The dismantling of the physical aspect of human existence.
When my wife and I first dated she loved to do the bump (look it up kids, it’s a dance). It wasn’t long ago the chest pump was popular. Oh, those where the days!
Well, I’m here to tell you it’s all gone and so much more.
I find it fascinating to look back at the last 20 years or so and see the dismantling of the most basic human interactions: looking at someone (in person), listening, and touching our fellow human beings.
First came computers and cell phones. My 68-year-old sister always communicates to me by text now from Ohio. I call her and explain as little as we communicate let’s at least call each other and use our mouths and talk. It’s fun I say. Call anyone under 30 and I guess they don’t know how to answer, but text, they get that. I once saw a family at a train station sitting all snuggled nicely together each on their own phone doing their own thing. Whose family doesn’t sit in the living room or the table not even making eye contact as they are too busy on the phone? Too many, if they even sit together.
Then comes the Me-Too Movement. Stop now, I’m not against any part of it. But I’ve always hugged many female friends and maybe a small kiss on the cheek. It was mutual. No harm, no foul. I would say the opposite as it’s an ingrained response to people you care about. Touching is something we’ve been genetically made to do and benefit from. Science tell us this. Testing of rats shows those who are kept from touching in positive ways do not live as long as those who touch. Nothing like a good handshake from a close friend.
And now Covid 19. Wear a mask. Handshakes are out, stay six feet away from each other, if at all, Shelter in place. Don’t you even look at that person walking past you, they may be one of them!
Think about it, we don’t look at each other, don’t talk to each other, and now we don’t touch each other. As human beings, we’ve experienced the most essential, the most basic of needs slowly pulled away from us. Somehow it must change.
I don’t have the answers, just questions, isn’t that right Alexa? Hey, I never knew you were on Zoom!
Specialist in Merchandising
4 年What is interesting is that from an early age we respond to touch, parents of infants in NICU are encouraged to interact with their children with as much skin to skin contact as allowed. It is sad that now we may be losing some of the physical contact we all need.
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4 年Just read "buyology in a Covid 19 World " by Martin Lindstrom. He provides the science behind your posted thoughts. It's free and a quick read.