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.
Not necessarily; you definitely see lonliness in a lot of labor aristocrats and petite booj who aren’t living paycheck to paycheck. I think it’s more that imperial core society is more alternating than it ever was.
Also, I hope this isn’t too pedantic, but the only way for there to be no material conditions is if there is no material: being broke is a material condition.
There’s something to be said for the pressures on those people not to be relegated to the lower classes. It’s probably not conducive to forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
There’s also indirect effects caused by the squeezing of the lower class. As someone living paycheck to paycheck, my more financially comfortable friends are constantly wanting to do some expensive shit, or take a trip or something, that I can rarely afford. It’s also difficult to find the time and money to visit friends who don’t live near me.
So the state of my material conditions is frequently depriving them of the vast benefits of my company.