Is there a connection between lower sociability and decreasing discretionary income? While I wouldn’t suspect it to be the sole driver, not having the income to pursue hobbies, have meals out, etc could be accelerating the change.
It could definitely play a part. I was told this week that Tube journeys for 15-24s are massively down. This could be a sign that people just don't have the money to venture out. I'm trying to get public data on it.
It highlighted even further exactly how quickly our employers happily throw us under a bus, and therefore the futility of being too conscientious. One woman complained bitterly on twitter about her staff, because they refused to take a pay cut. "But we're a family!" she exclaimed. When I asked her if, during good times, she shared the bounty with them - utter silence. I'd like to think she recognised her hypocrisy, but I'm not hopeful.
As for extroversion, I suspect that the pandemic allowed many of us to stop pretending that were extroverts, and apart from micromanagers, the only people keen to return to the office are the true extroverts, apart from people who live in noisy households. Modern workplaces have rewarded extroversion, but many of us have finally discovered the joy not commuting in a tin box where your nose is pressed into the back of a stranger, or being obliged to chat with someone you would normally cross the road to avoid. At least l live somewhere where I won't go broke catching a train, but it's the daily mental distress that takes a toll.
Yes I think Lisa Damour agrees with you. Phones, individualism and algorithms. I’d love to hear more about your system thinking approach. Bruce@ Brucedaisley.com
Is there a connection between lower sociability and decreasing discretionary income? While I wouldn’t suspect it to be the sole driver, not having the income to pursue hobbies, have meals out, etc could be accelerating the change.
It could definitely play a part. I was told this week that Tube journeys for 15-24s are massively down. This could be a sign that people just don't have the money to venture out. I'm trying to get public data on it.
I wonder if Tube journeys are down because they being replaced by e-bikes and other shared micro-mobility options for that demographic? The recent article about boosting bikes in the Guardian also suggests that some folks are finding more 'economical' ways of hanging out and getting about: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jul/20/stolen-lime-bikes-sound-of-summer-city-london
Hello
The pandemic changed a lot of things.
It highlighted even further exactly how quickly our employers happily throw us under a bus, and therefore the futility of being too conscientious. One woman complained bitterly on twitter about her staff, because they refused to take a pay cut. "But we're a family!" she exclaimed. When I asked her if, during good times, she shared the bounty with them - utter silence. I'd like to think she recognised her hypocrisy, but I'm not hopeful.
As for extroversion, I suspect that the pandemic allowed many of us to stop pretending that were extroverts, and apart from micromanagers, the only people keen to return to the office are the true extroverts, apart from people who live in noisy households. Modern workplaces have rewarded extroversion, but many of us have finally discovered the joy not commuting in a tin box where your nose is pressed into the back of a stranger, or being obliged to chat with someone you would normally cross the road to avoid. At least l live somewhere where I won't go broke catching a train, but it's the daily mental distress that takes a toll.
Yes I think Lisa Damour agrees with you. Phones, individualism and algorithms. I’d love to hear more about your system thinking approach. Bruce@ Brucedaisley.com