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Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

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Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#71

Loneliness 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…

> Loneliness 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.

I like the idea of "personalized help"! I don't like the "psychological" part, though. In my experience, psychology is all about blaming people for their problems, labeling them, and looking for solutions in their minds instead of the greater context.

A friend of mine has had several hundred hours of psychotherepy, ranging from psychoanalysis the CEBT, and it did not help at all, but put a lot of pressure in the form of blame on him.

He had been lonely for about 20 years. Never alone, but always lonely. Of course, everybody assumed that something was "wrong" with him. Then we met. We clicked immediately and have been good friends ever since. So the solution just came to him without him contributing anything.

You always have to have a look at the bigger picture, especially when it comes to topics as complex as loneliness. It cannot be solved in an individual. It's a social problem, period.

Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#72
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure that your observation of peoples behaviour is accurate. Just a bit of background. I'm an introvert, I'm happy in my own space. Too much noise or too many people make me very uncomfortable. Birthdays, for example would have to be up there as one of the worst events of the year only topped by Christmas Parties. So you see, I'm not one for talking to random strangers. Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a fair…

Cultures must really be different. I have used public transport to work for years and I can't even recall one single time someone tried to start a conversation.

Indeed. Here in Devon, Uk, at one time when I was commuting by bus, the regulars on the bus were so friendly we got to the stage where we were decking the bus out in tinsel and sharing cakes and bubbly when it was someones birthday.

Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#74
post #72
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cultures must really be different. I have used public transport to work for years and I can't even recall one single time someone tried to start a conversation.

Indeed. Here in Devon, Uk, at one time when I was commuting by bus, the regulars on the bus were so friendly we got to the stage where we were decking the bus out in tinsel and sharing cakes and bubbly when it was someones birthday.

Wow thats really odd. I've always thought in the UK that in london and the south people keep themselves to themselves but in the north like Sheffield people were a lot friendlier but maybe thats just because I lived there longer ago before smartphones were a thing

Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#76

Loneliness 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…

Everything you just described is social...

Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#78
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. Here in Devon, Uk, at one time when I was commuting by bus, the regulars on the bus were so friendly we got to the stage where we were decking the bus out in tinsel and sharing cakes and bubbly when it was someones birthday.

Wow thats really odd. I've always thought in the UK that in london and the south people keep themselves to themselves but in the north like Sheffield people were a lot friendlier but maybe thats just because I lived there longer ago before smartphones were a thing

Devon/Cornwall is a lot more like the north or indeed a different country compared to London. Even in London people will come together in the right situation - commonly moaning about the weather, queuing etc.

Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#79
post #69
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to really disagree. I don't have friends... But it is not really a self-inflicted problem, I did tried to strike conversations with random strangers the most I could, be pleasant, whatnot. But the places where I lived, it just didn't worked. 1. My neighbourhood has a race problem, most people there are mixed race but think themselves as black, I am mixed race too, but I look white. Trying to talk to neighbours…

3. - seems like you're around the wrong people.

I would have less than zero patience being around such people. Those who are so far deep into the status rat race to look down on others so blatantly are impossible to relate to. In fact I might be liable to respond to the situation parent poster described in a manner that I would probably come to regret.

Re: Study: Loneliness, Social Isolation Greater Health Problem in US Than Obesity

#80
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3. - seems like you're around the wrong people.

I would have less than zero patience being around such people. Those who are so far deep into the status rat race to look down on others so blatantly are impossible to relate to. In fact I might be liable to respond to the situation parent poster described in a manner that I would probably come to regret.

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