People are feeling lonlier and more isolated in todays society.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4270584/One-eight-people-say-no-close-friends.html

It doesn't surprise me. Many elderly people are lonely and alone, many younger people spend more time interacting on social media rather than mixing and meeting people in real life.
New research shows that one person in every eight don't have a good friend....that's sad, everyone needs at least one good friend.

"Loneliness is on the rise, with more than one in eight adults saying they do not have a close friend – an increase on previous years, according to new research. 
Almost seven million people in the UK do not have someone they can rely on, Charities Relate and Relationships Scotland say.
Relate said it was concerned that increased dependence on social media, lack of work/life balance and the pressures of bringing up children could be affecting people's friendships."

I know a couple of people who have no friends and this isn't because they're social outcasts it's because they don't feel the need. I also think men tend to suffer, especially those that work long hours so have no social life.

I think for some reason, the older you get, the more you don't tend to tolerate nonversations - so making friends seems like an effort. If you still have friends from childhood then you're lucky.

I think you make a good point Eddie, the friends I have I have had for many years. Unless you are still working, or joining new clubs, I think it must be hard to make new friends as you get older.

Friendship takes effort, to have a good friend you have to be a good friend, I guess many people just can't be bothered.

I also think it is true that in large cities you are more alone. I had fiends and family in Sydney but only because I grew up there, I can imagine it would be pretty hard to make connections if you just moved there.

Down here in Tarago it is a lot easier since being a town of a few hundred people, everyone sort of knows every one and when I suggested that I wanted to be part of the 'town culture' (and particularly when I became a permanent resident) people have gone out of their way to 'look after me' and make me feel welcome.

That's true actually Veya. I love in a kind of modern village and everyone knows everyone. I've only been here nearly two years and know so many people already.

Syl wrote:I think you make a good point Eddie, the friends I have I have had for many years. Unless you are still working, or joining new clubs, I think it must be hard to make new friends as you get older.

Friendship takes effort, to have a good friend you have to  be a good friend, I guess many people just can't be bothered.

I agree but I think a lot of people don't know how to be either. Consumerism has trained people to be selfish and self absorbed.

veya_victaous wrote:I also think it  is true that in large cities you are more alone. I had fiends and family in Sydney but only because I grew up there, I can imagine it would be pretty hard to make connections if you just moved there.

Down here in Tarago it is a lot easier since being a town of a few hundred people, everyone sort of knows every one and when I suggested that I wanted to be part of the 'town culture' (and particularly when I became a permanent resident) people have gone out of their way to 'look after me' and make me feel welcome.

why does that NOT surprise me???

veya_victaous wrote:

Syl wrote:I think you make a good point Eddie, the friends I have I have had for many years. Unless you are still working, or joining new clubs, I think it must be hard to make new friends as you get older.

Friendship takes effort, to have a good friend you have to  be a good friend, I guess many people just can't be bothered.

I agree but I think a lot of people don't know how to be either. Consumerism has trained people to be selfish and self absorbed.

It's true that society has changed,, many people don't even know their next door neighbours now.
Most people drive, so they have less chance of meeting their neighbours, houses are separated by walls and fences, where I grew up there were streets of terraced houses, so you were living in close proximity to people, far more than most people do nowadays.

I think it depends on whether one is open and receptive to new people. If you behave this way you will draw people to you.

[quote="Syl"]

veya_victaous wrote:

I agree but I think a lot of people don't know how to be either. Consumerism has trained people to be selfish and self absorbed.

It's true that society has changed,, many people don't even know their next door neighbours now.
Most people drive, so they have less chance of meeting their neighbours, houses are separated by walls and fences, where I grew up there were streets of terraced houses, so you were living in close proximity to people, far more than most people do nowadays.[/quote

I live out in the sticks surrounded by woodland and fields with my two nearest neighbours each about a quarter of a mile away.

On one side is a mad German widow who smokes like a chimney and has a dog that would scare the shit out of the hound of the Baskervilles.

On the other is the widow of a judge who, I swear to God, still believes that poachers should be transported to the colonies and that sheep rustlers should be hanged on the village green.

Frankly, m'dear, I wouldn't want to know my next door neighbours!

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Syl wrote:

It's true that society has changed,, many people don't even know their next door neighbours now.
Most people drive, so they have less chance of meeting their neighbours, houses are separated by walls and fences, where I grew up there were streets of terraced houses, so you were living in close proximity to people, far more than most people do nowadays.[/quote

I live out in the sticks surrounded by woodland and fields with my two nearest neighbours each about a quarter of a mile away.

On one side is a mad German widow who smokes like a chimney and has a dog that would scare the shit out of the hound of the Baskervilles.

On the other is the widow of a judge who, I swear to God, still believes that poachers should be transported to the colonies and that sheep rustlers should be hanged on the village green.

Frankly, m'dear, I wouldn't want to know my next door neighbours!

eddie wrote:I think it depends on whether one is open and receptive to new people. If you behave this way you will draw people to you.

I think that's a simplistic way of looking at it.

There are many people who would like friends, but they don't find it easy to make them, maybe through shyness, or disabilities, age, remoteness....lots of reasons.

Syl wrote:

eddie wrote:I think it depends on whether one is open and receptive to new people. If you behave this way you will draw people to you.

I think that's a simplistic way of looking at it.

There are many people who would like friends, but they don't find it easy to make them, maybe through shyness, or disabilities, age, remoteness....lots of reasons.

Yes of course, which is why the internet may be a Godsend to them for all sorts of reasons.

eddie wrote:

Syl wrote:

I think that's a simplistic way of looking at it.

There are many people who would like friends, but they don't find it easy to make them, maybe through shyness, or disabilities, age, remoteness....lots of reasons.

Yes of course, which is why the internet may be a Godsend to them for all sorts of reasons.

Definitely.....it should be an added addition to life though, not a replacement for human contact.

When I read last week (i posted it in a thread somewhere) that an elderly lady went to the hairdressers every week because it was the only time anyone ever touched her.....and today that one person In eight has no close friend, it brings home that there are millions of lonely isolated people in the UK.