SereneScene Posted February 3, 2014 #1 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Ok so I hear all this stuff about being happy with yourself and what not, just be yourself etc etc. Why do people get depressed often? Because of being lonely, no freinds, no significant other. Why do people try to emulate others or act a certain way that they are not? To be around others, to make people like them. My point is this, yea you have to be happy and like yourself but for many people being happy is being with other people. "You can live like a king but what is the point if you have no one to share it with?" I have always been an introverted person, quiet, in my mind, to myself, as an adult it has taken me a while but now I realize that all I want is to have freinds, people to laugh with, share with, be happy with, cry with, grow old and look back on stories together, real true freinds. Its hard though, its hard to make freinds for some people, and I think that is what makes people depressed, they just want to be liked, appreciated, loved. Do you believe we "need" each other? What happens to a persons soul and mind when they go their whole life without (true) friends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan max2 Posted February 3, 2014 #2 Share Posted February 3, 2014 We are social creatures if people want to believe it or not. Alone time is good of course but we do need each other I believe, we are designed that way 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acute Posted February 3, 2014 #3 Share Posted February 3, 2014 (edited) I could have written the first post myself! Yes, we are social creatures, but friends are hard work! I have a desire for close friendships, yet I keep potential friends at arms length because I am frightened of being hurt somehow, and I am too cynical and/or too lazy to put the required effort into maintaining the relationship. As I get older I have become less shy and introverted, but I think my expectations are still too high. Surely it is better to have a few 'fairweather' friends than have no friends at all. . Edited February 3, 2014 by acute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiXilver Posted February 3, 2014 #4 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Quality over quantity. Balance in all things. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skep B Posted February 4, 2014 #5 Share Posted February 4, 2014 lets not also forget that everyone has different levels of comfort, I'm massively introverted, but very rarely i can enjoy being around other people. ...very, very rarely 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean93 Posted February 4, 2014 #6 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I can totally be around other people so long as it doesn't become an obligation, you know? I have very few friends and might do well to act more 'friendlier' to them, so to speak, but at the same time I do love the solitude. The only problem with the silence of solitude is that you do end up wanting some noise when those really dark thoughts start creeping in. That's when let company in the most. Incidentally, I've come to like bars/pubs only for the noise; you get no time to think in such an environment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SereneScene Posted February 4, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I just dont want to be alone later in life, Going back to that "live like a king quote", the thing that reminded me of that was a friend of my brothers. Him along with a group of others they all grew up with (now in their 40's), they were sitting in his new house, they all praised him saying how great and nice his house was, he said "it is nice and all but the way I see it is; its ours, all of this is ours, whats the point if I cant share and enjoy with my family". That made me feel nice inside but sad at the same time because I myself dont have friends like this, these guys are like brothers, they are there for each other always and have gone through it all, it makes me feel sad that I am 24 and dont have friends like this. Maybe in time but its eating me up inside now, I want freinds like this, I want a family in the future, kids, sometimes it feels like I wont get this, I dunno, maybe I just get emotional about stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keninsc Posted February 4, 2014 #8 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Being with others is really part of us as a species. Alone time is great and we do need it but we also need human interaction, companionship, friendship, fellowship. What's the old quote? ".....no man is an island...." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayno Posted February 4, 2014 #9 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Being alone for long periods of time will drive any person mad. For how could any human, being aware of the pointlessness of existence, not be driven mad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodentraiser Posted February 4, 2014 #10 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Drayno, what do you consider to be a long period of time? Just curious, because I have spent 4 to 5 days in my room not having contact with anyone. The most I can say is it's boring because I get tired of books and crossword puzzles, but now Ihave my computer finally connected again and I have the whole world to talk to. Maybe that's my way of having contact - connected but not connected. Whatever, it works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orcseeker Posted February 4, 2014 #11 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Yeh I see what you mean. I enjoy my alone time more than the average person. It does annoy me if I spend the whole day with people too much. Like I just need that alone time in there somewhere. I consider myself lucky I have a huge variety of friends I can hang out with and have a rich history going back to high school and even primary school (elementary school for those in the US). Although I have been feeling lonely on another front. The one person I am intimate with is living on the other side of the world. I saw her early this year but you never really get that proper time as you want. If you're like me and find it hard to even like someone more than a friend, this was the only girl I've ever seen and really felt compelled to do something about it. I think anyone can find someone and friends. I'm not sure if you're like me and have a small scope of people you can really get along with but you'll get there. Memories create bonds with people. If you hang out with a bunch of people you can enjoy hanging out with, create some fond memories, that's all you need to get the ball