Wilfred Mcallister Why Place Matters

In "Why Place Matters," Wilfred M. McClay and Ted V. McAllister argue that people underestimate the importance of physical locations and the connections to a specific place. The authors say that as society becomes more mobile and attached to technology, we risk losing connections to local areas that form our identities and civic virtues. While it may seem outdated to rely on physical connections, I believe that stable physical locations are indispensable. When people are heavily involved in social media, communication apps, and other online platforms, they become more attached to the internet and less engaged in local events. During my elementary years, before I was introduced to technology, I had strong connections with neighborhood kids and
A friend of mine, Jerry, grew up in a single-parent family, where his mother provided a small amount of mental support. Once, when he was sent to the hospital for attempted suicide, instead of providing care and support, all his mother did was blame him for suicide. Because of his family, his only happiness is from social media and watching anime. Jerry was an introvert; besides me, he barely had any connections in high school. He lost the ability to effectively interact with others, which made him sad, lonely, and heavily depressed. When individuals or families move to new places for work or education, they often leave behind familiar environments with deep social ties and cultural roots. Being unfamiliar with the new environment in large cities, people can feel isolated and alienated. As an international student studying for two years in America, I still find getting used to the new environment challenging. The Chinese community traditions shared values that once gave me life meaning are no longer there for me, causing me to feel detached from this world. Without a solid connection to the new place, I struggle to form new relationships or feel a sense of