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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!amdahl!canopus
From: canopus@amdahl.UUCP (Flaming Asteroid)
Newsgroups: net.social
Subject: Re: Is anyone out there?
Message-ID: <503@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Nov-84 16:53:09 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.503
Posted: Tue Nov 13 16:53:09 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Nov-84 01:46:26 EST
References: <242@hocsj.UUCP> <1787@sun.uucp>
Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 39

> ihnp4!hocs!ecl and ihnp4!sun!sunny made some references to nobody
> using this newsgroup...

I have to agree, and I am just as guilty of being a reader rather than
a contributor (hence responsible for neglected newsgroups?), but
NO MORE!!!!  I am actually going to go and post something!!!  Since
it does have something to do with social relationships, this group
is probably the best place...

When I was young (early 1950's) we lived in a small house in a small
town in New Jersey.  I do remember all the parents knew each other,
all up and down the street, and even on streets that were adjoining.
It seemed that almost every Saturday night a different family on the
street was holding a barbecue, party, or whatnot, with everyone in
the neighborhood invited.

Thirty years later, I am living in my own small house with my own
family, thinking about those long ago days.  It seems like everyone
is too busy to relax and have fun these days.  Neighborhood parties
are all but non-existent.

I have made friends with a number of our neighbors, in the attempt
to create some sort of social atmosphere, and have met with others
up the street in a Neighborhood Watch program, but it seems to me
that nobody really wants to socialize that much.

Am I the only one experiencing this?  I have joined the PTA, I belong
to a couple of local hobby-type clubs, but it all seems to be the
same:  nobody talks to each other outside of the social event at hand.

Is this a phenomenon of our times?  I realize the world has changed
a bit in 30 years... or am I just hopelessly locked in the past?
I would be interested in hearing other people's experiences (or if
you have none, then your opinions!)
-- 
Frank Dibbell  (408-746-6493)          ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,nsc}!amdahl!canopus

[The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of my
employer, or myself, for that matter]