Loneliness Epidemic

[Serial Brain 9]

I couldn't think of anything worse than a school reunion. Even if I went to an all girl's school

I'm not sure if I take much stock in these "studies" and "statistics", especially with the claim that being lonely is deadlier than smoking 15 smokes a day or whatever it was. A lot of these articles, to me, remind me of the bullshit clickbait that pops up when browsing online.

Speaking from personal experience, I am an introvert who works in a very "people" orientated job. To the point that after the working week is up, I just want to be alone with my books, or my PC games. I have good relationships with people, but there are few (outside of family, and my partner) who I consider to be chummy with, keeping folks at arms length. To the normal person, I suppose that would seem lonely. Does it depress me? Is it killing me? No. I couldn't be happier.

On the flipside of that, I was in a terrible situation many years ago, with my first relationship. We met through Facebook and due to my naivity, I moved in with her shortly after we got "serious". It was the biggest mistake of my life, as I discovered that she clinged to people and had to have them around, people I deemed undesirable and untrustworthy, people that used her and by proxy, used me. (If it helps to add to context, it was a methhead/"Houso" situation). This experience was the worst in my life. I was depressed, it probably did take years from my life.

So overall, I think the mistake these "studies" make is the assumption that all people want/desire clinging to people like shit to a bowl.

If you ever wonder that you really like someone, move in with then for 3 months, after that you’ll either become fond of them or kill them

Simples.

[The Reboot]

I couldn't think of anything worse than a school reunion. Even if I went to an all girl's school

I'm not sure if I take much stock in these "studies" and "statistics", especially with the claim that being lonely is deadlier than smoking 15 smokes a day or whatever it was. A lot of these articles, to me, remind me of the bullshit clickbait that pops up when browsing online.

Speaking from personal experience, I am an introvert who works in a very "people" orientated job. To the point that after the working week is up, I just want to be alone with my books, or my PC games. I have good relationships with people, but there are few (outside of family, and my partner) who I consider to be chummy with, keeping folks at arms length. To the normal person, I suppose that would seem lonely. Does it depress me? Is it killing me? No. I couldn't be happier.

On the flipside of that, I was in a terrible situation many years ago, with my first relationship. We met through Facebook and due to my naivity, I moved in with her shortly after we got "serious". It was the biggest mistake of my life, as I discovered that she clinged to people and had to have them around, people I deemed undesirable and untrustworthy, people that used her and by proxy, used me. (If it helps to add to context, it was a methhead/"Houso" situation). This experience was the worst in my life. I was depressed, it probably did take years from my life.

So overall, I think the mistake these "studies" make is the assumption that all people want/desire clinging to people like shit to a bowl.

If you ever wonder that you really like someone, move in with then for 3 months, after that you’ll either become fond of them or kill them

Simples.

In my case it was two weeks.

[Valkie]

I couldn't think of anything worse than a school reunion. Even if I went to an all girl's school

I'm not sure if I take much stock in these "studies" and "statistics", especially with the claim that being lonely is deadlier than smoking 15 smokes a day or whatever it was. A lot of these articles, to me, remind me of the bullshit clickbait that pops up when browsing online.

Speaking from personal experience, I am an introvert who works in a very "people" orientated job. To the point that after the working week is up, I just want to be alone with my books, or my PC games. I have good relationships with people, but there are few (outside of family, and my partner) who I consider to be chummy with, keeping folks at arms length. To the normal person, I suppose that would seem lonely. Does it depress me? Is it killing me? No. I couldn't be happier.

On the flipside of that, I was in a terrible situation many years ago, with my first relationship. We met through Facebook and due to my naivity, I moved in with her shortly after we got "serious". It was the biggest mistake of my life, as I discovered that she clinged to people and had to have them around, people I deemed undesirable and untrustworthy, people that used her and by proxy, used me. (If it helps to add to context, it was a methhead/"Houso" situation). This experience was the worst in my life. I was depressed, it probably did take years from my life.

