Are we becoming more lonely in today's world?

[SassySnivy]

These days, if you start talking to a stranger in person, they think you're crazy.

I have a feeling a lot of it has to do with culture and demographics, but this I feel is not true. But I do also agree that there's no substitute for meeting up with someone in-person...but that's just me and you. Different strokes for different folks.

I'd like to kinda share an experience or two with you guys, if you don't mind the read.

I've met a lot of really cool people at the Six Flags near where I live. I knew none of these people before, but once we became acquainted that day I did stay in contact with them afterwards. For a little while, anyway.
Both times this happened, I was in the park by myself. The second occurrence is the one I remember the best, though.
I was standing in line for a roller coaster and this teenage boy and teenage girl mentioned something to me--probably something about my shirt or something--and we just kinda started a conversation from there. I was alone, so they asked me if I'd like to hang out with them until everyone had to go home.

They seemed really friendly, so I agreed to hang with and get to know them better. Some people would probably think I'm crazy for doing this because it could have been a trap...and it really could have been. However, I personally feel that if you worry that every stranger out there is trying to get you, what's the fun in life? Sure there are crazy people, but there are much more nice and genuine people out there than what's cracked up to be. (You still need to be cautious, but not everyone is out to get you....)

Anyways, we rode some more rides, talked, laughed, and overall had a good time. I didn't mind being the third wheel in this case. At all. It was a lot of fun. Before we all went our separate ways I bought us all waffle cones. What I thought would just be a typical day by myself at the amusement park (I go here by myself quite often, actually) turned out to be a pretty cool day where I met some pretty cool people. I only kept in touch with them for a little while after, but that honestly doesn't bother me.

I think with the rise of technology, we have lost something important. Sometimes I will stand in an area full of people and everyone is avoiding eye contact with everyone else and staring at their phones and they honestly seem like a pack of zombies. I think we are more connected than ever, but more disconnected than ever from our surroundings and the people around us. Some people will adapt to this easily and some won't, and I think that can breed loneliness in itself.

I love this paragraph and I'd like to quote it just to emphasize how true this paragraph is. I'll admit, I'm also guilty of being one of those "zombies." However, in big crowds this is pretty normal because I tend to feel more isolated and alone when around lots of people. This isolation, however, is a wall of sorts that I put up around myself. It's brought upon myself, and that's just how I deal with crowds. I'm a very one-on-one person, so I focus a lot on small group or individual conversations. So even if I were in a big crowd, if someone were to approach me I wouldn't typically try to push them away like I am with the rest of the crowd.

So I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I might disagree with Sarah's first point in her post, but in no way can I speak for the rest of us. x] It's all dependent on who you're asking. I've gotta say, though, that this has been a pretty interesting discussion so far.

[Corey]

These days, if you start talking to a stranger in person, they think you're crazy. I almost feel like the world has gotten too big. Now that we have access to every corner of it, most people don't bother getting to know the people around them. I have never said a word to my neighbours, for example. There is so much fear and distrust in the world, it's very sad.

...isn't this just like the plot of Gates to Infinity?!

I guess the world is going to end. It was nice knowing you guys. :(

But really, living in the American south, small talk, so-called "southern hospitality" is a big part of social interactions. Honestly, I really hate small talk, and would be 100% happy if I never had to make eye contact or make small talk with strangers again (southern people are also often hateful and bigoted, don't let them fool u).

You sound like my grandma when you talk about social media, though. ;p

[Ganyu]

I love the arguments brought up by both sides. Very insightful and thought-provoking to read, especially when each argument is shaped by personal experiences and definitions. Also, the world has to end somehow sometime xD Lame jokes aside~

IMHO technology, being a tool, can give rise both positive and negative implications

It can be argued however that in smaller demographics, social media may not exert much of a negative influence. While one can easily form true connections (ignoring the fact that how true the relationship can be is debatable, because it could easily be a fraud or a poser) on small online communities, the same may not apply to larger ones. Personally I love smaller forums like PXR compared to bigger ones like PokeCommunity or Serebii because it's more lonely to be in a crowd, online or offline. Additionally, being able to communicate with people from other countries alone doesn't directly translate to being connected per se, since timezones sadly exist. Speaking from experience, if you're from an uncommon timezone, you might feel alone seeing that you're the only one from your side of the planet online. Real-time conversations are not as close since you and the other person might miss each other. So yeah, while it's great to be able to make many friends on social media, sometimes you might not always be able to talk to them as often as you'd like.

Another strong contention is the facade people put on when online. Are people really behaving as they do away from the screen? Social media platforms like Youtube, FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, etc usually show only the positive stuff of the person. Most people, if not all, wouldn't upload content that reveal their flaws. People can post things just for the sake of 'likes' and instant gratification. But nobody else can tell if they're being genuine, especially if the acting is brillant (and given that the average IQ of such users is not quite high). I know a few schoolmates who have such starkly differing online and offline lives that I can be shocked on occasions that the persona I see online isn't like the one I see in school. This makes me question. Are people perpetuating their own loneliness, by not being themselves?

From my personal standpoint, social media can easily diminish one's loneliness as much as amplify it. It depends on how it's being used and of course, each individual's definition of loneliness.