Yes, some do manage to thrive (and continually strut their huge numbers of ‘success’), but they are the minority of activities from my vantage point.  I’ve known this decline in the majority of once busy activities has been occurring for some time, but to see it in real time is still disarming!  IF it continues, so many pieces of our mainstream American history will be lost (and I suspect will not be recovered again any time soon)!  Even our museums showcasing our past are fighting for their lives! 

A couple of ideas I suggest may be contributing to this decline in our culture, is the increasing use of the Internet (and its MANY manifestations of ways in which to stay connected... constantly).  Combine that with a current mainstream work culture which pushes for more production/commitment/TIME (with fewer resources and even fewer individuals) and there is that rapidly approaching point of diminishing return, where people cannot keep up with the requirements of their positions - think government services (and some of ‘those people’ do actually care about their performance, but feel and appear doomed to poor service delivery) - LOL (laugh out loud) or cry!?!

I was mentioning to a client just tonight how an individual in the ’70’s and ’80’s often expected a job to simply support his social life (and this was before ‘lifestyles’ existed).  Many ‘lived to party’, showing up at work just enough to not get fired (or written up too often, before deciding to be ‘on good behavior’ until they felt safe enough to start slacking off, again).  Then, work started expecting people to ‘actually work’ and produce at a particular pace (read ‘bean counters’ here), until we have our current culture where too many people are being told they are ‘lucky’ to even have a job - ouch!  (see below for a possibly relevant article on a man’s worth previously reprinted here).

Add to this mix the changing laws on drinking and driving, and the ever evolving drug/medication use and increasing abuse, new sexually transmitted diseases (including herpes, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C) and many people began to feel the party was finally over (one party being the ‘Golden Age of Sex’, after penicillin and before AIDS). 

The Internet may have become the new ‘magic bullet’ to many who are wishing to escape into a new land of make believe... (one of our local Detroit bar owners used to announce at closing time that ‘tonights the night’, wishing everyone well on their quest for Mr. Right... night after night... for years!).  This new Internet ‘fix’ allows/enables the surfer to often (and sadly I suggest) leave behind the ‘reality’ of real people and organizations who are looking to live in the present... with diminishing returns on their investments of creating our past and future social history!?!  Social groups and support organizations continue to dwindle to the surfer’s fantasy of the ‘perfect people’ of their favorite Internet sites - ouch!  I suggest a real shared event is MUCH more meaningful and memorable than fantasy, similar to the difference between a healthy meal and ‘empty calorie’ fast food.  And, please consider the long term effects fast food has had on the physical state of America’s fitness and health!  Also, it is usually hard to live up to, or favorably compare to these well orchestrated images and fantasies, and in so doing many people may feel even worse about themselves in the long run!?!  I noticed people in the malls, during this year’s holiday shopping rush, looking uncomfortable simply being among other people.  Is this a consequence of they’re being SO isolated they’ve never learned, or quickly forgot, basic social skills???  What about the proprietors of these websites, are we getting good value for their monthly access and download fees???  Are they now another ‘BIG business’ and members of America’s ‘one percent’ elite?  With the Internet safely snuggled within our brains, what can compete with that!?!  Are we settling for too little (safety), and at too high a cost (reality and isolation)?  And, what about quality, and our future, as a group as well as individually?  Perhaps, room for HUGE discussion here???

Please don’t get me wrong about the Internet and its invaluable use.  I use it often, with great productivity and satisfaction.  I suggest the Internet is like the atom - powerful!  With proper constraints and boundaries, the atom can power whole cities - atomic reactors.  However, without those limits it can also destroy those same cities - the atomic bomb.  Unlimited virtual access to all the information and data resources of the world is HUGE... when properly managed!?!  I suggest ‘balance’ is a key word here.

I contend we need to get beyond all this ‘competition’ and learn how to once again ‘cooperate and coordinate’ getting our needs and wants met, so we learn how to actually live in the moment, with passion and in harmony with one another - a ‘win - win’ situation!?!  This may sound in direct opposition to our current, high drama, high adrenalin (and high addiction!) imaginary of those highly addictive ‘lifestyles’ and games we create to amuse and relieve our selves (and all our BFF’s we collect on our Facebook pages...), but I strongly urge you to challenge our new rapidly emerging ‘lifestyles’ - you’re worth it, and so is the history we are creating before our eyes.   Additionally, isn’t this very similar to America’s addiction to ‘reality TV shows’ (and how much time and money, are they taking in with their ‘amusements’)???  (Again, see below for a previous article on drama as an addiction, reprinted here).

Finally, please think about this year’s ‘Person of the Year’ by Time Magazine being the ‘Protester’ !!!  Are we ready to protest the perfect images which feed our already low sense of ‘self’, and declare we are at least OK to know and spend time with others of our choosing?!?  How’s your lifestyle going FOR YOU???  Simply attending an organization of your choice will ensure you have a place at the table... and the table will survive to be there for you.

Comments and feedback always welcome!