CommunityLend blog

Fascinating study by Putnam based on research that predates internet, and the mere fact it talks of things such as the Elks club, Parent Teacher Associations, and organisations that are either quaint, or unknown to many nowadays, paints a picture of North American society that has changed dramatically in terms of how people interact. Those organisations had a social aspect, and and economic one, with a rich history in helping people and families.

Amazon.ca: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community: Robert D. Putnam: Books

This is a powerhouse study on a subject that would hardly seem worthy of such attention to many Americans. However, most people, other than extremists and misanthropes, probably have nagging worries about America’s plummeting levels of public participation, volunteerism, and civic engagement. This concept of “social capital” is Putnam’s specialty.

This book makes the argument:

“In a nutshell, he argued that civil society was breaking down as
Americans became more disconnected from their families, neighbors,
communities, and the republic itself.”

Despite the allusions to US, the concepts apply equally to Canada. Substitute Canada in the quote, and few would disagree.

There are several factors laid out that suggest why this disconnection occurred, but the #1 factor was television.

Fast forwarding to today, television usage is dropping and being replaced by internet usage. Noticeably the internet activities with the most rapid pick up are those that are social in nature.

This all goes on to confirm the obvious, that humans are naturally social, but that internet offers one way that social interconnections, and eventually social capital [because they are different] can be rejuvenated. At CommunityLend, we plan to help in any way we can, by offerring a platform, a venue, a clubhouse, for Canadians to do just that.