How Loneliness is Contagious

So, friendliness and trust should also be contagious, as the proverbial smile.<p>Co-operating with someone to achieve something worthwhile - whether productively, as in work; or pleasantly, as in play - is a good building block.

Maybe there could be a social network tuned for the lonely. One that helps them become unlonely by fostering real-life relationships and that isn't overtly remedial. I don't know how this would be executed though. How does an online service push people into socializing offline? (Yes, I'm one of those crazy Luddites who thinks there is no substitute for personal, face-to-face interaction.)

I wonder how this relates to cocooning:<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocooning" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocooning</a><p><a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4207/is_19950305/ai_n10187700/" rel="nofollow">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4207/is_19950305/ai_...</a><p><a href="http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/workforce-management/125828-1.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/workforce-managem...</a>

I've often been alone but never felt lonely, I guess this video kind of sums up my thoughts. "How to be alone" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7X7sZzSXYs" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7X7sZzSXYs</a>

1. If this is true, whatever mechanism the loneliness uses to spread is probably also the cue for some people to disengage. You know, when things get kinda rough and you talk to people, they sort of pull back a little, as if you don't have as much to offer. They somehow know something's up...probably from a slew of very subtle nonverbal cues.<p>2. I've often felt that Facebook creates more loneliness because it encourages a sort of fake, communal happiness. People generally want to put their best foot forward since their thoughts are broadcast immediately to everyone. And if someone deviates from this often enough they're shunned. I really don't know what the solution is, other than to not use Facebook. It's almost like FB has a spiritual 'cost' associated with it.

It depends what prompts the feeling of 'loneliness' and how people interpret it. From what the article seems to say is that it was a self reported metric of '# of days I felt "lonely" in the last week'. They found that those close to those feeling lonely were loney as well.<p>If we interpret loneliness as an expected social interaction that doesn't take place -- then of course if one person refused to reciprocate or contact their friend, neighbour, or family member that other person will feel lonely, perhaps rejected in some way. So that's the "expected a social interaction that didn't take place" if then that person refuses to engage in social interactions then it turns into a sort of a network effect.

So basically what is the message in this article?<p>"Avoid lonely people."<p>Pervertedly ironic.

I depend on trying to keep up with you guys, to keep from feeling lonely. Pathetic, I know.