Hell, yeah. And I can't understand how it can support itself, sometimes. In Laurel, MD, there is a store that sells orchids and nothing else. It's a big shop - used to be a 7-11; how they stay in business is a mystery to me, unless it's just a cover for something else... But it seems like retail stores can be very specialized. I don't always think it's"too much", because if they can make it work, more power to them.   I also think that religion is too fragmented, but that's for my taste. I think in this country, the religions thrive off of the fragmentation and resulting turmoil.

Jesse,  24
Bowie, MD   USA

Yes, I think our society is really messed up.

Savannah

No. My society is marvelously diverse and interesting because of this diversity.

Jill, 59
Saylorsburg, PA  USA

its not "society" that does it. its people. both individuals and groups of people.

Steve, 29
Lake Worth,   FL    USA

I don't think there's anything wrong with specializing. If someone can stay dedicated to a subject matter to the extent that they start to discover things that's good. I'm not sure I understand what's meant by fragmenting. It sounds like it might have something to do with the development of subcultures in which case the only problem area is isolation. Just like it isn't that healthy for one person to shut out the rest of the world completely, 15 or 20 people isolating themselves together could be worse.

Alias Irrelevante

Probably. But our society is getting so large that I don't think there would be any other way. It sure was easier though when each family had ONE doctor, and he treated everything (no referrals), and when you wanted a magazine there were only a few choices and the magazine had a little bit of EVERYTHING.

Reba, 50
Rockville, MD   USA

Um...call me ignorant, but I can't get a handle on this question.

Fisch, 45
Preston, CT   USA

I think our society,with all its complexities, requires specialization. We cannot return to the old days where everyone did everything, and if we could, would involve sacrificing too many comforts. Most of us construct our own "villages," building support networks and weaving a diversity of people into our lives.

Jane, 60
West Linn,  OR   USA

No, I don't think so…

Stephanie, 24
TX    USA

No, but I have to say I really admire those who can focus and devote their lives to one areas or speciality. I don't think I could ever accomplish something like that.

Felicia, 34
Lowell,  MA   USA

what? ok... you'll have to be a little more specific than that

Dianne, 16
Oshawa, Ontario  CANADA

Huh? In regard to what? Like, people of the same cultural groups only hanging out with other people within those groups? Yeah, definitely.

Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA  USA

Definitely.

Jeremy, 13
Highlands Ranch, CO USA

Specialization is a good thing, because that is a good thing. Of course, one could argue that I specialize in filing, and there isn't a lot of money in that.

Mick, 30
Chicago, IL   USA

Not really -- acknowledging a difference can also be seen as acknowledging the infinite creative potential of humankind. It's only if you see your own or someone's "differentness" as a justification for special treatment that it becomes specialization and fragmentation.  (In other words, my taking pride in my Irish ancestry is one thing; if I were to claim that my Irish ancestry therefore made me entitled to preferential treatment, that would be something else again.)

Kim, 30
New York, NY  USA

No. I think our society is entirely fragmented and special. We are diverse and that enables imagination, power, creativity and pride. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to fragmentation and specialization like prejudice and sin.

Jami,, 27
Lowell, MA   USA

Not really. In certain situations it may seem that way but there's an awful lot of ppl trying to do everything and stuff that still doesn't get done. Looks ok to me.

Firelady, 22
Dallas, TX   USA

Absolutely. Everyone wants to be in a more and more distinct group than anyone else. I guess I see this more in academia where you need to be specialized, but it's all over the place. Prime example: in a gender theory class, I read an article by a woman who described herself as "a lesbian black jewish handicapped single mother of two."  How can I, as a privileged white woman, compete with that???

Amy, 23
New Orleans, LA   USA

definitely. society will never stop obsessing over the little things. its just going to get worse from here.

Karen2, 14
Boston, MA    USA

No, I don't you ex-goth, Catholic, Greek/Gypsy, female, republican,  college graduating, high school teacher from Harvey, Louisiana, USA in the age range of 18-24.

Anthony, 25
Baton Rouge, LA   USA

no. . .

mothmc, 36
Los Angeles, CA  USA

Yesterday / Tomorrow