To be an isolated misanthrope is surely not the best way to lead a good life. On the other hand, it may turn out that many of the modern varieties of social engagement are not all that healthy either.
Some, for example, are clearly overstated. Giving money for food relief in Africa is _ on the scale of minor donors _ not making much of a difference. For a person donating $10 or so _ well, it may make them feel better. But it is mostly a shill game by those running organizations as a profession.
Too many cries to engage sound a lot like ancient calls to conquer the world. To carry out God’s will as if God did not have the power to do it directly. To correct wrongs with a simple act of will or generosity _ although the wrongs may be endemic in time and space or misunderstood entirely.
And that is perhaps the nub of the problem. Modern media tales of engagement _ like all media tales _ are stridently overblown to give a sense of power where there is none. They emphasize the old call to “think globally and act locally” by pretending that minor personal acts can change vast world systems.
Yes, by all means, engage. But do it all around you, not using a remote screen.
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 