This study was conducted by HAES activists, wasn't it?
Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
11–20 of 98 posts
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's just like saying the problem isn't me, it's you. Society plays a huge role in people feeling lonely. I'm not saying it's the job of society to make someone feel accepted and have authentic connections, but the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else.
> the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else. No. It does not. It was just as hard 30 years ago as it is now. As it was 300 years ago. 3000 even. People still congregate in places where it's easy to meet them. They still do it today, they did it all throughout history. People don't want t…
[deleted]
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#13Loneliness is a psychological problem masquerading as a social one. Look, there are people all around us. Neighborhood streets have, what, 50 people on them? People congregate at churches, bars, coffee shops, even Wal-Marts. Loneliness is a self-inflicted problem. I'm not saying that to belittle it, I'm saying it because the reasons most people give for being lonely have nothing to do with the actual reasons. Real, a…
>But without massive a public investment in psychological health, personalized treatment will remain a luxury solution for those who can afford it.
Hopefully with greater automation, we can free up more people to become therapists.
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's just like saying the problem isn't me, it's you. Society plays a huge role in people feeling lonely. I'm not saying it's the job of society to make someone feel accepted and have authentic connections, but the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else.
> the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else. No. It does not. It was just as hard 30 years ago as it is now. As it was 300 years ago. 3000 even. People still congregate in places where it's easy to meet them. They still do it today, they did it all throughout history. People don't want t…
I think what has changed is that it is now far easier to live alone. The apps, appliances, late hours at stores, restaurants & grocery stores catering to single people and for many, an income that affords them a living arrangement without a roommate. Essentially more people than ever don't need to deal with people for the necessities.
People are annoying, they get sick, cancel plans, ask for favours, make stupid decisions, and there is always so much work to do, things to optimize, fitness goals, books to read, shows to watch.
It's easier, until it isn't...
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#15Loneliness is a psychological problem masquerading as a social one. Look, there are people all around us. Neighborhood streets have, what, 50 people on them? People congregate at churches, bars, coffee shops, even Wal-Marts. Loneliness is a self-inflicted problem. I'm not saying that to belittle it, I'm saying it because the reasons most people give for being lonely have nothing to do with the actual reasons. Real, a…
Thanks for this. Thanks a lot for this.
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's just like saying the problem isn't me, it's you. Society plays a huge role in people feeling lonely. I'm not saying it's the job of society to make someone feel accepted and have authentic connections, but the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else.
> the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else. No. It does not. It was just as hard 30 years ago as it is now. As it was 300 years ago. 3000 even. People still congregate in places where it's easy to meet them. They still do it today, they did it all throughout history. People don't want t…
> Even if it’s just at the grocery store. Even if it’s just with the homeless guy down the road.
I think you are missing the point. Loneliness is not solved by simply being around people.
I’ve been living in the US for 5 years now and the amount of people I can call friends here is very small, despite all the attempts at grocery stores, bars, meetups and even homeless folks.
Society doesn’t seem to be open to take in someone that apparently doesn’t fit certain criteria they impose. And unless you are willing to do exactly as other people do, you’re going to have a hard time. People may disagree, this is just my personal experience.
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#17Loneliness is a psychological problem masquerading as a social one. Look, there are people all around us. Neighborhood streets have, what, 50 people on them? People congregate at churches, bars, coffee shops, even Wal-Marts. Loneliness is a self-inflicted problem. I'm not saying that to belittle it, I'm saying it because the reasons most people give for being lonely have nothing to do with the actual reasons. Real, a…
[deleted]
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#18Can confirm, am loneliness.
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's just like saying the problem isn't me, it's you. Society plays a huge role in people feeling lonely. I'm not saying it's the job of society to make someone feel accepted and have authentic connections, but the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else.
> the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else. No. It does not. It was just as hard 30 years ago as it is now. As it was 300 years ago. 3000 even. People still congregate in places where it's easy to meet them. They still do it today, they did it all throughout history. People don't want t…
> It was just as hard 30 years ago as it is now. As it was 300 years ago. 3000 even.
I understand what you're saying, but I also think it's important to acknowledge that dynamics have changed - and we don't need to go back 30 years to see it.
As recently as 5 or 6 years ago, I would quite often strike up conversations with strangers at the bus stop or on the train or at the post office.
Usually these conversations would last for just a few minutes, sometimes an hour or more, and in a handful of instances I made a long term friend.
I find that this is vastly harder to do now, because nearly everyone in those common spaces is now engrossed by their phone. This changes the dynamics of interacting and striking up a conversation substantially by adding a lot of social friction.
Historically, the interaction was something like: slightly awkward silence -> random comment about the weather or some equally anodyne topic to break the awkward silence -> possibly a rewarding conversation.
Now, the awkward silence never occurs in the first place. It's been entirely replaced by everyone scrolling the feeds on their phones. To start a conversation, you have to proactively interrupt what the person is doing and ask for their attention.
What's more, even if you successfully navigate that dynamic and start a conversation, the soft dings and tapping reminders from the phone constantly pull people's attention back to the virtual from the physical.
Smartphones have been a boon in myriad ways, but I do miss the chances to engage in face-to-face conversation with strangers in the real world that existed before they commanded every second of our spare attention.
Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's just like saying the problem isn't me, it's you. Society plays a huge role in people feeling lonely. I'm not saying it's the job of society to make someone feel accepted and have authentic connections, but the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else.
> the way we are currently in todays society makes it extremely difficult you'll have an authentic connection with anyone or even be that authentic connection for someone else. No. It does not. It was just as hard 30 years ago as it is now. As it was 300 years ago. 3000 even. People still congregate in places where it's easy to meet them. They still do it today, they did it all throughout history. People don't want t…
What you and I consider an authentic connection seem to very different. It's not strictly a numbers game. And I beg differ that it was absolutely easier even just 20 years to meet people and have more meaningful connections. The age of connectivity through artificial means has distanced everyone from society as a whole. People don't put any effort into their relationships anymore and that is the source of the problem from both ends.