There was a time when people who couldn't fend for themselves would often be left behind, either figuratively or literally. That forced people to figure things out for themselves, or they faced dire consequences such as homelessness and starvation. Those types of struggles still certainly affect many people now, and there are plenty of folks that face hardship through no fault of their own. But I contend that the modern combination of the internet and technology allows a percentage of otherwise seemingly clueless people to be dragged along by society to just barely maintain "functioning adult" status when they would otherwise completely flounder on their own. As noted, some of the questions posted on NextDoor make me genuinely wonder how some people have survived well into adulthood. I'm not arguing that this is a good or a bad thing, and the internet certainly makes the rest of us more aware of the presence of that kind of person. But I really do think it has become more common than it used to be.