<p>Not always:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you're sick and go to someone who's not a doctor, who's incompetent or a thief, that won't help (except perhaps as a placebo)</li>
<li>If you're sick with an incurable (untreatable) illness and go to a doctor, that won't help (well it might help with managing symptoms and explaining what's happening)</li>
</ul>
<p>The <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.ksw0.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sigalovada Sutta (DN 31)</a> details long lists of examples and differences, between &quot;good socialising&quot; and &quot;bad socialising&quot; for lay people.</p>
<p>I think Buddhism includes two themes:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Therefore, Ananda, be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge, seeking no other refuge.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Maha-parinibbana Sutta (DN 16)</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>and:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>As he was sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, &quot;This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, &amp; comrades, he can be expected to develop &amp; pursue the noble eightfold path.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.002.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Upaddha Sutta (SN 45.2)</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-18T09:34:53.143Z
2018-08-18T09:34:53.143Z
2020-06-17T09:56:10.877Z
ChrisW
<p>Whenever there is a problem we socialize. When we are sick we go to a doctor. When we are hungry we go to a cook. When we want to laugh we go to a movie.</p>

<p>My question is : are these social interactions always helpful in solving our problems ? Is "if problem then socialize with right people" formula always helpful ?</p>

<ethics>
Are social interactions always helpful in solving problems?
# Are social interactions always helpful in solving problems?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-18)

Whenever there is a problem we socialize. When we are sick we go to a doctor. When we are hungry we go to a cook. When we want to laugh we go to a movie.

My question is : are these social interactions always helpful in solving our problems ? Is "if problem then socialize with right people" formula always helpful ?

**Tags:** ethics


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-08-18. Score: 3

Not always:

* If you're sick and go to someone who's not a doctor, who's incompetent or a thief, that won't help (except perhaps as a placebo)
* If you're sick with an incurable (untreatable) illness and go to a doctor, that won't help (well it might help with managing symptoms and explaining what's happening)

The [Sigalovada Sutta (DN 31)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.ksw0.html) details long lists of examples and differences, between "good socialising" and "bad socialising" for lay people.

I think Buddhism includes two themes:

> Therefore, Ananda, be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge, seeking no other refuge.
>
> [Maha-parinibbana Sutta (DN 16)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html)

and:

> As he was sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, "This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie."
>
> "Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, he can be expected to develop & pursue the noble eightfold path.
>
> [Upaddha Sutta (SN 45.2)](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.002.than.html)


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