Australians starved of real human connections
Wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard has released the results of a research study which revealed that human connection is increasingly becoming a lost art form as technology plays a greater role in our daily lives.
The survey conducted by OpinionWay, assessed global attitudes towards conviviality in 11 countries on five continents with nearly 11,500 respondents.
The study revealed that 56 per cent of Australians say they meet up less with friends because of social media.
Over 70 per cent of respondents say they stay home to stream a film or TV show instead of connecting with family and friends in person.
At the same time, nine out of 10 Australians yearn for more real-life connections.
The survey also suggests the digital world may be impacting the quality of friendships citing that almost half of Australia (47 per cent) feel their relationships with their friends are becoming more superficial as a result of social media.
Consequently, only 33 per cent of Australians have met half of their Facebook friends or less in real life.
To form meaningful relationships in person, it was found that 89 per cent of respondents want to be less addicted to social media to have more time to meet up with others in person.
Further results found that two-thirds of Australians think that the world is less convivial than it was five years ago - a rate five per cent higher than the global average of 61 per cent.
Globally, the French are most likely to say the world has become less convivial (82 per cent) followed by Germans (73 per cent) while Mexicans appear to be the most optimistic on the topic with 92 per cent saying their country is convivial.
Neer Korn, sociologist and expert on Australian culture, believes that there are many elements that contribute to the lack of conviviality. Those include, but are not limited to, technology and social media adoption, the pace of change in society, the severe decline of trust in society and our transient lifestyles.
Entertaining appears to be the antidote with the majority of Australians stating that sharing a meal at home with their friends was their top activity for social gathering. Globally, 79 per cent associate convivial moments with having a drink or a meal with relatives.
Do you feel starved of human connections?
Agree Sophie. Technology although great is causing the older folk to lose contact with community and the young to be bereft of social skills.
I don't feel "starved of human connections" for the simple reason coming from a large Italian family, there's never a dull moment. I am still in the workforce, so there are lots of opportunities to have great social interactions, added to that most of the friends I have are old school chums and still in contact with them.
Likewise Ray..family is all important to me. I love people but have to admit I give the negative Nellies and Neds a very wide berth.
I enjoy being busy, family, my circle of friends who have been in my life for decades. Charities I love and I do some freelance writing of a historical nature. Belong to a writers club and we're close friends who go out for lunches, theatre outings etc. Then there's my wonderful hubby..all I can say is am I lucky!
Having said all the above..I do cherish time on my own..
'A' reason for suicide maybe but NOT 'THE' reason Sophie.
Older Australians are becoming more and more isolated. Many I've come across have not had a chance to speak to another human for days and are afraid to even leave their houses. How it got that way who knows? For some it's not too late to get out and about, but for the infirm, it's a different story. I'm lucky, I live with my older daughter and her family in my own little annex. Wouldn't have it any other way.
... lucky for you - or unlucky for them? Obviously you fell on hard times to be living with "family" or possibly need "care"? Might account for your constant rudeness and cynical remarks on various Topics.......
Why are you attacking me you drunken layabout?? If you can't hold your booze, you should seek out AA.
Not that it's any of your business but I own several homes, but like to live near to family. Guess you don't have any or else you would know the value of one.
Hey mate,
With a bit of luck Ben will see how foxy has messed up a thread that's really relevant to seniors.
Sounds like you have a really close knit and happy family Aviator.
RAY, i hope BEN will see this page, and all the others that your gang have managed to mess up, not ONE topic on this site that one or the other of you have not managed to put someone down, yes, hope BEN has a GOOD look,
I suppose your mucous filled eyes failed to see your deranged friend foxy attack me first. Hope the moderators see her post.
Thanks Ray. Yes I am very lucky. A really close knit family, some great kids and grandkids.
...... hope BEN also reads the Topic GUNZ .... Page 3 especially! Says exactly what you revolting trolls are all about!
In fact all of Management should read GUNZ ... most appalling and hateful bullying seen on this site in years!!!
Aviator: OK for you to attack people eh? Don't like it when the tables are reversed? Even need backup from Big Bird but then word has it you are Ray???? So no surprises there!! Lol
"Drunken lay about" ?? - lol - couldn't be further from the truth but then you only deal in LIES!
