The overarching concept at work in this animated "soap-box" eulogy on the death of camaraderie, with the alleged, continued vaulting of personal space presents a few basic, philosophical problems from my vantage-point.
Even as one cannot help but recognize the credence of the argument which suggests that we should all be less evasive of our neighbors and the next person sitting beside you --as pursuing a new level of interaction with said person could very well be a great deal more engaging and transformative in terms of one's well-being--I would think that it would be a great deal more advisable to not take the concept of overcoming one's own allegedly "societally-bred" aversion to intercommunication with strangers and allowing it to serve as an admonishment against being too festooned in one's "own thoughts" (hence, the imperative being delivered to "do more and THINK LESS"....???")
In essence, I would submit that, deep introspective thought will always proceed both summoning the will to engage in both the strangers and the masses at large, as well as ensure that--once one is speaking openly with another person or persons, in an attempt at thoughtful engagement--one is actually saying something that will remain prudent, salient and resourceful.