Let the lonely bowler emerge.
We are social animals. We need one another, especially in times of crisis and upheaval.
All things “social” seem to be front and center right now as we confront the novel coronavirus and the impact it’s having on our daily lives.
Take a look at the different faces of “social” — social distancing, social isolation, social capital and of course social media. All have social impacts but in distinctly different ways.
At the moment we are deciding how best to avoid catching COVID-19. Social distancing is one of the big recommendations. I get that, and I can accept that as I’ve cleared by calendar of meetings, social events and other activities that take me out of the house and around other people. I can live with that. I didn’t even have to buy toilet paper.
I’ve never had a problem filling up my day. I’ll just do more of what I already do: play the piano, dig into my pile of books, sew, bake and cook, clean, write on my blog, call friends and enjoy a glass of wine while I talk to them on the phone. What I won’t do is spend more time on social media, except maybe to Facetime with my grandchildren.
While social media serves as a vehicle for relaying information — fact or not — it also contributes to our social isolation. That’s the irony of this situation which we find ourselves in. We’re being asked to socially isolate. Do we realize that to a certain extent, we’re already there!
In 1995 Robert Putnam wrote an essay entitled “Bowling Alone, ” in which he cited the distinct drop in bowling leagues across the country. People were still bowling, but they were doing it alone. He gave other examples of the decline in social connectedness: a drop in attendance at clubs meetings, fewer family dinners and less socializing with friends and neighbors. All of this, he believed, weakens our social capital which he maintained is the foundation of a strong democracy. Two decades later I’m not sure things have improved. And with social media, they may have gotten worse.
Photo by Matthias Zomer on Pexels.com
It’s a bit of a progression. Social media leads to social isolation which weakens social capital. Now we have social distancing. Wow! I think we’re on our way to becoming social outcasts!
So what do we do. First things first. We must meet the current dilemma head on. Yes, we need to do our part to apply social distancing. I doubt many will stay away from social media, but let’s not make it the better part of our days of isolation. We are, after all, social animals. We need one another, and in times of crisis and upheaval, we need to help one another in addition to protecting ourselves.
Fortunately, that can-do, helpful nature abounds in America. I see it in our little town. The local grocery store never ran out of toilet paper, and customers are abiding by the friendly reminder posted on the shelf that they must purchase only one package. The store is also offering to deliver groceries curbside or to the homes of the elderly. Local citizens have offered to help him with that service.
Corona virus will pass. We’ll get through it and hopefully be stronger for it. But as we eventually return to normalcy and emerge from our isolation, let’s do just that. Let’s not keep our distance. Let’s spend less time on social media and more time socializing face-to-face with our friends and neighbors. I’m looking forward to resuming my spot on the local bowling team.