Analysis Of Todd Partridge's Social Trust: A Touchy Subject

"Social Trust: A Touchy Subject" by Todd Partridge, promotes the idea that physical contact, in a touch-free society, needs reinforcement. After an encounter on the bus, Partridge realizes how everyday people are hyper-aware of touch. This idea develops throughout his argument: people can, and must reconnect through physical contact. Partridge's purpose is clear throughout the piece. He uses an effective format by stating the claim first. Next, he strengthens his argument through sound evidence. By analyzing Partridge's claims and the evidence he uses, we can reach the same conclusion. To agree with Partridge is to provide hope in a disbanded American society.

In his opening example, Partridge gives us the details of a casual bus ride. He leaps onto the bus. A bump

jostles the ride. He feels a slight brush on his sleeve and a girl exclaims, "I'm sorry!" This personal story gives the paper a relatable, casual tone. Partridge chose this story after making an assumption that his audience had been through a similar encounter. In fact, Partridge correctly makes this gamble. I vouch for many when I say that awkward bus encounters happen often. After his opening story, Partridge takes us into a world of evidence-based conclusions. This switch lets the reader know that the tone shifts to a more serious one, and the new style will now be formal instead of casual. He explores his thinking process and invites the reader into deeper interpretation. Now, the tone becomes more formal with material like statistics and facts. Partridge manages to create a stylized and unique duality between personal and formal tones.
Partridge’s initial claim, that people are hyper-aware of touch and that people are touch-avoidant comes across strongly. In fact, it’s in his opening paragraph, and he uses it to dive into the rest of his essay. This initial claim acts as a parent claim to all the other sub-claims. “Americans lose a staggering number of social and personal benefits by avoiding touch” (Partridge 51). This claim is a sub claim to the major issue at hand. Partridge uses this system repeatedly. He provides a claim as a topic sentence and then backs it up using evidence. Partridge’s strong area lies with his evidence. Collectively, Partridge uses over thirty different sources to bolster his argument. He even uses widely recognized sources such a Charles Darwin. Every bit of evidence he uses strengthens his claims. Partridge directly quotes and paraphrases his sources.
Partridge’s statement that society needs to become more touch-friendly is narrowed into the spectrum of American society in particular.

At the beginning, Partridge offers a statistic from Sidney Jourard’s study about conversation in different countries. “However, in America Jourard observed a mere 2 points of contact per hour” (Partridge 50). This statistic tells us that Americans exhibited minimal contact during conversation. Partridge takes this information and uses it to narrow his argument. Now, he focuses on American culture. Partridge narrows his argument further when he brings us this information, “…Caroline Johansson’s study in Current Psychology reveals that many don’t touch simply because they don’t know how, never having been taught by their parents” (Partridge 50). Partridge explains that this research puts touching into a result from early behavioral factors. Now, Partridge’s subject pertains to touch-phobic Americans, and this distaste for touch originated from behavioral tendencies. Partridge examines American’s behavioral tendencies and realizes that behavior is closely linked to environmental factors. When people surround themselves with social media, touch becomes less

apparent.
A large argument in this essay explores the idea that by making touch less appealing, social media is encouraged to replace it. This thread of logic begins somewhere unexpected: dementia patients. “Families and caregivers of these patients reported feeling more hope in their patient’s progress and satisfaction in their relationship when they made physical connection a regular part of their visits” (Partridge 51). When these patients received physical contact, they developed better relationships with both family and hospital staff. These relationships help the dementia patients to not feel alienated. But, for social media users, it’s a different story. In fact, American social media users feel an incredible amount of distrust around surrounding people. Partridge states, “The ever present smartphone’s ability to connect a person to the World-Wide-Web at a moment’s notice is not the only way it has crippled the everyday American’s ability to trust his cohorts” (Partridge 53). Here we find Partridge making another assumption. He assumes his audience includes smartphone users, which it does. “Nearly two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone owners, and for many these devices are a key entry point to the online world” (Smith). The smartphone’s capability, along with other non-verbal communication, has taught Americans to use quick and easy technology. Technology spreads, and it encourages people to use it more often. As a consequence of using technology more often, people are losing valuable tactile skills.
After expressing such shocking facts, Partridge takes some time to recognize counter arguments and stop them in their tracks. Partridge continues with his media-related theme, and lumps texting into a similar category by stating it is just as bad as other virtual communication formats. Then, he continues to say that even vocal communication isn’t enough to replace tactile information. Humans crave touch. Though he states that virtual communication is insufficient when compared to tactile, he assures us that we don’t need to abolish all technology. There are people who love technology and benefit from it, myself included. This acknowledgement is an example of strategic concession, and this component takes Partridge’s essay to the next level. Through negotiation, Partridge avoids alienating his audience. But, this essay recognizes both sides of the issue in a reasonable manner.
In summation, Partridge reinforces his argument that America can come together again if we begin to trust one another through touch and tactile communication. His argument works because it is effectively organized. When he offers a claim he backs it up with evidence, and lots of it. He makes strong statements about how physical connection provides an experience that virtual connection cannot. Also, he recognizes potential counterarguments and suggests a compromise. Touch is irreplaceable and by each touch, we develop relationships and come to a better understanding of our fellow human beings.