Bowling Alone

Every time i hear my parents telling a story of something they did when they were my age i always mention how they would never allow me to do something like that. Their response every time is: times have changed, things are different now-a-days. That statement is more accurate than they know.
The American society used to be based on communal activities and group clubs. The citizens of the U.S. used to be a group of joiners. A stranger to American history would never believe this to be true if they saw our society today. The individual has now replaced that of the community. People today are more motivated to focus on their own lives and their own achievements. The world has turned into a more competitive, selfish environment. People do not have time to join bowling leagues or book clubs. They focus their attentions on their career and their own family. People have discovered new, independent ways of being a good citizen.
Communities may also be impacted by the increasing amount of broken families. Divorce rates today are much higher than they used to be. Many children no longer have the stability that earlier generations experienced. They learn to rely on themselves, thus the lack of interest in community.
The world has also turned into a more materialistic place. People are worried about money more than neighborly relations. They focus their attention on obtaining wealth instead of community trust. Times are much different than what they once were. The definition of community is slowly deteriorating.