Perhaps if you had the Degree's and position I currently hold you would be a happier person and not be propped up by family and spending your days fabricating BS - lies and "hate posts" directed at decent members from your "backyard shed"? TROLL
Aviator, You have an older daughter eh? I've sometimes heard of people having an older aunty or uncle, but never an older son or daughter. The people you speak of who are vafraid to leave their houses, do they live inner city, outer suburbs or remote?
Adrianus..I know you have difficulty understanding simple concepts.. however, when parents have more than one child, they sometimes refer to one as the older or the younger or the middle child. Not hard.
I'm pretty sure that's the case with Aviator.
Foxy..
Your actions not only reveal you are “starved of real human connections”..they portray your acute lack of interpersonal skills. A person whose mind and time are taken up with pleasurable activities certainly has no interest in extreme negative behaviour like yours.
It’s rather ironic the research was done by wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard..recognise something Foxy? Has the penny dropped yet?
As for those “degree’s” you mention..surprising someone as learned as yourself does not know the plural of degrees. Hmm.. the “position you currently hold”..well..you said yourself you are an aged pensioner, absolute ideal time of your life to learn new things..keep occupied and connect with your surroundings.
I feel pretty sure everyone including staff members have had at least a glimpse of the “Gunz” thread..but for those who haven’t here’s a link..
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/the_meeting_place/post/gunz
Enjoy your day Foxy..the world is a huge, wonderful place. YLC is just a grain of sand on the beach.
Enjoy your day Sophie, try not to take everything so seriously. :)
Enjoy your day Sophie, try not to take everything so seriously. :)
Beastie is at it again. foxrot, when are you going to learn? Not going to waste time on you today, chowderhead, however, being nasty to my new friend Aviator is not on.
If you keep this up I shall have to let your secret out that you ate lothario and became bilby the bandicoot. Haven't seen one of your rants in 24 hours, hmmm.
Thanks guys. I won't waste time with this turd behaviour either. She's starved for something that's for sure, a very frustrated piece of rubbish. Degrees and position? What a joke.
AVIATOR, mucus filled eyes, ? what a vile choice of words, but then, you have joined the gang of ;king of put downs' what vile people you all are,
Cats.... vile choice of words from an equally vile lowlife! No wonder the "family" keep it in the backyard! lolololol
The outrageous "assumptions" or should I say LIES (about total strangers) - make Aviator appear even more moronic than ever (if that's possible?) haha
Sophie,
Enough of your 'pop' psychology. No one supports you ... except well ...
You have intimated often that you are university educated.
Even one who has a BA degree (which anyone can obtain, if they can read withought moving their lips) would affirm that Hitler's writings are not brilliant (as you insist)... but, banal, dreary and repetitive. Apart from the fact that the German is bad. :-(
You failed to answer KIAH's questions troll. For your convenience I have copied them for you:
Why did your husband not allow you to learn to drive? Was it because of your poor mental health state? Was he afraid for the safety of other road users? We see your capacity for causing harm to people right here on the forum. We see how you lie. Why didn't he trust you?
Why are you on the age pension? Did your husband not provide for you? Did he not work and support you? Why did your husband not allow you any independence? Why did your husband hold on to the car keys? Why was he comfortable in a car going about his business but forced you to use public transport to do even the shopping? Very cruel and very sad. Was he afraid if you drove to the shops you would spend too much money? Didn’t he trust you? Why did he feel the need to watch you all the time?
Why did you have to “pick your battles” twila? Was he a violent man? Were you afraid of him? Was there domestic violence? Were you afraid for your well being and that of your children? Why was there no chance of a “compromise” in your marriage? Would he turn violent? Why were you so afraid of your husband twila? More importantly, why are you transferring the hateful domestic situation you lived in to other people’s lives? You are nothing but a TROLL and now I understand why you do it.
-----
you were well and truly starved of human connections hydra. Tell us more and leave Hitler out of it. He wrote well, you don't think so, and it's none of your friggin business who does.
Waiting, waiting, waiting twila.
Btw Sophie has lots of "support" a beaut family, great husband, and great friends. Is that why you constantly troll her???
WHO in the hell do you think you are - you ugly hateful bullying TROLL!
FFS leave people alone! No one has to answer any of your inane ridiculous f.....ing questions!!!
No way are you a man!!! No way!!! If you are (as you lead people to believe you are?) - you are one sick PSYCHO !!!!
