered to shovel her car out but she refused. Said she would just wait on her family member to get there (so she stood out in the cold, in her curlers, waiting, instead of letting me help her).

I find it quite sad that this is the way things are now. I would love to know my neighbors but everyone seems so private.