re: Gallup poll shows Americans are becoming more isolated with less friendships

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I just can't stand to be around most people.

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It is fine as we become much older to become more “reclusive” and to have less immediate friends, but for the young and those just starting adulthood, it is incredibly detrimental.

It is damaging to mental health and social cohesion.

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my biggest boomer take is that i hated working from home cause it reduced my social interactions to my wife and customers so basically just needy people.

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Same here picked up a party time job that allowed me to meet people

My cousin used to say "I love people, I just don't like them".


Charles Bukowski the great writer said something similar....

"I don't hate people. I just don't like being around them."

I can say personally this is true.

I don't know what to do about it. I work from home and while I love it, it's just not healthy long-term. I've never met anyone I work with on a daily basis in person. I did orientation and annual trainings in person with other people around the country, many of whom I still talk to, but as far as my day to day team, never seen them IRL.

Add to that going out to eat is more of a hassle than an experience lately. It feels like I don't have anything in common with anyone. People are constantly on their phone if I hang out with anyone. There's a tension in the air when politics is mentioned. People seem angry.

Doesn't help that most of my friends have children and I don't. I know their kids come first, I wouldn't expect anything else. But lord is it really annoying when you're trying to talk to them and their kid won't stop interrupting. I take that into consideration when making plans. Their kids have every right to be around them, and they should. But I also have a right to not want to spend 4 hours of hanging out with a friend with half of it getting interrupted every time someone starts a sentence.

I don't exclude myself from this, it seems like it's tougher to connect with others.

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my biggest boomer take is that i hated working from home cause it reduced my social interactions to my wife and customers

so basically just needy people.

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I do not consider coworkers or colleagues as my social group. Everything about our life even during covid was about social settings outside of work.

You will not get a downvote from me on that statement.

Covid kick started a lot of this bullshite. But people let them do it.

"Why should I care? I have a college degree and have a great life. I make money and have lots of friends. This doesnt effect me."

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It's the younger people that have no social skills and have become hermits. They dont make friends, they dont date. Chronically online. It's quite sad.

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And it’s not just social media at this point either.

Where can teenagers and young adults (under 21) realistically go to meet peers outside of school? I know here on the weekends the Malls here force anyone under 18 to have an adult chaperone. Same with the movie theaters. And places like Top Golf are expensive as frick for a 16 year old kid.

A lot of the bars/clubs that had hours for 20 and under don’t exist anymore. Some bars here have even started setting age limits of 25 and up.

And I met a lot of people outside of school when I worked as a teenager/young adult. Several teens I’ve worked with have struggled finding employment because no one wants to mess with teaching a kid a skill or wants someone that can work later/longer hours.

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I can say personally this is true. I don't know what to do about it. I work from home and while I love it, it's just not healthy long-term. I've never met anyone I work with on a daily basis in person. I did orientation and annual trainings in person with other people around the country, many of whom I still talk to, but as far as my day to day team, never seen them IRL. Add to that going out to eat is more of a hassle than an experience lately. It feels like I don't have anything in common with anyone. People are constantly on their phone if I hang out with anyone. There's a tension in the air when politics is mentioned. People seem angry. Doesn't help that most of my friends have children and I don't. I know their kids come first, I wouldn't expect anything else. But lord is it really annoying when you're trying to talk to them and their kid won't stop interrupting. I take that into consideration when making plans. Their kids have every right to be around them, and they should. But I also have a right to not want to spend 4 hours of hanging out with a friend with half of it getting interrupted every time someone starts a sentence. I don't exclude myself from this, it seems like it's tougher to connect with others.

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I had the same issue, I got a part time job in a very social but relaxed hospitality field. I met friends and my GF and dramatically improved my life and the extra cash was also great.