When I moved to NZ in 2006, Hitch-hiking was normal for kids and adults. You would normally get a ride within 3 or 4 cars. Now it is never seen. Over the same timespan, NZ has gone from a country where egalitarianism was a noted national characteristic, to a strong division into 'losers' and 'winners'. I'm guessing therefore that lack of social cohesion is the main factor in play.
That's a really interesting--and sad--observation. Do you have any speculation about what might have caused this change from being most trusting and cohesive to less? About when did you start to notice this change taking place?
Absolutely. Property price escalation, followed by the leveraged purchase of second properties as rental assets. John Key government (2008-2016) bought this about. In my opinion it was calculated to bring about a rightward shift in mainsteam sensibilities. It did.
Came here from your comment on my post via freddie deboer. Good stuff. Really trying to raise my kids like this here in the states but man is it tough.
I don't have kids, and (per this post) I don't live in the USA anymore, but....gosh I feel for you. I would think it must be near impossible, because it's not like you can raise your kids alone (especially also while raising them as part of a community.) You can't just be like, "it's ok to be friendly to strangers," because even if you did strangers wouldn't be friendly back. It's tragic.
I'm sure you are, but, are you familiar with After Babel and/or Free Range Kids? They have some thoughts that might be helpful. Godspeed and good luck.
Yea...we moved to a small town near where I grew up partly for this reason. Luckily, we know most of our neighbors and live on a street without much traffic. Which helps a lot. The other day my 5 y/o son went door to door giving away walnuts he had found haha. I watched, but from a distance. Also, generally I think we can teach our kids that most people are good and generous, and that we should assume the best in people even while taking common sense precautions. I also think it's really important for Americans nowadays to join groups and institutions, and bring their kids with them. We have a church we're members at, I'm a member of our towns Lions club, part of a bowling league etc. Whatever you do, just get yourself out there around people.
Well, it sounds like you're doing a really good job, despite all the challenges with an increasingly isolated and suspicious US society. And having kids see you be involved in community groups, and do the kid version of community groups themselves is so important! I know I just digitally met you, but I am grateful that you are in the world.
I hitchhiked across Australia in 1988. Sydney to Cairns then Cairns to Darwin. I have so many fond memories.
Of the aging hippy who knew a shortcut across the top of Queensland (it's 1,700 miles along approved roads). At one point, the engine fell out the bottom of the van and we waited 8 hours for another car to pass us.
Of the family who weren't going my way but took me back to stay the weekend in their ranch where we swam in their waterfall, drank their wine and ate Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Of the time I took a turn to drive and when we had to stop for gas after driving for 400 miles of dead straight road without touching the brake, my foot was asleep and we missed the turning.
Hitchhiking is awesome. It would be a shame if we forget how to do it.
That sounds amazing. I am definitely jealous of that experience!
I wonder if hitchhiking is still as common in Australia as it was when you were there. An earlier commenter in this thread mentioned that hitchhiking was common in New Zealand in 2006, but, sadly, no longer. Do you happen to have any insight on that?
Hitchhiking was safe and prevalent in Utah long after the ‘60s. It survived until Ted Bundy showed up. As you can imagine, that practice became significantly less common shortly thereafter.
I think it's interesting that hitchhiking persisted in Utah after it had disappeared across much of the rest of the United States. More recently, Utah was one of the first states to pass "free-range childhood" legislation, explicitly allowing kids to do things like walk to school on their own. I think these two things may be tied together, connected to the common underlying cause of a more pro-social community structure than is currently found in much of the United States.
@Maxwell, were you in Utah before and after hitchhiking was normal there? Besides Ted Bundy (which I think is a bit of a red herring: Ted Bundy didn't kill hitchhikers he picked up, but women in their homes and women he persuaded to come to his car, not people thumbing a ride), what do you think were reasons why Utahns stopped hitchhiking--and why do you think it kept going for as long as it did?
Came here via Freddie de Boer.
