Thread

1. Razengan · 1790168118 · focus · HN ↗

   "There is no epidemic of loneliness" say the people who don't know what loneliness is (by the very fact that they have channels to broadcast anything, and colleagues to study such things with etc)

   ≈ "Just stop being so depressed!" reddit.com/r/thanksimcured

   What's undeniable is the disgusting monetization (and control) of connecting people.

   1. moralestapia · 1790170184 · focus · HN ↗

      I have worked on efforts to connect people with each other.

      What I've noticed in many of these meetups created for other people to mingle, is that a lot of people who drop by and don't have a loneliness problem, make the atmosphere worse for everyone else who does. Instead of fostering genuine connections, they just "don't see the issue" and shoot down genuine attempts of others (who might be introverts, shy, whatever) to connect. Such a thing is completely out of place, because the whole motivation for said meetup is to get people to know each other.

      I have started placing notices like "if you have friends, don't come" lol, which is a bit controversial but actually upgrades the experience. An analogy, imagine a married guy dropping into a singles dating event to talk about how great a relationship he's in and giving "tips to survive a marriage" and whatever (and also, if it is that good, then why are you here?). You get the idea.

      And I also agree with your last sentence.

      1. Razengan · 1790173619 · focus · HN ↗

         Loneliness™ is something you can feel even when you're surrounded by people, who're good to you and treating you nicely etc.

         On the surface it can seem similar to Depression: "What do you have to be so sad about??"

         It can be similar internally too: a vague sense of not-quite-doom, or just an invisible wall in your ability to feel "happy"

         That all the people who hang out with you and laugh with you, are not really your friends if push ever comes to shove, that you're going to be alone in the things you care about, even if you have a loving partner, etc.

         Or maybe just even simply feeling out of place in the overall culture you live in..

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