The social order

I read a comment which said "95% of your problems will be resolved by getting off social media and your phone". It might have been a stretch but it wasn't entirely wrong. 

Certainly we are more isolated and anxious than ever and our social interactions outside of work for many have dropped off a cliff. Our reliance on third spaces like church, sport leagues, social clubs, etc. is at an all time low. We need to return to face to face interaction for society to be healthy. 

People used to be more like predictable sheep because pressure to conform was so high. Thus they would attend church service because it was frowned upon not to. Ask them after the service why they did so and you would get a mixed series of answers some bordering on complete gobbledygook and yet they benefited from the group dynamics of bazaars, spaghetti suppers and coffee in the hall afterwards. 

As society has become more pluralistic and diverse those people who thrived on order are confused and even angry. They let out their frustration often anonymously on platforms where they can rage over types of people they have never met. No wonder disdain for the "other" is at an all time high. 

The population can predictably be divided into segments because the essential characteristics of human nature never change. Those who pine for black and white and to be led by the nose will never disappear because free thought and uncertainty are unappealing to them. Hence some form of return to the old ways which appease them is almost assured. 

Mark Twain said that it was far easier to fool people than to convince them that they had been fooled. 

He was absolutely right.