'The Collapse of Conversation' Wednesday, May 18, 2022

On Healthscape, we often discuss chronic stress and how to deal with it. However, prevention of, and reduction in stress are equally important. Once a much appreciated and relished activity, the conversation appears to be in decline, A 'simple conversation' these days is seldom simple, and rarely very conversational. The proliferation of emotional triggers, and a lower threshold of tolerance, have made conversations more brittle, often tipping these into hostility. Recent increased societal stress levels and social polarization have been blamed for this phenomenon and a good deal of flak has hit the shifty shoulders of social media. Ivan Obolensky suggests some earlier, lesser known causes that have aided the fall, such as the role of propaganda, the policies governing the communication of matters scientific, as well as population density. Perhaps 'Time Deficit Disorder' is yet the greatest culprit of all in the degradation of conversation, as we are so busy making our way in the world and trying to get ahead, that insufficient time is allocated to nearly everything we do. We take less time to listen, less time to understand and reflect, and are quick to deliver our opinion as a judgement. An interesting, cerebral and at times quirky tour through an array of perspectives.