[jllyhill]

> The disappearance of these kinds of interactions from day-to-day life – in pubs, restaurants, shops, queues, on public transport – is striking.

> We are losing a basic human skill. The ability to speak to others and understand them is being compromised.

I fail to see how these two ideas are connected. How is my ability to speak and listen to the people I care about—my parrnts, my friends, my spouse and kids—hindered by my unwillingness to talk to a complete stranger in a supermarket line? I don't hate or hold any ill feelings towards them, it's just that I'm more comfortable being to myself and I have only so much capacity to talk and too many people in the city I live in. I would understand if the article was focused on the reluctancy to bond with people in more or less stable groups (at work or at school) but I don't buy the "strangers" argument.