askchapo

I notice little mentions of non-atomized societies. Modernity suffers all over to some degrees, but for an example of a typically non-atomized society, think of a stereotypical old timey (maybe up to early or pre medieval) village, or tribe, or any such small community of 10-200 people.

Though they will do some travelling and back and a forth, all the people in those small societies will know each other by name, face, attitude, family, general background. Every person will know who they can rely on for help, who to turn to for every need, who they can speak to, who they can be alone with, and so forth. You knew ~100% of the people in your area.

This kind of society was the "default" because it just happens if all of you spend 90% of your life, outside, in the same two square miles. Though you might get the occasional pariah, basically every person in that village will have help to turn to, places to crash and people to speak with all hours of the day. This engenders strong community, cooperation, friendships, coparenting, tolerance, you know, normal natural human behaviours.

Then contrast with today's society, where I know my family and friends, but for work reasons they're scattered around the country. And I only know very few people in my area to small degrees. So although there will no doubt be cool, friendly people just on my road, I have no normal or effective way to meet them, know them, and work out who I can trust and/or spend time with. I know ~0-1% of the people in my area, and there are practically no means for me alone to address that.