The strain relationships face during a recession
By Jason Buckland, Sympatico / MSN Finance
It’s a funny thing, this recession.
For months we’ve been riddled with bad news, whether it have come in the form of a round of lay-offs or plant closures, or how no one can find work or pay their car insurance anymore.
Yet for the life of me, I haven’t read one story about how a crumbling economy affects us – not the material, rather everything underneath it.
Should it be co-workers becoming ex-co-workers or families being forced to move from the subdivision they’ve long called home – no matter how you slice it – relationships are finding themselves frayed and the recession may be to blame.
That’s the topic of a recent Slate article, at least, one suggesting the separation between the haves and have-nots is notably on the rise.
Author Emily Bazelon does a pretty good job of wrapping her head around the social consequences of a stinking economy, describing the stigma of strained relationships as such:
“Because of the downturn,” she writes, “friendships between two people whose Saturday-night spending and overall class status used to calibrate precisely have now turned into trickier relationships between one person who still has money and one person who doesn’t.”
And if you check out the rest of the article, you’ll soon realize what a concern this really is. It’s easy to stand pat in the “Money-isn’t-everything-and-I-know-who-my-real-friends-are-and-they’ll-be-there-forever” corner, but the fact is, that ain’t always the case. I don’t think I’m stepping out of line by suggesting money is a sizable deal when it comes to friendship and, when something like a recession comes around, those unwritten roles we’ve assumed in our social circles can easily become volatile and throw normalcy on its head.
Now, this isn’t to suggest the best of friends will become enemies when one simply loses their job or something, but I think it’s at least valid to address the changes a friendship can endure. The Slate article does a good job of highlighting this concept with feedback readers have sent in.
For example, one woman writes in to say, after her friend was laid-off from her work months earlier, their relationship had become a shell of its former self.
“How can I confide in her (the way I used to) when small problems arise in my life, when hers are so much worse?” the woman writes. “We have not seen each other in a few months and phone calls and emails are down to about two a week. I miss my friend, but I don’t want to add to her problems or make her feel worse … When we do talk, I never discuss my life, I always make her talk about hers.”
With closer proximity to this blog, we’ve seen the strain a recession can cause when commenters butt heads over disagreements maybe left unsaid in a better time for the world. Look no further than the comment boards accompanying any article in this space about GM or Chrysler or the crippled auto industry. Unions are greedy. No, you’re an idiot. Corporate greed is bringing down this country. If those auto workers would just take a damn pay cut this could all be avoided. Etc. etc. etc.
Is this to suggest friends don’t fall out and everyone gets along when the economy is better? No, not at all. Pretty interesting to note just how certain monetary variables can play into a relationship, though, I figured.
Posted by: mcshane | Jun 15, 2021 11:52:00 AM
I will be so pissed if Ignatihadenough and the Liberals force an election...that would be really great for the economy and the recession. I would hope the conservatives would get a bloody majority and put an end to this crap. Could we have some blogs about that?
Posted by: William | Jun 15, 2021 6:21:43 PM
I agree with you mcshane. An Election is not what Canada needs. Why can't they just put titles aside and make a difference in Canada. Work together for a change. If an election is called it just goes to show that our Government doesn't really have the population of Canada in mind. Hmmm... So who are they thinking about????
Posted by: daytimedolphin | Jun 15, 2021 7:43:40 PM
The Liberals don't care. They like to see the working poor suffer. Look at Ontario. McLiar has decide to harmonize the sale tax. To help with the business make money. Well how are they going to make money when no one the extra money to spend.I don't know about you I am fed up with being poor. Get rid of Flatherty. I don't where he get off saying that people are starting to spend money. Get you head out of your arse and look at who is really spending money certainly isn't me. With gas prices going up and hydro natural gas we just don't have the money to spend.
Posted by: nitehawk | Jun 15, 2021 9:35:19 PM
I think that the most strained relationships during this recession is more family oriented, than friendships. Domestic violence is on the rise, affecting husbands, wives, and children; which in turn affects whole families within that group. I believe that the longer this recession lasts; domestic violence within the family group will increase and the damage done will increase, which in turn hurts society as a whole.
Posted by: philippe | Jun 15, 2021 10:16:10 PM
My ex-wife writes important papers for the State and is well paid for that... When I had problems with the corruption of the federal state, I involved the RCMP who covered-up in a very stupid way arguing not having found the corporation that both parties were disagreeing upon... The internal inquiry confirmed that the RCMP had not found it... and I complained to the public complain commission against the RCMP who took many years... and the Boss of the RCMP div C was writing me that we should wait for their conclusion... which would be that they are a quasi trubunal, not civil or criminal ! (my allegations were criminal art 128) so I went to a judge of the Quebec court who laugh at me for wanting criminal charges against the RCMP... I have it on tape.
When the RCMP Sergent falsified the report she also made me and the other party appear bad to cover her ass... this really became an embarrassement to me an to the other party, who are much more educated and sophisticated than the cops.
It is now a public servant who loves my ex-wife... They are two people who achieve a lot of paperwork and enjoy success... they live on the same cloud... good for them...
Financial stress and lack of justice distress ended my marriage.
Posted by: kiely1888cfc | Sep 9, 2021 3:52:00 PM
well i would just like to say some people are in relashionship for wrong reasons ...but hay if thats how they like it then fair play ....its the 1s that are supposed to be so much in love they dont no the meanin in my view but thats life better out ther for everybody cha