Truck and Barter

Over at Marginal Revolution, Fabio Rojas has an interesting post on a survey contradicting, in some part, Robert Putnam's contention that we live in an ever-more disconnected world, resulting in more people that are "bowling alone" (a once communal activity that is now done independently).

In general, I have a great deal of skepticism about the subject of "social capital", for a number of reasons I won't go into here. As for this particular issue, I generally disliked the book (as well a the article that spawned the book). The argument is presented decently, and Putnam's writing style can be engaging. But I just kept hitting on ideas or examples that could plausibly account for the effect he wanted to show, or were in fact contradictory.

I won't go into all of them here. I just want to point out one example: the massive market in devices that let people communicate with each other. Not only are cell phones becoming so ubiquitous that the population of people who use cell phones exclusively (myself included) are becoming part of the calculations in the election, cell phones are also now competing on the basis of features that allow for the taking and sharing of digital photos. Blackberries are everywhere, as are phones with tiny keyboards to allow for access to email and instant messaging. The growth of instant messaging, while I'm on the subject, has been phenomenal. I've now worked for two consulting companies, and at both employees use IM extensively to talk to each other and keep in touch with friends. The list of people I can contact in a matter of a few keystrokes is astounding to me.

More generally, the penetration of computers in homes is approaching the level of televisions in many areas of the country, and along with this comes the internet, which nearly half the users of which are willing to pay substantial fees to receive as fast as technology will allow. Weblogs, as a category are prominent enough to warrant news stories in papers and on TV. Heck, they were even part of the press crown at the recent political conventions. The publication of them strikes me as an interest in sharing ideas with others, and the readership as an interest in seeing what others have to say.

True, I don't have the numbers at hand to provide a real analysis. But this does not strike me as the consumption pattern of a country falling chronically out of touch with each other. There may well be differences that crop up from being connected electronically, rather than attending a local meeting of the Elks; if so, that could be the basis of an interesting look into our culture. But I'm unable to buy Putnam's argument showing a decline in the membership of organizations as a loss of social capital. (I have an even harder time in this case if we take one of the main benefits of "social capital" to be information sharing: one person can introduce contacts to another, expanding social networks, etc. What is the success of Friendster if not an example of the interest people have in meeting more people?)

Besides, I can't think of the last time I've ever seen anyone in a bowling alley alone. Well, aside from the sad-looking DJ at those "Kozmik Bowl" places...