“I’m so rone-ry”

In a week that Americans’ celebrate the introduction of full equality in their Armed Forces, and wrestle over tax and economic reform, another group is trying to focus attention on the plight of millions of single, un-married Americans.

This week is National Single and Un-married Americans Week, and it comes with a cartload of fluffy-sounding social science research backing up how badly single Americans are treated (perhaps browse for 2009 study, “I’m a Loser, I’m Not Married, Let’s Just All Look at Me” if you will), how miserable they are not being married, and how big pharmaceutical, and big ice cream manufacturers are cashing in on their mushrooming non co-dependent despair.

As one report moans, it’s not just the sad singletons that are suffering, but everyone in their loneliness-drenched environment, from their parents (whom they inevitably live with) who are being poorly served by career singleton offspring than those that pair off; to their communities where the married tend to a higher rate of volunteerism (also known as getting-the-hell-out-of-the-house-while-her-crazy-friends-are-over) than their single counterparts; to the US legislative branch itself that legislates with a bias against single people! Where will this madness end?

You can check out the catalogue of BA social-science fluffery here, but when you do, spare a thought for the singles amongst you – it could be anyone, a friend, a family-member, that guy at the vending machine that stares at you and blushes, and take a minute to remind them:

You are not alone. Figuratively speaking.

[Source: New York Times Blog]