I remember the days when the neighbor next door used to ask my parents for a small loan until he gets the wages. With the appearance of the new banking system promoting overdraft and credit cards - it stopped. The neighbor no longer needed my parents. for the loan.
I remember well the days when our street was lively and colorful, with voices and movement. And then, it gradually became deserted, as people went inside to watch TV and work on the PC. Interaction was maintained at nuclear family level mainly.
(One evening, I stumbled on the pavement and fell badly on my right shoulder. I was unable to get up. There was no soul around to help me stand on my feet, It was then that I realized the severity of the changes we were undergoing).
Next, people started to look for bigger apartments with more rooms. Each child in his own room, with his laptop and mobile phone. At this stage, interaction between family members got disrupted too.
I so miss the youngsters' politeness and respect for older people of those days! Now, I sometimes can't believe my eyes and ears. They don't even fear the old advice given by parents: 'If you wish to reach that old person's age, you better behave yourself!' It makes them smile or even laugh.
How does the song go? : "those were the days my friend/ we thought they'd never end". Well, apparently they do end. And now we all talk about the big change, Climate Change and the Glasgow summit conference.
It gives us a lot to talk and think about. It's just that I 'm not sure we've got enough time for it. It's kind of urgent. We should better concentrate on what we can do - planning rescue and survival - not on what we cannot do - preventing Nature's disasters.
A few years ago i spent almost two weeks in Hong Kong, not long before the present draconian crackdowns by China in fact. I was impressed with the respect I received, mainly on account of my age, I presume, although I am fit, active and able to outpace many half my age. When I was first attempting to navigate the transit system, a young woman saw me consulting a map, and immediately came over to help me, and I actually stayed with me until she made sure I took the right train. I used public transit every day, and it was rarely crowded, but when it was young people offered me their seat without exception. They even gave me good advice, like, "Hold tight to your back pack!" Chivalry is not completely dead!
ReplyDeleteRight. "Chivalry is not completely dead", as you say.( Perhaps, I exaggerate a little).
DeleteIt depends, however, where, not in all countries, but in countries with a sound, thorough education.
It's hard to watch our world change. Right now my boys are on their computers and I am hunched over an iPad. The bright light is my hubby is playing bagpipes in another room, but it's so loud it's like he's right here. So that's good.
ReplyDeleteI'm not against change in general, but against certain kind of changes. My fall on the pavement with no one to help me , at an hour when there used to be people outside - was a turning point for me.
DeleteI am so sorry to hear about the fall, Duta. Glad you are ok.
DeleteThank you. It's not a recent fall; it happened some 2-3 years ago, but I still feel the anger and the pain of not being able to get on my feet.
DeleteI have noticed all the same things, Duta. It is disturbing. Kids text so much, they don't know how to have vocal conversations. I see less "leisure reading" because of video. And like you, too many people inside. I'd love to take us all off the grid for awhile and see what happened. It would probably be ugly. (I know how hard it was when we told the toddlers tonight they were not getting TV because they wouldn't put their toys away. We'd do stories instead. You'd think we were sending them to bed without dinner! Eventually it was OK.... but it was tricky for awhile. (They refused the toy picking up but they seemed to forgive us.)
ReplyDeleteBoth kids and adults text instead of using their voices. In this way, they might lose their vocality, so nothing good comes out of it.
DeleteBesides, because of TV watching and computer use, important chores and activities get postponed.
Disturbing changes you have noticed
ReplyDeleteDisturbing indeed, but I guess we can do very little about them. Technology takes over and subdues us.
DeleteI totally agree with you it's the same down here I find. We can't change natural disasters either.
DeleteNo, we can't. I keep saying that's God's domain. But we can do a lot to keep the planet clean, and plan ways that will assure our survival.
DeleteWhen Australian tv opened in Nov 1956, just in time for the Olympic Games, most families didn't have the money for this new dream machine. So for the first four years, my brothers and I used to go to the elderly couple next door to watch their tv.
ReplyDeleteOne great hour each week day :)
People were very generous to their neighbours, yes!
I also have memories of watching TV in our neighbors' house. We couldn't afford it and so we used their generosity. And then, when we got a better set, the neighbors paid us a visit to enjoy the new acquisition.
DeleteIt is hard to know your neighbor when they don't want to know you. People used to want to talk outside from time to time, but it seldom happens in our neighborhood anymore. When I was younger we knew everyone on our street, but its different now. Such an insightful post you posted.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the neighborhoods are changing and we have lost trust. Sure, we try to do the neighborly thing, but even in this midwest suburbia town my neighbor was shot by his wife and we had no idea they were even having problems.
