People Aren't Less Friendly, Products Are

How tinted windows, tall cubicle walls, and modern efficiency traps cultivate an unfriendly environment.

Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash

I’m driving my usual morning commute as Daylight Savings and spring have ushered in a much-needed earlier sunrise. I go to work at 6:30 a.m., so I don’t get much of the sun before I am stuck inside working for the day.

I hit a red-light and admire the cars around me. I can’t help but sneak a peak at the drivers to see who owns such vehicles.

On my left—a grey Acura MDX with blacked-out windows—no owner visible. I can’t even see an outline of a person. For all I know, it could have been a Tesla self-driving vehicle.

I look to my right—a black Ford F-150 with even darker tinted windows. Suddenly, I realize nearly every vehicle around me has tinted windows. I felt alone. I pictured myself alone on a train car at midnight—that’s what it felt like.

It may not seem like a big issue at the surface, but it’s my contention that trends like this and other products alike are leading to a more unfriendly world—or at least, a world that feels unfriendly.

It’s Not Our Fault

Nothing you or your neighbors did were of any blame for the decline in friendliness. Even if you have tinted windows, it is hardly your fault that our world has become less amicable.

Most new vehicles now come standard with darker windows. Many are simply darker in the rear but many vehicles are dark all around. To not be able to look across the street or to your right or left and even see a face anymore has taken the humanity out of traffic.

I don’t see myself in queue with tens or hundreds of other people, I see myself in a parking lot by myself.

Here are some other products that are rising in popularity that have created a less-friendly world:

• Noise-Cancelling Headphones

• Tall Cubicle Walls

• Curb-Side Pickup / Door Delivery

• Ring Cameras

• Tall Fences

• Self-Checkout Kiosks

• Social Media

When you think of each one individually, they seem like they enhance your quality of life or maybe even increase employee efficiency by a few points. What they’re really doing is conditioning us all to become less social and used to dealing with technology over humans.

I am no conspiracy theorist or anything like that so I won’t say that I believe this is being done purposefully. But I don’t think this is good for anyone.

Think of the last stranger who said something abruptly to you in public. I’m willing to bet it was an older gentleman or lady. Their generations are so much more social and talkative than the younger generations. It can feel like pulling teeth when saying something out-of-the-blue to a younger person. With older folk, it’s second-nature.

The loneliness epidemic is certainly the effect of many causes but these causes are certainly part of the effect.

For Your Consideration

Before you get those tinted windows, think twice about it. Before you order contactless delivery, think about going and ordering in person. Instead of using self-checkout, run your items through the manned-checkout lane.

Take a lonely and automated part of your day and put the humanity back it.

Have a brief interaction with another human. Complement a stranger in the aisle. Help someone if they’re struggling to reach an item. Shop without your noise-cancelling headphones.

Connect with someone. Smile.

For all you know, they could really use a smile in their life. I know I could.

P.S. if you agree with me, you may find this video by Sheehan a most worthwhile watch.