Donahoo’s article is profoundly sad. It reads like a projection of personal experiences
For instance –

“….the pert models on the front of glossy magazines whisper sweet nothings in their ear and coax them away. They find themselves back on the nightclub dance floor grooving away for a freedom that offers them very little.”

Oh I can see sticky fingers prints on well thumbed copies of Playboy still on the newsagents stand.

Or

“Is there really freedom in being single? The only real freedom is sexual liberation. And, the number of people who are prepared to sleep with you limits even that. Single life can be lonely. A frustrating search for a significant other - then another and another and so on.”

It sounds like someone missed out on what they perceive as their fair share of “sexual liberation”.

Then

“Our society should work harder to make sure those relationships can be strengthened and maintained.”

- Wrong – individuals should work harder to live up to the commitment they make in entering into a relationship – it has nothing to do with “society” – it has only to do with individuals dealing with each other.

Oh we could go on –

Basically it is a load of bunkum, “journo piffle”, something to notch up a score on the word counter.

Donahoo - “Society is dead – there are only individuals and their families”… I won’t tell you who said it but it does come from a very reputable source – a source which has already outlived and outshone all the wannabe sociologists of today.

Col, much as I detest the tendency so prevalent for personal responsibility to be passed off onto "society" I would be greatly saddened if I believed your quote about society being dead.

It would be a very sad world without community beyond your own little fiefdom. We may well struggle to get the balance correct between personal liberty and the well being of the community and our world views will be reflected in where we think that balance should rest.

I do agree that the reponsibility for maintaining long term relationships rests with the individuals involved yet at the same time want a safety net to help the genuine victims when that goes wrong. What I don't want is a safety net which aids those who cause the problems or who consistantly fail to act responsibly.

Finding that balance is an ongoing challenge but one I embrace as one of the joys of being part of human society. Survival of the fittest has it's place but compassion for those outside our immediate circle is one of the things which helps us rise above mere survival.