The word for today is "empathy"

[Kitosdad]

Empathy is the capability to share and understand another's emotion and feelings.

Feelings of empathy toward others is less common today than it was yesteryear.

Neighbours were in closer contact than to-days neighbours, and even folk at the other end of the street were aware of any difficulty another resident was having, for whatever reason.

The lessening of empathy in to-days society can have many reasons. People staying indoors viewing television, or surfing with their computers. Long telephone conversations with other family members, and all manner of things that detract from standing talking to others face to face.

Many folk go about their everyday tasks, never giving a thought for anyone but themselves and their creature comforts.

I well remember an elderly relative telling me, when I paid a late evening call, that I was the first person she had spoken to all day. This was at a time when TV was becoming very popular, and neighbours were retreating within their homes, and abandoning their usual ritual of standing on doorsteps exchanging gossip with anyone passing by. Her life
went quickly downhill from that time, because she too was forced into the wonderful world of TV, because of the need for the sound of a human voice.

Just why do you think that the words " solitary confinement " are used to describe people locked alone in a prison cell.? SOLITARY, how dreadful a word is that ?.

So, please don't forget any elderly folk that you may pass in your street/road/avenue,
who you know live alone. A friendly, " Hello "or " Good morning "may well be the only human contact that they have for the entire day.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.

[SkiIucK]

Strong final lines. My grandpa, who passed away some six years go, always told me to greet elderly people. And so I do. These days it's a rare thing to see someone saying 'hello' to a passing by traveler. Old people always grin when I greet them. Once a lady of declining years told me I was the first young fellow to greet her in many years! Isn't that pathetic?