A Major Gap in Western Culture: The Continuum Conundrum
By Joe at Shanky Bottom
I’ve been working on a piece that explores what I believe is a growing and dangerous gap in the transmission of cultural values and practices from the past to the present in modern Western society. This has not been easy to frame, because the changes we’re witnessing in social norms and daily life are vast—and they defy ordinary analysis, even definition.
As I wrestle with this, I want to open the door to discussion. I’m inviting readers who share similar concerns—or even those who disagree—to help shape a broader exploration of this shift in our society. To get the conversation started, here are a few working premises:
The changes in our culture are so substantial that they have created a rupture in our cultural continuum.
This isn’t just generational drift—it’s a dislocation.Though difficult to define precisely (as all continuum issues are), the gap is self-evident.
You know it when you see it. It’s something we feel in our bones, even if we can’t fully explain it in words.It is possible—and necessary—to identify and examine possible causes of this rupture.
Without that effort, meaningful discussion is fruitless.There has been a massive shift from rural, agrarian life to urban, metropolitan living.
Millions have moved from land to city, and with that move came a transition away from self-reliance toward a dependence on vast, often invisible systems that provide our essentials.In the event of a serious economic catastrophe—something like another Great Depression—the current status quo may not be sustainable.
If it’s not, what would happen? Who would be prepared?
I’ll stop here for now. These are the premises I’m working with. I would be genuinely grateful for your thoughts, critiques, and insights. Let’s see where this conversation might lead. Please comment or send us an email. And please share this on your social media platforms. -Joe