rolling. A problem I still have is the fact that I rarely plan things with my friends. Other friends of mine tend to be the ones doing the planning. Good idea for a thread as well, I think a lot of us can find common ground here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplos Posted February 4, 2014 #12 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I haven't had an offline friend since 1992 when I left high school. I socialize online to some extent, and that seems sufficient for me. I also talk to my immediate family semi-regularly. I'm 39 and divorced for quite a while now with no intentions of ever dating or getting married again. I don't feel any great hunger for close friends or even people to go out and do stuff with. I would have absolutely no clue how to get any if I did want to anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Crane Feather Posted February 4, 2014 #13 Share Posted February 4, 2014 It's true we need people. Rrrrrrrr I hate admit it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XenoFish Posted February 5, 2014 #14 Share Posted February 5, 2014 (edited) If I could be a hermit I would. I'm not fond of people. Not that I hate them. I'd rather be alone, to myself. If my wife passes before me I will, though I'll talk to my kids often.Yet live a very quiet life. A social life isn't for everyone. Edited February 5, 2014 by XenoFish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little_dreamer Posted February 5, 2014 #15 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I haven't had an offline friend since 1992 when I left high school. I socialize online to some extent, and that seems sufficient for me. I also talk to my immediate family semi-regularly. I'm 39 and divorced for quite a while now with no intentions of ever dating or getting married again. I don't feel any great hunger for close friends or even people to go out and do stuff with. I would have absolutely no clue how to get any if I did want to anyway. There is probably nothing wrong with you. There are just different degrees of introversion vs. extroversion. My own problem is that I get tired and worn out easily. I need time alone with peace and quiet to recuperate, with lots of sleep. The bad thing about friendship is that it comes and goes. I have been leaning on myself more than friends lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SereneScene Posted February 5, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted February 5, 2014 (edited) Interesting responses, like I said I am an introvert through and through, I would rather sit with 4 friends at a table and some beers rather than be at a house party with 20+ people, I hate clubs, If I am around people constantly all day it gets tiring. I absolutly love to be alone on certain days, just me and my thoughts, listen to some music, do some research, cook, whatever it may be but I find that I am needing less of that and want more of the people. As much as I am used to being alone it is taking its toll, I need people to be around, even being alone gets tiring. Sometimes I sit alone and get sad because I have no one to call and hang out with, the odd thing is that most people seem to like and enjoy my company, I am not sure what is missing on part though, I feel like perhaps I put up a wall or something but its hard to pinpoint my actual problem. Overall its a work in progess, I am 24 so I have time ahead or me, I'd be really worried if I was 40 and in this spot. Edited February 5, 2014 by SereneScene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SereneScene Posted February 9, 2014 Author #17 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Wow so I just saw a particular movie for the first time and it reminded me of this thread. Its a little movie you may have heard of; The Taxi Driver. Now the main character just came back from vietnam and he is obviously in a world of filth and crime but I found it interesting that he had little to no friends, he tried to get a girlfriend and failed miserably, when he tried to talk to someone he just could not explain himself and let out his feelings. Its obvious the man turned insane but how much of his insanity is a result of him being lonely? Its hard not to empathize with him in some aspects. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyche101 Posted February 13, 2014 #18 Share Posted February 13, 2014 I am not sure one "needs" others, but it sure is nice. This clip sums it up nicely I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakari Posted February 13, 2014 #19 Share Posted February 13, 2014 There are plenty of people who would rather be alone most of the time. A lot of them live out in the woods, away from others. I enjoyed it in Oregon a lot. Look up Mick Dodge, he is a loner...... I hate people....( most ).Put me with a pack of Dogs or Wolves, and in a cabin next to a river, on the PNW coast, and I will be very happy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayno Posted February 13, 2014 #20 Share Posted February 13, 2014 Being introverted means you appreciate intimate contact versus heavy social contact.. So being left alone by your own choice doesn't necessarily mean you hate people. Some people just have their energy drained the presence of others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakari Posted February 13, 2014 #21 Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) So being left alone by your own choice doesn't necessarily mean you hate people. No, I hate people. I have a lot of friends, but going to the store, turning on the TV, seeing how people act now....I hate them. Selfish, greedy, rude, lazy, no respect, only care about themselves and how high up the totem pole they appear in society, the way they talk.....Killing our resources with out any thought at all....Society has fallen beyond repair. I know this is not everyone, but it is the majority. I really do think we need a plague.. Edited February 13, 2014 by Sakari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astral Hillbilly Posted February 13, 2014 #22 Share Posted February 13, 2014 We are social creatures if people want to believe it or not. Alone time is good of course but we do need each other I believe, we are designed that way One could argue that social interaction is just a stimulus. If a person has a way to stimulate their lives without involving social interaction with other people, you can still live a fulfilled life. I guess that's why some guys can live in the wilderness, hunt for their own food, not have much social interaction, and love it ! I'm too spoiled by conveniences to do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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