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I think that people these days are not as comfortable with being on their own as they were years ago. I grew up in the 1970s and 80s and as we weren't continua

I think that people these days are not as comfortable with being on their own as they were years ago. I grew up in the 1970s and 80s and as we weren't continually interconnected with everyone else we spent a fair amount on time on our own. You became accustomed to planning ahead, travelling on your own to meet your friends with no communication, if they weren't there you either went home again or tried someone else's house. There were also, I think, more people into hobbies such as stamp collecting and model making. They were fairly solitary for much of the time. I've nothing scientific behind this but it seems to fit with what I see, we don't feel lonely and lost if we don't have continual stimulation.

Santosh83 9y ago
Very true, as someone who grew up in the 80s and mid-90s, we usually met "friends" for an hour or so in a day and the rest of it was spent with solitary pursuits and perhaps with family. These days we're "connected" 24x7 thanks to the Net and particularly mobile. Almost everything we do is either over these mediums or at least shared on them, commented upon, collaborated and so on. Individual activities like gardening, woodworking, philately, reading a book, birdwatching, stargazing, painting and so on are either increasingly waning or being substituted by their "online" and "connected" doppelgängers.
- thirdsun 9y ago
  > Very true, as someone who grew up in the 80s and mid-90s, we usually met "friends" for an hour or so in a day and the rest of it was spent with solitary pursuits and perhaps with family. These days we're "connected" 24x7 thanks to the Net and particularly mobile. Almost everything we do is either over these mediums or at least shared on them, commented upon, collaborated and so on. Yes, and on the other hand it sometimes feels as if this leads to social fatigue. Meeting someone face to face sure felt different and more...worthwhile (for lack of a better term) growing up in the 90s, when it was the only way to keep in touch with friends. Compare this to today where social gatherings are preceded, surrounded and accompanied by constant, always and immediately available, often lesser ways of communicating - whether it's social networks, group chats, messages. Of course I don't want to paint a pure black picture - I enjoy those options as much as the next guy, but it comes with side effects I guess.
- tdb7893 9y ago
  I've met many people in their early twenties who probably would love to see friends for an hour a day. I think if people were hanging out with friends for an hour a day they wouldn't have this problem

Santosh83 9y ago

Very true, as someone who grew up in the 80s and mid-90s, we usually met "friends" for an hour or so in a day and the rest of it was spent with solitary pursuits and perhaps with family. These days we're "connected" 24x7 thanks to the Net and particularly mobile. Almost everything we do is either over these mediums or at least shared on them, commented upon, collaborated and so on. Individual activities like gardening, woodworking, philately, reading a book, birdwatching, stargazing, painting and so on are either increasingly waning or being substituted by their "online" and "connected" doppelgängers.

thirdsun 9y ago
> Very true, as someone who grew up in the 80s and mid-90s, we usually met "friends" for an hour or so in a day and the rest of it was spent with solitary pursuits and perhaps with family. These days we're "connected" 24x7 thanks to the Net and particularly mobile. Almost everything we do is either over these mediums or at least shared on them, commented upon, collaborated and so on. Yes, and on the other hand it sometimes feels as if this leads to social fatigue. Meeting someone face to face sure felt different and more...worthwhile (for lack of a better term) growing up in the 90s, when it was the only way to keep in touch with friends. Compare this to today where social gatherings are preceded, surrounded and accompanied by constant, always and immediately available, often lesser ways of communicating - whether it's social networks, group chats, messages. Of course I don't want to paint a pure black picture - I enjoy those options as much as the next guy, but it comes with side effects I guess.
tdb7893 9y ago
I've met many people in their early twenties who probably would love to see friends for an hour a day. I think if people were hanging out with friends for an hour a day they wouldn't have this problem