I think the loss of common ground and community is bringing into sharper focus the question of why we are alive. In other words, individual reasons for living don't tend to stretch as far or serve as much as collective ones in a societal context.

I made a post recently where I said that retiring in a capitalist system means a major part of your existence is over. Many of the people who disagreed seemed oblivious to the struggles of those with fewer means, resources, social opportunities, interests, family ties, etcetera. They were like I'm retired and this is the best time of my life! I'm never bored and can more freely explore Whatever. How does any of that, though, translate into improvement of the general quality of life? People are so quick to repeat the thing about humans being social animals but also so quick to assume if they're good, so is everyone else. I just feel like these are the very kinds of conditions in which some can be questioning why they're alive where the consensus is basically; who cares? We no longer speak for each other of feel for each other. What is the human experience--or indeed the purpose of existing--without that consideration or attention to general goodwill?