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Robert A Mosher (he/him)'s avatar

I do recall that before I left home for university, I often went to see films with my buddies. I think only one of us had an actual girlfriend, it we also went to see films that may not have been “date night” choices - war films and Mel Brooks early films that were such revelations. At university, there was an on campus cinema (lecture hall) and a film series in the large theatre (I worked one year as the projectionist) and it was a mostly student crowd so often included friends. I also spent a lot of time with the theatre/drama crowd who would sometimes get groups together for specific films (I remember we analyzed the lighting in Romeo and Juliet (Zeffirelli). Post pandemic I’m taking advantage of discounted showings and often find myself getting private screenings of new releases!

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Jackie Kemp's avatar

That’s nice, I have fond memories of family cinema trips too. We used to take my uncle to the Star Wars movies at Xmas time, the second set. He loved them and it was a good family outing. Yes I think cinema works as a social experience generally it doesn’t have to be on a date I was just thinking it might be an easy way for shy/ awkward people to socialise - with friends as well

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Robert A Mosher (he/him)'s avatar

Yes, I realize I went in another direction with this probably because I’m long past the dating scene!

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Dougie Mac's avatar

I think we are facing a crisis ...a crisis of humanity. The brutality of conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine is all over media, the superficially of TV, the absence of role models for both boys and girls and the displacement of authentic human experience with TicTok.

Young people are not even being given a chance to become adults ...i think most will end up being perpetual teenagers with all the hang ups deep into their 60s or 70s.

Schools are not helping. My local primary has banned football during break time because they was too much shouting!! Shouting and playing games with EACH OTHER is an integral part of learning and growing up.

Travelling and working in poorer countries, especially you see poverty and a lack of 'things', but you also see social interactions and bonds that no longer exist here. I envied that.

The corporates and politicians think they have the answer though ...AI entertainment complete with robotic blow up women (and men).

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Jackie Kemp's avatar

Omg that’s terrible about the football. What school is that? Kids do just need more time to play together - and of course they fall out and argue but that’s all part of it. They just don’t have the time we had where adults are not telling them what to do and how to do it and they have to sort things out together. Yes good point - the real

life brutality that they see on their phones is horrific - I guess Vietnam and Bosnia were bad too but we didn’t see it every time we picked up our phones. They didn’t live stream massacres then. I think. Young men do seem to be getting taken down a very isolating path. It’s a shame for girls who are struggling to find nice young guys to date - it will honestly be a long time before there is a market for blow up men!

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magnus wolfe murray's avatar

Football banned in breaks? Seriously? That seems insane.

I also wonder about young people not really having initiations into adulthood. Like joining a civilian workforce for a few months. Or a reforestation crew. But mandatory somehow, everyone has to do it after completing school. Some way of paying back. In the old day there was mandatory military service. That's obviously nuts and wrong. But something that would get young folks away from their comfort zones, screens and parents for a bit. Lots of safeguarding and support around.

I bet you there are countries in Europe that do this. Why not Scotland?

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magnus wolfe murray's avatar

Totally love this Jackie. To hear the film house is back. Yey! Let's meet for a drink and a show next time.

But also to read of declining social lives, and it's all down to the bloody phones!?

So what you're saying is that these screens, that I'm using now too read and comment on an interesting discussion is going to be the death of us?

Are some demographics better than others?

I wonder if there are other ways to get people to hang out more, like sports? That used to be pretty social . Or demonstrations (oh they're illegal now), festivals - they happen abs people go right? Or are they too inibirated to connect?

I'm fascinated by relationships now you mention them falling behind.

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Jackie Kemp's avatar

Yes good points - sports can be social esp tennis and golf - it’s the isolation that some young people experience- the pandemic didn’t help. I think the problem is also the algorithms pushing young guys into the manosphere. A cohort of young men is just becoming undateable it seems.

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