I had family over this weekend and we all went out for a delicious juicy steak in a restaurant local to us in Sutton Coldfield. The spot is great, overlooking the park and Powell's pool, named after Baden Powell. It was once called the La Reserve, and by us is now known as 'the place now not called the La Reserve' as none of us can remember what it is called!
There were 8 of us including little Lily. As well as my Grandma, now 94 and Nan and Great Auntie, Uncle Chris and Mom and Dad.
We had a great time and full stomachs! In terms of relationships, we all spent a really nice day together, my elderly relatives of varying health enjoyed themselves too and had a great day out of the house.
Whilst chatting over lunch my Uncle Chris mentioned a concept Professor Putman of Harvard University has developed, called Social Capital. The idea is that not only do communities have a social value in terms of local business, relationships, security, support, safety, social cohesion (cohesion between diverse races, religions and enthnicities),etc, etc, but you can also measure it!
Now in this sense, Social Capital applied to my family and local community, what does it mean? Well, we are happier as a result of being together, in turn as neighbors or members of the community we are probably better neighbors too. We know that bad neighbors can effect house residuals so the converse is probably true. We also visited a local establishment and spent money, and tipped. This money then goes in to the circular flow of income within our local community, further enhancing the general wealth of the local area (assuming that the wealth is spent and consumed locally, which it is safe to assume that at least part of it is). My older relatives spent time with their granddaughter /grand niece (we don't count anymore!) and this is sure to keep them healthier in terms of well-being, and therefore live longer healthier lives requiring less support potentially from the state.
Does online presence of relationships (facebook etc) increase 'social capital' or decrease it? If our family kept in touch through a blog or friendship profiles, we would perhaps meet less face-to-face. We might not spend as much time in each others company and may not dine out together as much. What would happen to local trade, our general level of happiness and this effect on our relationship with our neighbors and wider community, and what would Grandma and Nan be doing?
There were 8 of us including little Lily. As well as my Grandma, now 94 and Nan and Great Auntie, Uncle Chris and Mom and Dad.
We had a great time and full stomachs! In terms of relationships, we all spent a really nice day together, my elderly relatives of varying health enjoyed themselves too and had a great day out of the house.
Whilst chatting over lunch my Uncle Chris mentioned a concept Professor Putman of Harvard University has developed, called Social Capital. The idea is that not only do communities have a social value in terms of local business, relationships, security, support, safety, social cohesion (cohesion between diverse races, religions and enthnicities),etc, etc, but you can also measure it!
Now in this sense, Social Capital applied to my family and local community, what does it mean? Well, we are happier as a result of being together, in turn as neighbors or members of the community we are probably better neighbors too. We know that bad neighbors can effect house residuals so the converse is probably true. We also visited a local establishment and spent money, and tipped. This money then goes in to the circular flow of income within our local community, further enhancing the general wealth of the local area (assuming that the wealth is spent and consumed locally, which it is safe to assume that at least part of it is). My older relatives spent time with their granddaughter /grand niece (we don't count anymore!) and this is sure to keep them healthier in terms of well-being, and therefore live longer healthier lives requiring less support potentially from the state.
Does online presence of relationships (facebook etc) increase 'social capital' or decrease it? If our family kept in touch through a blog or friendship profiles, we would perhaps meet less face-to-face. We might not spend as much time in each others company and may not dine out together as much. What would happen to local trade, our general level of happiness and this effect on our relationship with our neighbors and wider community, and what would Grandma and Nan be doing?
