Being together with someone IRL involves being comfortable with silence, communicating with looks & gestures, and sharing the surroundings. The Proustian model is individualistic; it’s all about what YOU smell and YOUR emotions. Equally important: smell is part of the socially SHARED experience of the world.
Another happy development: I'm hearing from Millennials who are giving their young kids a "no screens" upbringing. Maybe 10min of a classic Disney cartoon before bedtime, but no handing them a tablet in the car or letting them play with a cell phone at the dinner table.
This is brilliant! A completely different perspective I hadn't considered before but which makes perfect sense. I struggle to watch movies at home because, without the smell of the popcorn machines, it doesn't feel special (I also think this is one of the reasons that movies don't have the cultural impact they used to). I don't enjoy pubs like I used to because they smell like offices these days. The one time I tried Christmas with a fake tree it just didn't feel like Christmas because the smell was missing. Bring back smells!!
Being together with someone IRL involves being comfortable with silence, communicating with looks & gestures, and sharing the surroundings. The Proustian model is individualistic; it’s all about what YOU smell and YOUR emotions. Equally important: smell is part of the socially SHARED experience of the world.
Couldn’t agree more Avery! I’m optimistic that young people are starting to move to IRL and hope older generations will too.
Another happy development: I'm hearing from Millennials who are giving their young kids a "no screens" upbringing. Maybe 10min of a classic Disney cartoon before bedtime, but no handing them a tablet in the car or letting them play with a cell phone at the dinner table.
I love that! Gives me hope.
This is brilliant! A completely different perspective I hadn't considered before but which makes perfect sense. I struggle to watch movies at home because, without the smell of the popcorn machines, it doesn't feel special (I also think this is one of the reasons that movies don't have the cultural impact they used to). I don't enjoy pubs like I used to because they smell like offices these days. The one time I tried Christmas with a fake tree it just didn't feel like Christmas because the smell was missing. Bring back smells!!
Yes to all of this! The whole point of my Substack - we need to pay attention to smelling more. Thanks for your perspective Neal.