So there is a loneliness epidemic caused by capitalist alienation. However, I wonder if lack of material conditions also adds to this. I just keep seeing lots of my broke guy friends depressed because they can’t find a partner and it is so hard for them to meet new people. This makes me wonder if their financial situation is the main reason.
What do you mean material conditions? The class system at large? Sure, ultimately, but it’s alienation that would be the more specific Marxist term, and maybe some post-modernism would apply here as well to explain phenomenal like how much consumerism is involved in relationships now eg. a nice date means eating at an expensive restaurant
Removing some aspects of alienation should help, definitely. I used to live in a large cooperative house where I felt the most connected to others in the same state as me. As opposed to the competition and awkwardness of school and work otherwise. I also feel more connected when with my extended family back in the old country, where multi-generational housing is more common, and old traditions like farmers’ markets still exist.
It is unfortunate that just physically being around other people is both difficult to make time for and often impractical in the atomized and alienated work/school conditions that people are forced into if they’re in any sort of economic precarity.
Simply put, we shouldn’t have to live like that.