The World Is Ending, So Just Talk to Your Neighbors

As part of BBC’s Crossing Divides video series meant to bring “people together in a fragmented world,” reporter Maddy Savage visited a block of apartments converted from an assisted living facility in Helsingborg, Sweden where tenants are forced to socialize with one another for a minimum two hours each week. All 70 residents must be under 25-years-old or senior enough to receive a pension, in a city funded attempt to get different generations talking and combat a nationwide loneliness epidemic. Based on the four minute clip, it seems to be working—olds and youngs are happy to chat with one another and live in a communal environment:

As a person who has lived in New York City for far too long, the idea of being forced to communicate with my neighbors seems like a nightmare (though, if I were under 25 and could hang out with old Swedish ladies, I am confident I’d move into a Helsingborg Home ASAP.) I brought the quandary to the rest of the Jezebel team, and everyone seemed to agree that forced time with close strangers seems, well, forced—but communicating and being friendly with your neighbors is an underrated practice. It’s an easy way to feel like part of a community, and totally does combat loneliness. Imagine a world where you really could borrow a cup of sugar from the guy who lives next door. Now that’s the dream!