No doubt, neighborhoods are changed, and not to the better.I'm not even sure we can do something about it. Perhaps, initiative of people with a strong social devotion might help.
DeleteI do feel communities are trying to reach out. Even our library is trying to get into more community involvement. We are working with the food pantry now. Even so, we had one woman come in and actually take from the bin and walk out. We are a hungry nation on so many different levels. Thanks so much for your comments. I've noticed lately..we do have so many old houses around us and yet many developers are wanting people to rent instead of own.
DeleteNice on our library's part to try to get involved into the surrounding community.That's how things should be.
DeleteDevelopers are interested only in maximizing their profiyt.
Hi Duta, I understand, but do not despair! Again your post brings to mind a verse in Scripture where The Holy One, Blessed be He, gives a glimpse of the future, I love this verse where we see how He so desires too when old men and women with canes are kibbutzing on park benches and children are playing in the park enjoying Him and He delighting in them (us), and it conjures up for me that `old days` and yet it will be new days like it was in the Garden with God in Jerusalem! Now I will share the verse!
ReplyDeleteThen the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: 2 “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I am exceedingly zealous for Zion, I am burning with jealousy for her.” 3 Thus says Adonai, “I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth and the mountain of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be called the Holy Mountain.” 4 Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Once again old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of his age. 5 The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.” Zechariah Chapter 8
Blessings and SHalom!! Love Shayndel
in Messiah Yeshua
I really love your verse Shayndel, ,especially the concluding part of it about the streets of Jerusalem full with old people sitting, and children playing1
DeleteSo true and so sad. Those days we couldn't wait to finish dinner and then go out to interact with our neighbours, sitting under the moon lit sky. Sometimes, we don't even know who is our neighbour. Little kids were given handphone to occupy themselves and learn from e-learning apps even from very small. We are all being carried along these changes both good and bad.
ReplyDeleteHow true, Nancy! "Sometimes, we don't even know who is our neighbor"! Especially in those complexes with many apartments.
DeleteWe are indeed carried along changes, whether we like it or not.
I remember the days of sitting on porches and talking with neighbors. now everyone has their heads buried in technology. We need to teach our young ones how to be sociable. Our conveniences often limit our human interaction.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your last sentence about our conveniences limiting our human interaction.
DeleteIt used to be so nice sitting and talking with our neighbors on the porch!
Technology has not made things better as it was promoted to be better, Ha. As children I played outside without fear because everyone looked out for a kid when nearby. Sad it is not better at all. I believe like the American Indians, Mother Earth should be taken care of first of all before any profits. Peace
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this . Kids and Mother Earth should be taken better care of. Technology won't do this for us with all its obvious advantages.
DeleteYes, Duta, it's all changing too fast.
ReplyDeleteRespect has dwindled in all areas of society in the so-called 'developed' world. Kids can be more difficult to keep in line and many parents seem unable to deal with them as when I was a schoolkid. Not that I was perfect but I DID take care to obey a teacher, my Dad or Mum or a copper!
I'm actually grateful that I was introduced to the World prior to Hitler's failed mission to overpower all nations. A hard time, yes, but it became the best of times as we eased out of scarcity and hunger and as the 1950s dawned and life swirled deliriously joyful in the dance-halls, the cinemas and the home.
Then everything got faster and faster and gave us the wonders of technology to make life easier. The cars, aeroplanes, computers and so much more became commonplace. Everything was accelerating exponentially and we had to keep pace.
The result: COP26 in Glasgow.
We now are faced with a greater task that Herr Hitler threatened: Life on Earth.
That's why I love my earlier lifetime, the 1950 times I look back on with gratitude as against the the coming 2050s. I hope our children and their children win through, but it's going to be far more uncertain and hard.
You're right ,Philip, about everything in your comment.
DeleteYes, life on earth is threatened. Alternative energies are weak, people won't give up cars and plastics - so, what's to be done? Only God knows.
I hope you were okay after your fall! I used to play with the kids in the neighbourhood a lot growing up, but it's tricky as there aren't any kids on our street here for my kids to play with. The few are all much older or younger and not interested in playing with mine. It makes playdates a lot harder to organise, no just putting us outside to play with the kids next door like my mum used to do, haha!
ReplyDeleteHope that you are having a good week :)
Away From The Blue
ן'm ok , thank God, but when it happened I had pain and swelling. Ice took care of it; nevertheless I was uncomfortable for several weeks.