P S Y C H O
Why are you so concerned about the writings of Hitler when you are not Jewish yourself, twilla???
The Code of Jewish Law clearly states that a child of a Jewish mother is Jewish, regardless of the father’s lineage (or whatever else may show up in a DNA test), while the child of a non-Jewish mother is not Jewish. Matrilineal descent has been a fundamental principle of Torah since the Jewish people came into existence.
Chabad.org
The trolls'way of thinking is the funniest yet. You want to be "left alone?" Then stop trolling.
Btw which university did you go to foxy and what degrees have ya got under ya belt, lol
This is a really interesting topic and so pertinent. Surprising that only 1 person has responded so far. But perhaps that is because it requires intimacy to answer questions about intimacy and maybe the lack of answers suggests that people on the whole are avoiding intimacy more than in the past? I think that when I first started commenting on YLC (from 2012) there was a lot more intimate response which forged friendships than there is now. Hence I became quite close to quite a few people who have since left or died.
I do think our world is changing quite dramatically. I don’t feel comfortable about the way it is going. I think my own generation (at least the people I know) are on the whole sticking to the old ways of socialising away from the net...at least they are in my world. We get together often with lunches, dinners and parties celebrating birthdays and other things. My children too seem to have very active social lives. I am afraid that things are changing quite dramatically for our grand children. I can’t quite put my finger on how but I feel fearful fo them. I fear we are sending them off into unknown territory. It does seem like the interactions they have on the net are fairly superficial.
I once joined Facebook for a few weeks to meet up with old high school friends. I very quickly regretted my action because most of the conversations were very superficial and status based. They did not at all fit with the way I had my life happening with face to face friends, which was a far more intimate, affectionate, non competitive and enjoyable social scene. I quickly deleted and determined to stay with more substantial interactions only in my life.
I am not lonely or starved for human connections but if I was, I doubt that the net would be able to provide what I need in the way of intimate connection with others. I hope that our grandkids and everybody keeps an intimate social life happening beyond the net.
hHI , i HOLA, my son does ring me about twice a week, and i see them about every 10 days or so, but they are always busy, the two eldest have swimming every saturday, footy every sunday, my son is in a darts team, [goes around the country playing, at present is about 3rd best in australia,] TYLER, eldest boy also plays darts, in the little league, so they are always going somewhere, i think i told you that youngest daughter moved to COBRAM, a few months ago, she remarried last weekend, so its been full on everywhere,
I must say, i do know a couple of people who are probably starved for any affection, or love, one elderly lady that i do try and call on if im in the area, i dont think has been out of her home in about 5 years, has smeone from the council do her shopping, and pay any bills she may have, myself, i sometimes wish for time alone, the 3 youngest grandsons are full on, but ,really i wouldnt want it any other way, have a group , of 6 of us who meet for lunch, every 2nd week, plus my library lady who calls every week, to bring me new books, daughter is here most weekends, when she can make it, i have plenty of company, also a husband, lol,
Hi Cats - Both my sons do ring me and it is always nice to have a short conversation. When we are face to face the conversations are sometimes shorter because they are always checking their mobile phones. I always ask if there is some urgency to reply to straight away? I never hear from my 15 year old Grandson, but last Friday he actually rang and spoke to me for one hour. He was so happy to tell me about a play he was in "Annie" as he had a leading role and had great reviews. I was so happy to hear all the details. Tonight I am going with younger son and family for Dinner. I'm always grateful for small mercies. I'm always available to help people out, but I saw this saying the other day:
"Sometimes having a big heart sucks, because you expect everyone to care as much as you do, and they don't".
That is lovely to hear about your Grandson Hola, but remember if you do not hear from them for awhile just make the call and say "I have not heard from you for awhile just wondering how you are doing" that should prompt them to call in the future, kids often just "forget" or are otherwise occupied in life.
I quite like my own company -- and it does not bother me one bit if I don't see anyone for many weeks -- in fact I rather enjoy it
im like you PlanB. i like it when i am on my own, can play my music as loud as i want, when i want, eat whatever time it suits me, would not bother me if i saw no one for a month,
Dear oh dear, humans have certainly deteriorated on this site.
Everything has to be politically correct and people respond likewise, inwardly for safety sake. A smile does not cost, small talk does not cost, excuse me, or thankyou, or let me help you does not cost.
