I've recently started opening up to more people about this in my personal life. Like many others on here, I've worked remote now since March 2020, and the lack of interpersonal interaction with others during my work days has taken a great personal toll. I still go out with my significant other and see other people as well when we go out, but I've found it really hard to get meaning out of work when I don't see people. That, coupled with a move to a new city (to be closer to outdoor activities), has meant that I've struggled with feelings of loneliness.<p>I think part of the problem is that admitting this type of feeling is seen as personal weakness in men but perfectly acceptable for a woman to talk about. When men say they're lonely, it's often hard to find other men to talk about it with. I know that I'll get out of it because I'm pretty extroverted, but just thought I'd give my personal (and recent) experience with what this article is talking about.
This article is interesting. I don’t think the loneliness that OP is talking about here is universally bad.<p>I don’t have any close friends. I have a social media presence, but aside from Reddit (with which I only use the comments features), I don’t use those platforms at all. I’ve never been unhappy with this arrangement though; in fact, I love my time alone.<p>However, I have heaps of acquaintances (i.e. folks in my contacts list that I don’t call or see often) and am social when I go out. I know how to strike up conversation and know how to have and be a good time. I enjoy these activities, but doing without doesn’t impact me negatively unless I spend many many months not doing that.
Does this apply to people who play video games? If you play social games like MMOs you're pretty much forced to interact with others. Does that help in any way combat the issues?