usa

I think it's kind of funny, ironic, that the first person who responded talking about American does not even live in the country. I think it's funny when people think they KNOW America period if they don't live in our Country. America is effed up. No doubt about that. We have our culture problems just as every other country in the world has. You've said you've been to particularly California in Public Transports... and I'm sure you know, but that is not, by any means, a way to really see Americans and judge how we are. I don't think Americans are the way we are because we're a highly industrialized country. I don't think we're like this because we're a super complex society. I don't know if you can really point a finger at any ONE thing and make that a blame for our country. We are who we are. People everywhere are who they are. I think a lot of people envy America and at the same time completely judge America and it's citizens and I think it's completely unfair to try and point a finger at us and tell us we are this way or that way and it's because of this or that. We are, like any other country, who we are because it's the world (world...metaphorically speaking) that we grew up in.

I do see what he's seeing (I live here by the way just check the profile). I see people absorbed in their material wealth all the time. Looking at their cellphone for extended periods on end, ipods, shopping constantly, even absorbed in jewelry on occasion. It even happens at the home too, people absorbed in with TV, computers, music and plenty of other things. I also see other instances where people aren't in their own worlds (community groups, parent organizations, religious gatherings, even randomly in public). There are also people with enough sense not to let the self-absorbed, me-me-me society and thinking get to them. Just my observation, there are varying degrees to the comment you posed Raul.

It's a fact that Americans are some of the loneliest people on the earth.

I think you will find that this is mostly in the very urban areas. In my area, very rural, its very common to say hello and smile to a perfect stranger you pass on the street ( we have no public transportation in my area). It is a product of urban living. It's alomst a calous that develpos and is a result of being around so many people and sometime an area full of urbam problems, that people draw in to themselves, keep to themselves and don't make contact with other people around them out of fear or mistrust. But as I stated that youll find in the more city type area.

In every country,there will be a chance to meet such an area that are surban cities and do not have such technology and live in a very simple life style.I personal have thought of such a retirement place in mind and i think such a place do exist and will be good to live in

This a multifacted and a very vast subject. This cannot be explained, in full, within this short space. However, I shall try to touch only one point here. This is because of money minded structure of U.S. economy. As an economy, U.S.A., as a nation, is the richest in the world. However, everybody is not rich. Just like in our country, there are a majority of people who are poor or in lower middle income group. Because of this fact people, there, are facing multifarious problems. Everybody has to struggle and work hard for their livelyhood. Maximum members in a family have to go out for their earnings. As such, it is said that there is everything in U.S.A. but there is no affectionate relative/acquaintance. Family & social life, there, are absent to a greater extent. This has caused psychological effect on the citizens there. Those who are benefitted are joyous and laughing. Those who are not become introvert and depressed. So many other things can be discussed on this subject.

I do not see what you are seeing. I have not being to California, but where I live here I do not see a lot of depressed people and people talking to themselves. I live in the South and I do take public transportation sometimes. Yes their are people with their Ipods, cell phone etc, but there are people who greets you with a smile and say hello. We are all individuals and everyone have their own unique way of doing things. I am not sure where you are from but I am sure in your area there are some depressed, lonely people, people with mental issues. I don't think people should make generalization about a country as whole just by one or two experience.

I'm Canadian 73 years old, and I live in Ontario Canada in the summer. I own a house in South Texas USA, and I live there for 5 months in the winter. I have been doing this for over 10 years. I have loads of American friends and none of them are depressed,or anti-social, and they don't talk to themselves in public transport. These are some of the best people in the world. All I can say is that this Super Complex Society turns its citizens into Great People!