There are many lonely people out there, there is a variety of reasons, family moving away to different states is a big cause of separation of families, families having husbands and wives working so we don’t have the same neighbourhood communities that we once had, I remember when I was young neighbours were constantly in and out of our home, after I retired about 10 years ago, I started volunteering with Wollongongong community transport, it was an eye opener for me, some of the people I picked up told me I was the only visitor they had seen for days, it often brought a tear to the eye, all many of them wanted was someone to have a natter with, unfortunately I didn’t always have the time due to other people needing transport, but on the occasions when time permitted I heard some wonderful stories, one in particular was a woman who had spent time as an ambulance driver during ww2, some of the stories had my ears turning red, other stories were told with a tear in her eye. There are plenty of organisations out there for people who are mobile and can get out, men’s sheds, university of the 3rd age and other groups that cater for the more mobile of us, sadly there are not as many for people who for a variety of reasons are on their own.
Jim,
I am sure you bring a lot of joy to these seniors. :-)
It is amazing the history that these seniors have experienced.
Has anyone thought of recording oral histories? I imagine that there is an Oral History association in your area, who can provide training ... and equipment.
Funny this topic has come up, yesterday I ran into my neighbours who I have not seen close up for years, young couple who have since popped out two kids and now the oldest is 5, I think I met the oldest when he was only 1. We had a lovely chat and caught up on news, but unless I run into them again while walking I won't see them for awhile again. I talk to all my neighbours who go out walking, and only wave to those who are in the car, but we have a friendly neighbourhood even if people are too busy in their lives, I still feel some sort of connection and know they are there if needed. I don't do social media so have lost touch with a lot of friends, it has really effected social life in the way that if you are not on social media you do not hear about what is going on because no one calls you anymore or drops in to see you, they just check facebook.
I am the same Musicveg, neighbours are there for each other and all is fine but if we don't see each other in months /or more, not a problem -- I have never lived in there pockets nor them me and I like it that way, I am not on social media and never will be -- we have phones and email and cars so catch up if and when we want.
Get a dog! (or some other pet). Personally I prefer dogs. Loyal, obedient(when properly trained), don't cost too much,won't take half of your assests and always welcoming.
Try putting your missus and your dog in the boot of your csr for s while snd see who is gladdest to see you on opening.
(pedro ... LOL ...)
I could never impose on my family by living with them.
Also, I like to be in charge of my environment ... do things when I want ... invite friends when I want ....
Where I live, there are many organisations for seniors to join. These are free and run by volunteers .... transport provided. There is something to do/ to go to/ including the theatre, six days a week. The oldest member is 96 years.
Many psychological studies have found that seniors become more creative/artistic with age.
"Creative aging has become a force to be reckoned with" psychologytoday.com creative aging
I am currently arranging an art exhibition for these seniors.
"Creative aging has become a force to be reckoned with" psychologytoday.com creative aging”
Does your version of creativity include ATTACKING Sophie at every opportunity? Clearly you’re learning zilch from that activity.
Several research studies have shown a strong correlation between social interaction and health and well-being among older adults and have suggested that social isolation may have significant adverse effects for older adults. For example, study results indicate that:
Social relationships are consistently associated with biomarkers of health.Positive indicators of social well-being may be associated with lower levels of interleukin-6 in otherwise healthy people. Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory factor implicated in age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer.Some grandparents feel that caring for their grandchildren makes them healthier and more active. They experience a strong emotional bond and often lead a more active lifestyle, eat healthier meals, and may even reduce or stop smoking.Social isolation constitutes a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially in older adults.Loneliness may have a physical as well as an emotional impact. For example, people who are lonely frequently have elevated systolic blood pressure.Loneliness is a unique risk factor for symptoms of depression, and loneliness and depression have a synergistic adverse effect on well-being in middle-aged and older adults.
More research is needed to understand the actual links to positive health and determine the importance of social interactions as they relate to disability, falls, memory, and overall health benefits for older adults.
"Australians starved of real human connections"
Not only Australians..this is a global problem and the reason why there are so many suicides. It's a very sad reality and what is even sadder is ..communication is now slowly decreasing to a point where children and adolescents have trouble having a face to face conversation because it is always done through a text message.
Technology and social media are wonderful..but nothing can replace the human touch..a hug..a coffee with a friend and children at play outside and forming early relationships.