I think the main difference between traditional societies and modern societies is that traditional societies were much smaller and everyone was all up in each other’s business in a way that we would find intolerable today.
imagine knowing your neighbours names and stories, and actually having some connection with the people in your community. fucking intolerable right? i’d much rather be an atomised modern surrounded by imported aliens and other uncaring moderns who are impossible to relate to
it’s not so much knowing your neighbour’s name as being married off to your neighbour against your will, but you can keep on blaming your lack of social connections on immigrants.
I don’t want to know the 150 losers who happen to live closest to me, I want to know the 150 losers I have the most in common with out of everyone on the planet.
I mean, and then I want us all to move to the same place
Having grown up in a small town, I can state that one of the frustrations was that you’d run into someone you knew any time you went downtown. You’d stop to chat, of course, because it’s rude not to greet people you know and have a conversation. You’d exchange all the latest news, finish your conversation, say goodbye. Twenty minutes later, you’d run into each other *again,* and have to acknowledge each other again, and by now you were both out of things to say. I’m convinced much of the legendary gossipiness of small towns is in part due to everyone being desperate for fresh conversation material.
Mooncustafer 