Reading Response to “The Age of Loneliness Is Killing Us” George Monbiot is an investigative journalist, book author, and ecologist. Working for the BBC on projects in Asia, Africa, and South America, he has amassed priceless experiences with people of various cultural backgrounds. In particular, his article, “The Age of Loneliness Is Killing Us,” published in The Guardian on October 2014, exemplifies an adamant tone throughout, claiming repeatedly that individualism negatively impacts human beings and their ability to develop. Monbiot furiously pushes his point of view on the readers by using evidences and various techniques of literature. The text primarily addresses the social concerns of the loneliness society has tumbled into recently.
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Borgman illustrates a similar point to Monbiot’s article in his article “Loneliness and the Hermitic Psyche” that quotes Philip Slater’s principles that “individualism is rooted in the attempt to deny the reality of human interdependence. One of the major goals of technology is to free us from the necessity of relating to, submitting to, depending upon or controlling other people. Unfortunately, the more we succeed in doing so, the more we have felt disconnected, bored and lonely" (Borgman 11). This idea by Slater is much more concise and controlled, providing the audience with greater means to think of the issue and reflect, rather than feel attacked. In Monbiot’s article, there is far too much emphasis on the growing dangers of loneliness and its substantial effects with little to no interpretation of where this information comes from. Another article by Lena Aburdene Derhally, licensed psychotherapist and writer, called “The Growing Problem of Social Isolation and What to Do About It” quotes Dr. Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, where he argues that research has shown “no hard historical data to show that loneliness is getting worse.” He goes on to say that the data suggests “people’s social networks have gotten smaller due to geographical distance, marriage breakdown, multiple caring responsibilities and longer working hours” (Derhally; par. 4). Dr. McCulloch offers essential contributing factors that discourage the credibility of Monbiot’s claim. We personally disagree with Monbiot’s ideas that technology and competition have only spurred negativity in mankind. The use of technology can fuel loneliness, but it has also given and broadened his journalism career, while also providing people a direct connection to the world. The smallest example can be taken here; phone calls to those who live across seas and borders keep us as humans united. Also, competitiveness is a trait to cherish; one direct benefit of it spurs
Borgman illustrates a similar point to Monbiot’s article in his article “Loneliness and the Hermitic Psyche” that quotes Philip Slater’s principles that “individualism is rooted in the attempt to deny the reality of human interdependence. One of the major goals of technology is to free us from the necessity of relating to, submitting to, depending upon or controlling other people. Unfortunately, the more we succeed in doing so, the more we have felt disconnected, bored and lonely" (Borgman 11). This idea by Slater is much more concise and controlled, providing the audience with greater means to think of the issue and reflect, rather than feel attacked. In Monbiot’s article, there is far too much emphasis on the growing dangers of loneliness and its substantial effects with little to no interpretation of where this information comes from. Another article by Lena Aburdene Derhally, licensed psychotherapist and writer, called “The Growing Problem of Social Isolation and What to Do About It” quotes Dr. Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, where he argues that research has shown “no hard historical data to show that loneliness is getting worse.” He goes on to say that the data suggests “people’s social networks have gotten smaller due to geographical distance, marriage breakdown, multiple caring responsibilities and longer working hours” (Derhally; par. 4). Dr. McCulloch offers essential contributing factors that discourage the credibility of Monbiot’s claim. We personally disagree with Monbiot’s ideas that technology and competition have only spurred negativity in mankind. The use of technology can fuel loneliness, but it has also given and broadened his journalism career, while also providing people a direct connection to the world. The smallest example can be taken here; phone calls to those who live across seas and borders keep us as humans united. Also, competitiveness is a trait to cherish; one direct benefit of it spurs