DeleteI am learning to embrace the changes. I enjoy texting my kids. We've had some medical issues, and it is encouraging to be able to reach out and gain comfort. It is a different world. Our kids balance it all.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of good changes to embrace, yet we might lose it all. Unlike you, I don't believe in the ability of the young generation to balance things.
DeleteAs Heraclitus said “Change is the only constant in life”. I, personally, have a love-hate relationship with change, but I recognize that changes are inevitable and if we accept some of them, we will be less stressed.
ReplyDeleteClimate change has been a global concern for a long, long time. Pledges were made in Glasgow… To end deforestation was one. I’ve heard this before and yet…
Social changes are happening and going in the wrong direction as well. I was watching CNN last night and the news I heard is mind boggling. There is always something that still surprises me. And it shouldn’t.
As one of your followers, I wonder why your new posts are never on my reading list… I will have to check this.
Be well!
That's a very wise saying, Catarina!
DeleteIf we accept that change is the only constant in life, then it may become easier for us to accept changes and adapt to them.
Indeed, some of these changes are in the wrong direction, and we have to tackle them - which is not easy.
I grew up in the 80's and really miss how things were back then.
ReplyDeleteI believe you, Mary. The big changes came during the last two decades, starting with year 2000, methinks.
DeleteYes, times are changing ... but then they always have done. Some changes I like and some I don't ... I just do my best.
ReplyDeleteTake care, stay well.
All the best Jan
Doing our best and hoping for the best, is all we can.
DeleteBest wishes to you!
I enjoy reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, Regine. That's a great compliment for me.
DeleteDuta, All the changes you mentioned in the post are very unfortunate because people have lost the ability to communicate face to face with one another. Even walking down a street, people are constantly checking their phones or talking on them in stores. Stores have self checkouts which further removes human contact and which I refuse to use because of this. Sorry about your fall with no one around to assist. The dame happened to me last week in the gym here with no one around. Thankfully, I am ok except for my wounded pride at being a bit clumsy and tripping over an equipment leg.
ReplyDeleteThat's progress for you. We cannot go backwards only forwards, and who knows what awaits us at the corner.
DeleteYou're right. People have become more disunited and are in a vacuum of indifference. Like fish. Thanks for the post)
ReplyDelete"vacuum of indifference" - I rather like the expression. People obviously live in a world of their own which includes their mobile phone and the calls made and received through it.
DeleteI think all generations lived the fact that life was changing.I always look into the future as and go well along with the younger generation, because I went "with the time" my other grandma didn't even want to take a telephone because it was a new invention and told me that electric light is bad for the eyes, petrol lamps are better. Not all youngsters are unpolite there have always been black sheep in our society that's the way of life.
ReplyDeleteGeneralization is never fair. Change is natural, and it's needed. Life doesn't stand still, it flows like a river.
DeleteI feel, however, that during the last two decades, things are going in the wrong direction on all fronts. It depends , of course, on where you live and how you live to be able to grasp that.
Hola, Duta. De acuerdo contigo al ciento por ciento, en esta deshumanización que se está produciendo en las ciudades e incluso también en pequeños pueblos rurales. Pienso, que aparte de las nuevas tecnología, también tiene mucho que ver las nuevas construcciones todas a base de hormigón y acero, ineficientes para los habitantes de las mismas, que cada día pierden más espacio público como aceras o plazas públicas, que están llenas de recuerdos, sentimientos o de momentos inolvidables, y que de la noche a la mañana te lo encuentras todo cambiado.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo; espero que estés bien, y lo de esa caída, fuera tan solo un susto.
Your description, Manuel, is correct. Indeed, dehumanization takes place everywhere daily. It's based on new technology, wrong construction, destruction of public spaces etc...
DeleteI'm ok, thanks for asking.
Things have changed here too - I remember my mother would share a cup of tea over the fence with a neighbour, standing each side of fence holding china cups and passing it back to whoever's 'turn' it had been to bring the tea ... I was forever being sent to borrow things from neighbours and I know a little girl in our road borrowed my 'best' shoes sometimes. We are lucky we have nice neighbours, we all moved into this road when it was newly built 29 years ago and organised us young mums with a weekly coffee morning/chat and then later our babies joined us, we have always (and until the Pandemic still did) had an annual street party where we brought food out and wheeled bbq equipment to a house in the middle, chipped in for a bouncy castle on another persons lawn and brought plenty of food and alcohol and sat all day on our dining room chairs laughing and joking - I hope we haven't lost those days and they will return after the Pandemic.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely! A cup of tea over the fence with a neighbor, a weekly young mums chat, a street party- all wonderful things!. You are indeed, lucky having such neighbors.
Delete