Interesting points raised there, about the nature of family. As you say, since people have started moving away from their families, rather than everyone being within a stone’s throw as typically happened in the past, it does change what people think of as their ‘family’. In many cases, a friends network has taken on the traditional family role.
I agree. On (true) friendship , I was thinking that but didn’t have space in my format as it’s another point! See also my previous podcast on friendship and the 5 elements of it under my acronym SCARCE.
I’ll check it out. I’m wondering how much the ‘nuclear family’ set up is more a typically Western civilisation paradigm. Multi generational households (more reminiscent of how things used to be here) are still a common thing in many cultures.
Interesting, I learned some new things. I am surprised that only a third of people say that they use the phone at the table. Perhaps there is a tendency for some to give answers that they think will gain approval. I do not agree with you that no familiy type is better than any other. We cannot use the expression ‘broken home’ any longer, but I think that some structures can have adverse consequences. Moreover, in my view only children or those with many siblings could have disadvantages. I am biased, having one brother, who is two years younger than me. Finally, some families are more accepting than others of those who marry into or otherwise join the family, from different racial, religious or other backgrounds.
Interesting comments as ever David. I agree with you that number of siblings can be key factor in development: a single child doesn’t know how to cope with lack of attention well whereas someone with many siblings doesn’t always know how to get attention except by shouting!
Very informative Ant, and we didn’t even get onto polyamory!
I’m very well table-mannered, only looking up the cricket scores on my phone when my better half has nipped off to the loo. Perhaps if we had servants – as smiling Downton Abbeyesque family members – I could get them to bring to scores in on a silver platter.
Your references to Matriarchy put me in mind of the Tuareg peoples of NW Africa. They have a long tradition of female power and emancipation, which I have written about elsewhere. Sadly, this is now being eroded by the spread of Islamist fundamentalism.
Interesting points raised there, about the nature of family. As you say, since people have started moving away from their families, rather than everyone being within a stone’s throw as typically happened in the past, it does change what people think of as their ‘family’. In many cases, a friends network has taken on the traditional family role.
Author
I agree. On (true) friendship , I was thinking that but didn’t have space in my format as it’s another point! See also my previous podcast on friendship and the 5 elements of it under my acronym SCARCE.
I’ll check it out. I’m wondering how much the ‘nuclear family’ set up is more a typically Western civilisation paradigm. Multi generational households (more reminiscent of how things used to be here) are still a common thing in many cultures.
Interesting, I learned some new things. I am surprised that only a third of people say that they use the phone at the table. Perhaps there is a tendency for some to give answers that they think will gain approval. I do not agree with you that no familiy type is better than any other. We cannot use the expression ‘broken home’ any longer, but I think that some structures can have adverse consequences. Moreover, in my view only children or those with many siblings could have disadvantages. I am biased, having one brother, who is two years younger than me. Finally, some families are more accepting than others of those who marry into or otherwise join the family, from different racial, religious or other backgrounds.
Author
Interesting comments as ever David. I agree with you that number of siblings can be key factor in development: a single child doesn’t know how to cope with lack of attention well whereas someone with many siblings doesn’t always know how to get attention except by shouting!
Very informative Ant, and we didn’t even get onto polyamory!
I’m very well table-mannered, only looking up the cricket scores on my phone when my better half has nipped off to the loo. Perhaps if we had servants – as smiling Downton Abbeyesque family members – I could get them to bring to scores in on a silver platter.
Your references to Matriarchy put me in mind of the Tuareg peoples of NW Africa. They have a long tradition of female power and emancipation, which I have written about elsewhere. Sadly, this is now being eroded by the spread of Islamist fundamentalism.
Author
Love the silver platter image!
Ant’s quick podcasts always shift my perspective and get me thinking in new ways!