Lonely in a crowded world: Loneliness is an epidemic, and like COVID, it might require a public health response
Lonely in a crowded world: Loneliness is an epidemic, and like COVID, it might require a public health response
Loneliness has become an epidemic, and like COVID, it might require a public health response.
Why do you think I'm so active on Lemmy? I am lonely. Deeply, deeply lonely. Have been my whole life and it only has gotten worse thanks to COVID. Mental health is collapsing in general for a lot of people after COVID and I just can't keep up. I've got no hope. No drive. No motivation. Half the time lately I've been getting out of bed just to post memes because at least its a little less lonely here and people suck a little less. Everyone's a little kinder.
The world feels a lot darker than it did 5 years ago.
Well from one isolated person to another, I hope you know I appreciate you engaging with us. The world is better with you in it.
You wrote this for me. Thanks.
I just wanted to say that I appreciate you posting on Lemmy and making it alive and full of content, and I hope you find the company you need. Virtual hug from the Internet 🫂
If anyone wants to come over, smoke a little weed or drink a little beer, my home is open.
Doubt you live in Saskatoon, but if you do, we can sit by an open fire, eat some mushrooms I grew myself and play with the dog outside when it warms up in about three months.
I have a lot of wood.
You wake up on a planet where your species is living in a terrible system of exploitation, learn that the planet is heating up, it feels like noone can do anything or talk about any of it. We're shown people dying and told we're headed that way.
But there are sparks and small flames where like-minded people will huddle. Get close and enjoy the warmth. Adversity can be a seed for growth.
I've checked the article for public health type solutions and all it says is that you should go to a park and a library if you have some nearby. Also “We all need friends. I am here for you.” .
Join a club. Bowl or shoot pool or play softball. Find an activity that uses other people. Hiking requires no special skills.
Your posts make another loners' lives a little less miserable. That's something. Last years completely shut my creativeness and I'm kinda surprised so much people are still able to bring joy, laughter into my life, especially in this small and comfy place. If it makes you leave the bed, it's for the better. Maybe it'd inspire you to undertake other things too.
Capitalism is socially isolating by design. The potential for the people to organize is revolutionary. Capitalists do not want a social revolution originating from the bottom rings of the social hierarchy
I still find it rather frustrating that the struggles of introverts forced to engage with the world in a way more appropriate for extroverts are ignored, but when extroverts are forced to act like introverts, it's "a crisis" and "an epidemic".
Introverts can get lonely too
I have lived alone since 2006. I am not lonely. They are different things I love being alone. I never feel lonely because I know that there are people who care for me in spite of me never seeing them.
This may be true for some, but so, so many of us want to find more time to be with ourselves. To disconnect and spend more time away from people. Just to enjoy some peace and quiet.
So kill the Internet I guess 🤷♂️?
People do this to themselves. They CHOOSE to stay indoors and play games. They CHOOSE to binge Netflix instead of volunteering. They order delivery instead of going to the restaurant.
And it's because it's easier to sit at home. It's easier to bitch on lemmy then going out and working with your local community, going to local events, and getting up and being social.
It's easier to sit at home and just be angry and bitch at the world through a screen.
I get your point here, but even if a person goes against these norms, they still struggle to find other people to interact with. The problem isn't just digital either, the way we build our society impacts this as well. For example, you are far less likely to have a conversation with a car next to you in traffic than someone next to you on the sidewalk or on public transit.
Hey now, there was some important trolling going on here. Why you gotta come in here with a reasonable take?
This is a simplistic view of the problem without consideration for introvert vs extrovert. Not everyone is able to open up to others as easily. Even though the Internet ceased to exist, this doesn't make it any easier for the introverts.
I would say there are a lot of factors. Lack of: money, energy/health, transportation/infrastructure, destinations, time etc.
Anecdotal, but I live in a very small town/village in the US, I'm close to a trail so I got a (weak/cheap+has gears) eBike and I didn't even have it for 4 months before the trail closed for renovations... and 6 months later it still is so I haven't left the house since then. Granted it was more of an activity/utility thing but it was still good mentally and I was still getting into it.
Also see something like Bowling Alone, you probably aren't going to be very social even at a sit-down restaurant as most people probably don't see it as a social thing (aside from maybe the main counter at a bar/diner and even that is subject to unreliable factors).