The End Of Solitude

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In Deresiewicz's "The End of Solitude", Thoreau's "Walking" and Emerson's "Self-Reliance", the idea of solitude and being alone are prominent. While this is a subject of debate between many scholars, the main question that seems to be raised is in regards to teenagers—do teenagers need solitude? This questions is a double-edged sword, as there are pros and cons to both sides. In The End of Solitude, Deresiewicz says, "I once asked my students about the place that solitude has in their lives. One of them admitted that she finds the prospect of being alone so unsettling that she'll sit with a friend even when she has a paper to write. Another said, why would anyone want to be alone?" While this is partially an exaggeration, the thought process behind it still rings true. This is a sentiment felt by many teenagers. Simply looking at the percentages of teenage depression or suicide can be a clear indicator of the mindset of teenagers these days. We live in a world of technology, with new products being released seemingly every minute. At any moment, one can connect with millions of people around the world through social networking sites or access any information they desire. By comparison to an older time without the internet or even telephones; it would seem that we could never feel alone. Deresiewicz echoed this thought when he said, "Not long ago, it was easy to feel lonely. Now, it is impossible to be alone." But with face-to-face contact at an all time low, one must wonder what this really means for us. It's no secret that the internet can be used to waste time, but what if it was affecting our offline time too? Often I've spent countless hours on a computer or watching a television; yet I still go to bed with a feeling that I have gotten nothing done. The internet is not a way to experience things or to live your life. The internet is as much a social tool as

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