[tmnvix]

I'm sure people will disagree on the significance, but I think it seems obvious that a society that encourages (and in some cases requires) its members to isolate themselves in mobile metal boxes is going to be more antisocial than one that doesn't.

[pesus]

I'm with you on this one, and I think my time living in a fairly walkable city vs. previously living in a non-walkable suburb really underscored this point for me personally.

I'm failing at finding it via google, but I also recall a study that showed drivers tended to view other drivers/cars on the road not as a person in control of a vehicle, but rather an inanimate object, which I think further supports your point. If anyone has a link to the study, I'd be grateful.

[BriggyDwiggs42]

I think cars are a symptom of a philosophy, not the root cause.

[pesus]

I'd say they're both, and it feeds into itself.

[BriggyDwiggs42]

Fair

[dinkumthinkum]

I feel like there is a political side that loves and thinks it clever to shame car ownership or blame everything on cars because because of sone socialist nonsense or something. People have been very social up until 2000 perhaps even later and so-called “metal boxes” have been a big part of American life for a long time. There have even been times when cars were an integral part of socializing in many circles. I get it “America sucks and ancient cities on the Continent are superior” or whatever , but isn’t this kind an f a cliche take at this point?

[JambalayaJimbo]

I think it’s a combination of things and car centric transportation makes our online addled communities worse.

One major issue is that affordability is down bad, many people cannot afford cars and they are stuck in environments where cars are required to do everything and as a result have turned to the internet for their social needs. Which as we know is a mirage for social interaction.

Dense areas where walking/public transit are enough to see friends are becoming more expensive as well.

[TingPing]

It’s just compounding.

If your environment is isolating and the internet replaces easy socialization then you become isolated.

If your environment is low friction for socializing it is less likely.