So overall, I think the mistake these "studies" make is the assumption that all people want/desire clinging to people like shit to a bowl.

If you ever wonder that you really like someone, move in with then for 3 months, after that you’ll either become fond of them or kill them

Simples.

In my case it was two weeks.

Many years ago I went to my wife's school reunion with her.
It was interesting how certain groups stuck together even as adults.
It was, to me, nothing but the female version of a pissing competition, each trying to outdo the other.

My wife and I got totally bored after a couple of hours and left.
But as a social experiment it was quite interesting.

M wife comes from a small country town.
Many of the girls had left town, leaving a small core of girls that had nowhere else to go.
The ones that left either succeeded in life or completely lost it, being unable to cope.
At least 50% were unmarried mothers, in itself not an issue other than they had obviously picked the wrong partners

Only two I met that night seemed to have their heads right.
One who stayed in town and had her life running smoothly
The other who left and was successful in business.

I couldn't go to a reunion of my school
It would probably be held in Long Bay.
Far too many of the students at my old school were brain dead.
I did see one of the old bullies a few years ago, he was a bouncer at a club.
Looked real old and had a limp.

[Texan]

I have a family and sometimes I'd rather be by myself. I work by myself and don't have much need for people. I go out with neighbors sometimes and we have fun, but I don't have to be around people every day. I went to my 20 year high school reunion and realized that I didn't want to be there. We were all different people and we were all comparing how each other did after high school. I didn't go to my 25 or 30.

Some people are social animals. I don't know if they want attention or are just lonely, but to each his own.

[Black Orchid]

I went to one school reunion way back when. I think it was a 10 year or maybe 15. It was so non eventful I can't even remember. The whole night seemed to hinge on one classmate who is now quite a famous surgeon but she is clearly also an alcoholic. Makes you worry a bit yeah?

Funnily enough a month or so ago an old school friend found me on Facebook and talking to her was like we had only seen each other last week instead of the decades in between. Admittedly this is rare.

Turns out she is friends with the sister of my first love and I saw pics of them all over her Facebook. I was like

Amazing that they would ever even know each other but they apparently met through their husbands. That gave us a lot to talk about

[Valkie]

Some people, turd mc turdface for instance

Woukd never be lonely

He has far far too many socks to keep him company.

[billy the kid]

Heard someone singing the other day as he walked along...
Made me wonder....
When was the last time I/you heard someone sing or whistle....
I know everyone is usually using their phone these days as they walk along/ride their skateboard/drive their
car/mow their lawn/take a shower/eat a meal/have sex/ride their surfboard/watch tv...etc...
Just sayin......

[Texan]

Heard someone singing the other day as he walked along...
Made me wonder....
When was the last time I/you heard someone sing or whistle....
I know everyone is usually using their phone these days as they walk along/ride their skateboard/drive their
car/mow their lawn/take a shower/eat a meal/have sex/ride their surfboard/watch tv...etc...
Just sayin......

I have a sing along playlist for when I’m driving by myself. I’m sure people laugh at me on the highway, whatever.

[Valkie]

Heard someone singing the other day as he walked along...
Made me wonder....
When was the last time I/you heard someone sing or whistle....
I know everyone is usually using their phone these days as they walk along/ride their skateboard/drive their
car/mow their lawn/take a shower/eat a meal/have sex/ride their surfboard/watch tv...etc...
Just sayin......

My wife sings to herself while working around the house.
It's a rather comforting and pleasant sound.
All of my children used to do it when younger, but as the grew, it died off .
Only my youngest 26 still sings to herself when pottering about and making things.

Of my grandchildren,only one sings to herself 18, always has and always will methinks.
She even used to sing herself to sleep as a baby.

I can't sing
Couldn't hold a tune with a pair of vicegrips.
But when concentrating I am known to whistle.

I think it depends on how you live.

[FLEKTARN]

Men are lonely because women turned into feminist fluffy bunnies. Plain and simple. Women started feeling lonely because good men now avoid crazed feminist bitches. Plain and simple.