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Comment by financltravsty | Hacker News Reader

One of many factors. Another is the dissolution of community and intimate time spent with other people (especially outside one's demographic) leading to what is basically insanity: thoughts and behaviors with no external "sanity check" or stop-gap (like an older more mature person mentoring a younger one to correct maladaptive thoughts and behaviors or even to just protect them from the onslaught of bad-faith actors).

Those older are also to blame for not taking a greater part in preventing this; but seeing as it's so widespread, there are most likely more systemic, societal-wide issues at play.

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decline of third spaces due to suburbanization, urban decay, and decline of religious participation.

Of course, it's going to get much much worse due to COVID. I wouldn't be surprised if the change in death rate due to the COVID lockdowns (which drives kids to screens to an even greater degree than anything here) dwarves the number of seniors lost to COVID itself.

At the end of the day, I think time will vindicate the anti-lockdowners and indict those calling for strict lockdowns. It's a major social contagion, and I don't think one we can easily stop.

Lockdowns have completely stunted the emotional and social growth of the young -- making worse the effects of constant connectivity to the internet.

Children have always been rowdy, and some would say lacking in manners, but they were always at the very least somewhat connected to their environment and the people that inhabit them.

But this is true for everyone -- like we've all forgotten how to get along and atleast pretend to live in a society.

So Orange County is going to have more emotionally and socially developed youth compared to LA, in a measurable way? I don't think so.

What's the point in using a specific, local example to discredit a generalized, global statement?

N.B. These drive-by quips go against the ethos of HN.

Asia is fully of third places still and they have all of the problems we do, and in some cases (birth rates) it’s far worse!

Yes, I don't think third places would be a fix -- only a band-aid.

The problem is much deeper. Most likely the atomization and disintegration of human relationships; of which, I think globalism is a prime cause.

I'm not talking about birth rates. I'm talking about anxiety over children playing outside.

Japan has the Hikikomori. China has problems. So does Russia. It's all over.

"there are most likely more systemic, societal-wide issues at play."

One might even use the word "structural".

It’s called everyone not wanting to risk being sued.

or getting shot, or accidentally allowing a crazy person into your life

I am trying now to think of a single decision I made differently because I was worried about being sued and I am coming up empty.

I'm also trying to think of anyone I know that was in fact sued and I am also coming up empty.

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