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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monk90222

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

---

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Royal Morphz

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.

---

I have lived in my current house for 5 years and barely get a hello from my neighbors....I remember growing up how much a part of my life my neighbors were and still are. We all had each others keys, spent some holidays together and my parents are some of their childrens Godparents....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monk90222

I have lived in my current house for 5 years and barely get a hello from my neighbors....I remember growing up how much a part of my life my neighbors were and still are. We all had each others keys, spent some holidays together and my parents are some of their childrens Godparents....

---

This is exactly the way it was when I grew up

I've been at our current house for a few years now and I could not tell you the names of any of our neighbors. They have not once said hi to me nor I to them from what I recall. And I am completely fine with that. I couldn't even tell you things like who lives in what house or how many people live at each house as I pretty much mind my own business. We do not have any problems with any of them and I would not allow anyone to break into their house, car and I definitely don't want anything bad to happen to any of them but I just don't particularly want to be or care if I am buddy buddy with any of them or not. But I admit to be quite a bit of an anti-social person to begin with. That is probably why things like typing on the computer, IM, Facebook, PM, email, text, etc work out best for me and is a lot more of a comfortable situation for me then talking on the phone or a face to face conversation...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boanerges

That is probably why things like typing on the computer, IM, Facebook, PM, email, text, etc work out best for me and is a lot more of a comfortable situation for me then talking on the phone or a face to face conversation...

---

This is exactly how I feel also!

Tim, I think some of it just has to do with where you live, too. I didn't know any of my neighbors the whole time I lived in Vegas, but that seemed like part of the overall culture to me. If you were out shopping, people looked through you and tried to pretend you didn't exist. The weather, crime, traffic and tiny yards there make it so it's hard to have kids playing out in the yard or neighbors invite each other over for barbeques.

Since I moved out here to Williamsburg, everyone on my road waves when they drive past, even if they don't know you. I don't know anyone here in town, but I've a dozen complete strangers strike up conversations with me while I've been out shopping. People just seem more open to human interaction here than any place else I've lived.

I remember reading some book on human evolution and social development, and it basically said that humans are hard-wired to be most comfortable in "tribes" of 100 people or less. So, when we move to these huge cities with millions of people, we have to develop coping mechanisms, and part of that is ignoring some of the people around us to feel more comfortable. I think people who live in smaller cities feel more comfortable and are more likely to seek human interaction.

Geez. Sorry. I got a little long-winded. :oops: This is actually something I think about quite a lot, because I want to live somewhere where neighbors sit down and have drinks together on summer evenings, and have barbeques on the 4th of July. I'm still not quite there, but I'm getting a lot closer. :salute:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boanerges

That is probably why things like typing on the computer, IM, Facebook, PM, email, text, etc work out best for me and is a lot more of a comfortable situation for me then talking on the phone or a face to face conversation...

---

Yo Jeff, I'm going to call you in a bit, alright? :P

It is the opposite here where I live. But we are such a family community....everyone knows everyone. We get together for holidays...play the "you got boo'd" on halloween, cookie exchange..yada yada. Whenever someone new moves in we make stuff for them...cake, cookies...something to welcome them. It is pretty tight here...but sometimes that can be a little too much as well. lol :rolleyes:

But you can't help but to get to know everyone when our kids are all so tight. Also ....I am a big....throw a party kind of girl. I loooooooooovvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee to have parties. Why do you think I am always like...yea..cmon on down to Tucson...you can stay here.

The problem today is society has forgotten how to communicate with others. I was taught to alway great my neighbors. Even as a young child, Dad would pop me on the back of the head if we walked by a neighbor and I didn't greet them. I too was taught to say yes maam, no maam, yes sir, no sir. There was no yeap or yeah. If I did, I got a much stronger slap on the back of the head.

Take the time to say hello to everyone you meet. It will amaze you how big a smile you'll get in return.

Jim Smith

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

Yo Jeff, I'm going to call you in a bit, alright? :P

---

We have lots of great conversations via facebook chat and PM here so I see no need to ruin it and completely embarrass myself with an awkward conversation on the phone - lol. Feel free to text me though :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boanerges

We have lots of great conversations via facebook chat and PM here so I see no need to ruin it and completely embarrass myself with an awkward conversation on the phone - lol. Feel free to text me though :D

---

Dangit!!!! :taz:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boanerges

We have lots of great conversations via facebook chat and PM here so I see no need to ruin it and completely embarrass myself with an awkward conversation on the phone - lol. Feel free to text me though :D

---

Oh wait.....I need your PHONE number in order to TEXT you! ;););)

I dunno. I lived in my house for 12 years, took it when my folks moved out. We've never really talked to any of the neighbors. Most have come and gone and thats fine because All I really wanna say to them is keep your dogs from free roaming and barking all night.

I know thats not nice, but it's not like I am unfriendly. I mean I am always trying to meet new people and make conversation in bars and just about anywhere I am. I guess I just kinda view my home as my castle...my very private castle with a no trespassing/soliciting sign. :gj:



Is it right is it wrong? If you believe in God then thats for him to decide. But you gotta be you, you know?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

Oh wait.....I need your PHONE number in order to TEXT you! ;););)

---

PM me or hit me up on facebook chat - lol. I have your phone number so I would imagine you have mine as well. If you go on facebook on your phone and click on your friends my number is next to my name (or my wifes number). Our phone numbers are the same except her last two digits is 40 and mine is 41. Shaun (prototype) gave me his number but I already had it due to that feature also. BTW I talk to him and Charlie through text :gj: No awkward phone conversations for me with them either :D

I actually thinnk about this often but it seems like Ive just resigned myself to this is the way things are now. When I was a kid my neighbors had special treats for me on Halloween and all the kids hung out and we knew all the people on our blocks. Today even the area I grew up in is completely different and noone knows anyone. I try to say hello to my neighbors when I see them now but its very different. I always hoped when I got my own house I would have good neighbors that I would sit on the patio with and have a drink on a FRI night or just BBQ with after work but no luck so far. Everyone pretty much keeps to themselves. Oh well such is society these days I guess