> In an earlier time, Alan could have found many friends among his community. There have always been loners and misfits and "stay away from that house, kids",

> In an earlier time, Alan could have found many friends among his community. There have always been loners and misfits and "stay away from that house, kids", and always will be. You say that on the one hand, we don't have the relationships we used to, but on the other hand, with technology and travel, tons of people are forging new relationships that they otherwise wouldn't. Gay people are able to find friendly communities and move to them where in the past they couldn't risk showing themselves. I don't think it's as easy as saying it's hard to make relationships in these modern times - the picture is shifting and complex. Higher populations paradoxically offer more opportunity for anonymity, but conversely being an outcast in a small community is worse than being anonymous.