Tom
An Old Friend
As we reach 2021 during a world-wide pandemic do you feel altruism in society, in general, is increasing or decreasing? Is it the same?
Many people have had their lives changed. Personal stress increases yet I read articles about increases in anonymous gifts to charities and food banks.
I've noticed my neighbors are 'friendlier' and more helpful than before.
Personally, I've noticed a change in myself concerning how I look at others.
I'm more prone to help someone or assist others than before. Not just with money concerns but deeds and cheering as well. I have a new depth to helping my fellow man.
This drive is more than my normal courtesy gesture. My empathy has increased and I find myself paying attention to the plight of others more often than I used to. Is it age? I know its not guilt. I believe its pandemic related.
The changes I see and feel are relatively recent and have been increasing all thru last year. I've always been helpful and giving but recently, I am willing to go out of my way to help others more often.
I'm wondering if anyone else has felt this or noticed a change in altruism in society or themselves?
Will it persist past the pandemic or fade away as the pandemic subsides?
Has anyone noticed an opposite effect on society?
The opposite of altruism is spite.
Many people have good reason to be more spiteful as their lives are thrown into turmoil.
I'm sure society has a mixture of both but I'm seeing (noticing) more altruistic behavior in general and I feel it more in myself.
What do you think?
I wonder if there are any studies concerning the correlation between isolation and altruism?
With our current world-wide communication technology and automation of industry, the trend of society is toward isolationism. That trend by itself is a slow process where society can adapt and maintain its ongoing cultural imperatives.
The pandemic thrust fast change upon us. We needed to adapt quickly and severe changed occurred. I wonder if it was the fast change which spurred an increase in altruism generally?
Will the altruism dissipate slowly over time or abruptly decrease?
After the pandemic and isolation will selfishness and spite increase dis-proportionally?
Some people have become flat out nasty to others recently.
I attribute the 'nasty' to the fact some people have been hit really hard by this in their financial situation and their lifestyles.
Eager to climb out of the place they're in, they might see anything as an obstacle. Probably because they are not thinking of changing themselves, instead thinking they must endure it to get to the other side of what they think is a temporary situation.
There has been a shift in business models. Business are finding out its more efficient to employ fewer workers and maintain smaller spaces.
If this pandemic continues thru 2021 (it could), there may also be a shift in how restaurants and bars and public venues are structured.
For example, in-house dining may be phased out in favor of drive up or window service permanently. This shrinks not only the requirement for public spaces (seating areas) but the employees needed to run those spaces. Think about the overhead to provide an environment for office cubicles.
This means service jobs may also be phased out or significantly reduced, which would keep those people out of work.
This is a problem, population wise, because world-wide population is continuing to rise. Its also a problem career wise in any service industry job market. Plus, decades ago we (USA) phased from a manufacturing industry nation to a service industry nation. Many first world countries did.
There are no factories (well, relatively few) to put people back to work. Manufacturing, for the most part, has moved to 3rd world countries.
For those of us who have been lightly affected by this, altruism can be possible.
Not so for those who stand to lose their jobs forever or already have.
It all stands to cause a rift in society to which revolt and revolution easily manifests.
We're gunna see a shift in societies in 2021. I can't tell if it will be altruistic or spite filled. I think whatever happens, it will be a division which will change the face of humanity.
Many people have had their lives changed. Personal stress increases yet I read articles about increases in anonymous gifts to charities and food banks.
I've noticed my neighbors are 'friendlier' and more helpful than before.
Personally, I've noticed a change in myself concerning how I look at others.
I'm more prone to help someone or assist others than before. Not just with money concerns but deeds and cheering as well. I have a new depth to helping my fellow man.
This drive is more than my normal courtesy gesture. My empathy has increased and I find myself paying attention to the plight of others more often than I used to. Is it age? I know its not guilt. I believe its pandemic related.
The changes I see and feel are relatively recent and have been increasing all thru last year. I've always been helpful and giving but recently, I am willing to go out of my way to help others more often.
I'm wondering if anyone else has felt this or noticed a change in altruism in society or themselves?
Will it persist past the pandemic or fade away as the pandemic subsides?
Has anyone noticed an opposite effect on society?
The opposite of altruism is spite.
Many people have good reason to be more spiteful as their lives are thrown into turmoil.
I'm sure society has a mixture of both but I'm seeing (noticing) more altruistic behavior in general and I feel it more in myself.
What do you think?
I wonder if there are any studies concerning the correlation between isolation and altruism?
With our current world-wide communication technology and automation of industry, the trend of society is toward isolationism. That trend by itself is a slow process where society can adapt and maintain its ongoing cultural imperatives.
The pandemic thrust fast change upon us. We needed to adapt quickly and severe changed occurred. I wonder if it was the fast change which spurred an increase in altruism generally?
Will the altruism dissipate slowly over time or abruptly decrease?
After the pandemic and isolation will selfishness and spite increase dis-proportionally?
Some people have become flat out nasty to others recently.
I attribute the 'nasty' to the fact some people have been hit really hard by this in their financial situation and their lifestyles.
Eager to climb out of the place they're in, they might see anything as an obstacle. Probably because they are not thinking of changing themselves, instead thinking they must endure it to get to the other side of what they think is a temporary situation.
There has been a shift in business models. Business are finding out its more efficient to employ fewer workers and maintain smaller spaces.
If this pandemic continues thru 2021 (it could), there may also be a shift in how restaurants and bars and public venues are structured.
For example, in-house dining may be phased out in favor of drive up or window service permanently. This shrinks not only the requirement for public spaces (seating areas) but the employees needed to run those spaces. Think about the overhead to provide an environment for office cubicles.
This means service jobs may also be phased out or significantly reduced, which would keep those people out of work.
This is a problem, population wise, because world-wide population is continuing to rise. Its also a problem career wise in any service industry job market. Plus, decades ago we (USA) phased from a manufacturing industry nation to a service industry nation. Many first world countries did.
There are no factories (well, relatively few) to put people back to work. Manufacturing, for the most part, has moved to 3rd world countries.
For those of us who have been lightly affected by this, altruism can be possible.
Not so for those who stand to lose their jobs forever or already have.
It all stands to cause a rift in society to which revolt and revolution easily manifests.
We're gunna see a shift in societies in 2021. I can't tell if it will be altruistic or spite filled. I think whatever happens, it will be a division which will change the face of humanity.
