Politicising the human condition.

Mindful

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Sep 5, 2014
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The British government has decided to turn the problem of loneliness into a political issue. Ministers have announced that doctors will tell lonely people to get stuck into social activities. Postmen will be instructed to chat to their lonely elderly customers. These initiatives are part of the new loneliness strategy unveiled by prime minister Theresa May earlier this year.

Loneliness has been rebranded as a deadly disease and a risk to public health. Judging by the numerous alarmist reports and studies published recently, it seems that soon the fear of being alone will displace the fear of death as the dominant anxiety of our time.

Since the turn of the century, the refrain ‘loneliness can kill’ has been frequently voiced by policymakers, health professionals, psychologists and run-of-the-mill scaremongers. A study recently published in the journal Cellasserts that chronic isolation can cause a build-up of a chemical in the brain that increases stress aggression and fear.

Why we shouldn’t fear being alone
 
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* But if anything is likely to cause fear, it is the melodramatic way in which loneliness is discussed. When the mainstream media are publishing articles with titles like ‘Loneliness is killing us – we must start treating this disease’, readers can be forgiven for fearing the worst about this very sad but normal condition.*
 
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* No doubt there are millions of us who feel lonely. There is no doubt that we talk more about loneliness than in previous times. But are we really more alone than people in the past? And is it really the case that loneliness has mutated into a disease that poses a comparable risk to our health to smoking 20 cigarettes a day, as some are saying?

The experience of being alone is an intensely personal one that most of us struggle to understand and come to terms with. That’s one reason why we should be sceptical about studies that purport to measure an intangible and elusive condition like fear or loneliness. When it is reported that loneliness is ‘20 per cent deadlier than obesity’, it is far from clear what they are measuring and what they mean by loneliness.*
 
The British government has decided to turn the problem of loneliness into a political issue. Ministers have announced that doctors will tell lonely people to get stuck into social activities. Postmen will be instructed to chat to their lonely elderly customers. These initiatives are part of the new loneliness strategy unveiled by prime minister Theresa May earlier this year.

Loneliness has been rebranded as a deadly disease and a risk to public health. Judging by the numerous alarmist reports and studies published recently, it seems that soon the fear of being alone will displace the fear of death as the dominant anxiety of our time.

Since the turn of the century, the refrain ‘loneliness can kill’ has been frequently voiced by policymakers, health professionals, psychologists and run-of-the-mill scaremongers. A study recently published in the journal Cellasserts that chronic isolation can cause a build-up of a chemical in the brain that increases stress aggression and fear.

Why we shouldn’t fear being alone

Well actually loneliness is a problem for older people. The UK is a pretty cold place and socializing outside isn't really done much outside of the summer months.

Trying to help people live better lives isn't such a bad thing. People don't have to accept this stuff.
 
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The British government has decided to turn the problem of loneliness into a political issue. Ministers have announced that doctors will tell lonely people to get stuck into social activities. Postmen will be instructed to chat to their lonely elderly customers. These initiatives are part of the new loneliness strategy unveiled by prime minister Theresa May earlier this year.

Loneliness has been rebranded as a deadly disease and a risk to public health. Judging by the numerous alarmist reports and studies published recently, it seems that soon the fear of being alone will displace the fear of death as the dominant anxiety of our time.

Since the turn of the century, the refrain ‘loneliness can kill’ has been frequently voiced by policymakers, health professionals, psychologists and run-of-the-mill scaremongers. A study recently published in the journal Cellasserts that chronic isolation can cause a build-up of a chemical in the brain that increases stress aggression and fear.

Why we shouldn’t fear being alone

Well actually loneliness is a problem for older people. The UK is a pretty cold place and socializing outside isn't really done much outside of the summer months.

Trying to help people live better lives isn't such a bad thing. People don't have to accept this stuff.

Have you read the whole piece?
 
Why wouldn't the postman talk to anyone?

Why should he be told by the government to do it?

Because when the gov't owns your health care, they own every single part of your life. Everything now can affect your "health", so they can monitor every single thing you do. From the toppings on your pizza (yes, this from the UK), to exactly how long and how often the postman chats with you (gov't orders).

The gov't has no business in such mandane and minute details of our lives. I hate it, and I don't want it here. No thank you.
 
Why wouldn't the postman talk to anyone?

Why should he be told by the government to do it?

Because when the gov't owns your health care, they own every single part of your life. Everything now can affect your "health", so they can monitor every single thing you do. From the toppings on your pizza (yes, this from the UK), to exactly how long and how often the postman chats with you (gov't orders).

The gov't has no business in such mandane and minute details of our lives. I hate it, and I don't want it here. No thank you.

And the latest is, the government (local) is going to make Santa Claus wear a seat belt as he trundles into the shopping mall on his sledge.
 

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