When I was younger and moved to a new (foreign) city, The first thing I did was to create a "picnic" for people coming from my country. No agenda, no nothing, let's just hang out and have some wine, cheese and chat while sitting on the grass. You'd be surprised how successful this was, and some of them keep running regularly without me for over a decade now.
Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
711–720 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#712Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#713It seems that once again striving for efficiency in society is bad in some way for the social part of humans...
Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#714It seems you can't ignore a lot of this is a product of fewer children, temporary and transitional relationships that are not governed by the boundaries of marriage, and fewer intact families. This leads to fewer siblings, fewer responsibilities toward others, and more opportunities to be and feel isolated. There is a reason why the concept of a family protected by certain legal responsibilities and obligations have…
Maybe a societal foundation of: magic man in the sky - wasn't so great a foundation after all?
Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#715Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#716Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#717Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#718Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#719You have to be the one who creates things to do. Really, that’s it. You want to play D&D together, you host and DM. You want to just hang out, you reach out and propose what you’re doing. You want more purposeful and meaningful time, join a volunteer group you vibe with. Even if it’s meeting for coffee. You have to be the one who reaches out. You have to do it on a regular cadence. If, like me, you don’t have little…
Great point and many of the responses are very interesting too. I wonder whether part of this is a habitualization of intolerance for just being with oneself - to be ok with feeling bored, for instance. Most suggestions are about "doing". Just being with oneself without a doing is painful for many from what I've seen.
Re: Ask HN: How can we solve the loneliness epidemic?
#720i always thought I had avoided this issue. then i moved to a new town. starting with zero friends in a new town, with very little in place as far as shows, groups, etc, it seems quite a bit harder than it was 20 years ago. meetup used to work but it has become a cesspool of zoom calls and pay meetings. i wish i knew a really good answer (and i dont drink so bars dont have the appeal. by the time i get off of work cof…
I certainly don't have the time and energy to do all the things I would if I had more free time. There are so many sports/activities I'd like to do but don't have time to, many of those for which I could find a club/class for.