While reading FRAGILE NEIGHBORHOODS: Repairing American Society One Zip Code at a Time, by this week’s Dear Nina guest, Seth D. Kaplan, I underlined many lines, but the quote below hit me deeply.
I continued reading Seth’s book and invited him on the show because most of his book is more hopeful than those lines. He offers a historical context and some solutions, but still, those lines feel very true, don’t though? It sends a chill down my spine the way everything becoming so AI oriented does too. I recently saw, on Substack Notes, a “big Substacker” admit (boast?) that she uses an AI tool for her Notes, and she’s selling that tool to others. Now we can’t write two lines of a Note without an AI tool?! This seems dismal for our future. I don’t want to lose our humanity. It’s one of many reasons I have been dedicated to the topic of friendship for over a decade. But as Seth points out in episode #138 of Dear Nina, we can’t just blame the phones. The problem of a lack of community and neighborhood cohesion long precedes the smartphone. We talked about television, for example, and how most people having entertainment so readily available in their homes many decades ago was a game changer. There’s a lot more to cover historically, and I recommend Seth’s book for the full picture.
More about episode #138: “The Neighborhood Village”Seth and I discussed why your neighborhood community might be the most overlooked place for social connection. However, it’s essential to understand the difference between community relationships and friendships. They are not the same! We discussed the decline of neighborhood schools, and policies that impact community disconnection and inequality, the decay of “middle-ring relationships,” and the role of participation (showing up!) in fostering a supportive environment. I spent time dwelling on my favorite concept in the religious Jewish community—the gemach—a communal lending system that exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and support. FIND EPISODE #138 on Apple, Spotify, Youtube, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! KEEP UP WITH THE 2025 FRIENDSHIP CHALLENGEYou can start the 2025 challenge any time. Each month is meant to stand alone and you don’t need an entire month to accomplish any of them. Find the challenges for January, February, and March at this link. STAY IN TOUCH AND LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES by commenting on each month’s post or in the Dear Nina Facebook group. Articles and Other Finds About FriendshipI see so many friendship-related things, either because I find them myself or listeners send them to me. I love hearing from listeners and readers! Today’s finds are all related to what’s turned into the topic of the month—local friendship!
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