When I moved to NZ in 2006, Hitch-hiking was normal for kids and adults. You would normally get a ride within 3 or 4 cars. Now it is never seen. Over the same timespan, NZ has gone from a country where egalitarianism was a noted national characteristic, to a strong division into 'losers' and 'winners'. I'm guessing therefore that lack of social cohesion is the main factor in play.
That's a really interesting--and sad--observation. Do you have any speculation about what might have caused this change from being most trusting and cohesive to less? About when did you start to notice this change taking place?
Absolutely. Property price escalation, followed by the leveraged purchase of second properties as rental assets. John Key government (2008-2016) bought this about. In my opinion it was calculated to bring about a rightward shift in mainsteam sensibilities. It did.
Came here from your comment on my post via freddie deboer. Good stuff. Really trying to raise my kids like this here in the states but man is it tough.
I don't have kids, and (per this post) I don't live in the USA anymore, but....gosh I feel for you. I would think it must be near impossible, because it's not like you can raise your kids alone (especially also while raising them as part of a community.) You can't just be like, "it's ok to be friendly to strangers," because even if you did strangers wouldn't be friendly back. It's tragic.
I'm sure you are, but, are you familiar with After Babel and/or Free Range Kids? They have some thoughts that might be helpful. Godspeed and good luck.
https://www.afterbabel.com/
https://www.freerangekids.com/
Yea...we moved to a small town near where I grew up partly for this reason. Luckily, we know most of our neighbors and live on a street without much traffic. Which helps a lot. The other day my 5 y/o son went door to door giving away walnuts he had found haha. I watched, but from a distance. Also, generally I think we can teach our kids that most people are good and generous, and that we should assume the best in people even while taking common sense precautions. I also think it's really important for Americans nowadays to join groups and institutions, and bring their kids with them. We have a church we're members at, I'm a member of our towns Lions club, part of a bowling league etc. Whatever you do, just get yourself out there around people.
Oh and minimize screens like crazy. I watch football/basketball games with my buddies and bring my son, but that's basically it for screen time.
Well, it sounds like you're doing a really good job, despite all the challenges with an increasingly isolated and suspicious US society. And having kids see you be involved in community groups, and do the kid version of community groups themselves is so important! I know I just digitally met you, but I am grateful that you are in the world.
Thanks! Likewise! We all gotta do our best
I hitchhiked across Australia in 1988. Sydney to Cairns then Cairns to Darwin. I have so many fond memories.
Of the aging hippy who knew a shortcut across the top of Queensland (it's 1,700 miles along approved roads). At one point, the engine fell out the bottom of the van and we waited 8 hours for another car to pass us.
Of the family who weren't going my way but took me back to stay the weekend in their ranch where we swam in their waterfall, drank their wine and ate Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Of the time I took a turn to drive and when we had to stop for gas after driving for 400 miles of dead straight road without touching the brake, my foot was asleep and we missed the turning.
Hitchhiking is awesome. It would be a shame if we forget how to do it.
That sounds amazing. I am definitely jealous of that experience!
I wonder if hitchhiking is still as common in Australia as it was when you were there. An earlier commenter in this thread mentioned that hitchhiking was common in New Zealand in 2006, but, sadly, no longer. Do you happen to have any insight on that?
I don't. I haven't been back since — as much as I would love to.
Hitchhiking was safe and prevalent in Utah long after the ‘60s. It survived until Ted Bundy showed up. As you can imagine, that practice became significantly less common shortly thereafter.
I think it's interesting that hitchhiking persisted in Utah after it had disappeared across much of the rest of the United States. More recently, Utah was one of the first states to pass "free-range childhood" legislation, explicitly allowing kids to do things like walk to school on their own. I think these two things may be tied together, connected to the common underlying cause of a more pro-social community structure than is currently found in much of the United States.
@Maxwell, were you in Utah before and after hitchhiking was normal there? Besides Ted Bundy (which I think is a bit of a red herring: Ted Bundy didn't kill hitchhikers he picked up, but women in their homes and women he persuaded to come to his car, not people thumbing a ride), what do you think were reasons why Utahns stopped hitchhiking--and why do you think it kept going for as long as it did?