Superficiality

If I captioned this cartoon I would probably use the word "superficiality" somewhere in the caption. I think that few of us really "know" each other.. it took me the longest time to get to know my neighbor's names.. I still can't remember one of them - and I shared coffee with him last August.

People tell me that folks 'knew' each other back in the old days.. but I doubt that they really 'knew' each other. I think that our success oriented culture makes it hard for folks to drop their guard and let people in.. this is especially true for men. I think that women probably know each other better we guys do.. but I am not sure.

What do you think keeps us on superficial levels of relationship?
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9 comments:

  1. photowannabeFebruary 17, 2009 at 1:14:00 PM CST

    Fear that we won't be accepted and that people will see our flaws. Every thing pushes us to be perfect or what we perceive as perfect.
    Did you get your new camera? If so what did you finally decide upon?

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  2. Therese ZFebruary 17, 2009 at 3:02:00 PM CST

    Air conditioning. Small families. Having your children not play outside.

    I'm not kidding. Shutting off the flow of life and noise from and between houses, on blocks, in neighborhoods, is deadening.

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  3. pearlieFebruary 17, 2009 at 6:54:00 PM CST

    What do you think keeps us on superficial levels of relationship?

    Too occupied with self.

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  4. BilboFebruary 17, 2009 at 7:05:00 PM CST

    I agree with everything everyone has already said and would add that the nature of work in the modern world is also a contributing factor. When I come home from work I really don't want to engage too many people because it requires energy and time two things I don't have much of at the end of the day.

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  5. karenFebruary 17, 2009 at 9:59:00 PM CST

    Fear. Fear that everyone will know that we don't have it all together. Judgment.
    I'm more open on my blog than I am in "real" life with most face-to-face people. I figure blog friends won't gossip about me.

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  6. MissyFebruary 18, 2009 at 11:31:00 AM CST

    Not really listening to the answer when you ask someone politely, "How are you?"

    I learned the weight of that when I moved here, knowing not one person. People yearn for openness, but they won't waste it on someone who won't listen.

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  7. Emanuel GoldsteinFebruary 20, 2009 at 6:21:00 AM CST

    That's a racist picture ya got there, Bob.

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  8. MissyFebruary 20, 2009 at 11:53:00 AM CST

    ... and sexist, those skirts are really short. (sorry, Bob, it was irresistable)

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  9. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2009 at 1:56:00 PM CST

    I alway like the line from a Jackson Browne song, from Late for the Sky, it sings, "maybe people only ask you how you're doing, because its easier than lettin' on how little they really care".
    Signed,
    LTF

    ReplyDelete

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