One In Ten People Have No Friends ...

[naomi24]

... according to a new poll.  Two thirds of adults want to make more and a quarter are lonely.   Younger people have more friends.  A fifth of adults say they suffer from social anxiety and find small talk difficult.  Do you recognise yourself in that lot?

[naomi24]

I mean apart from AB - something specific that you might be interested in.

[nicebloke1]

13.23 thanks! A thousand people polled out of 69 million. Well it dont prove much to me I'm afraid.

[Barsel]

Ha ha very funny Naomi. You know I spent most of my time on here back in the day, but nearly all the ones I got on well with either left with a grievance or passed away.

I still look in most days though and join in anything that interests me.

 

[douglas9401]

This thread has cleared up a couple of things for me and cemented my position at the same time.

[Barsel]

Naomi, sent that before I saw your post @ 13.37.

[naomi24]

If the content here fails your exacting standards, nicebloke1,  you have the option to drop out of this little bit of natter and nonsense.

[Barsel]

Just to add this is the only forum I've ever wanted to belong to.

[naomi24]

I was thinking of something more specific, Barsel.  For example I wonder if there are any book club type forums you could join?

[Canary42]

Sorry to hear aout the knee Barsel, the fear of a fall is inhibitting, I've taken a couple of tumbles, both on grass fortunately so no damage done.   I do have a dodgy heart and sometimes worry about this when I'm out, but so far four different meds keep me going.

[douglas9401]

Some at that's the way to stagnation, Barsel.

Free your mind and yourself by making a break for the border while you still can.

Going to be one mod per civilian here soon. 😁

[ToraToraTora]

It's an old saying but you are lucky if you can count your real friends on the fingers of one hand. I laugh when people say I have 100s of friends in twitface etc.  Well see how many will come and pick you up in the middle of the night in a thunderstorm!

[naomi24]

I would go along with that assessment, TTT.

[Barsel]

Naomi, I don't read books or watch TV in my living room.

I'm on my computer most of the day and watch any TV programmes on there that I find interesting.

Keep on taking the tablets Canary. Take care and look after yourself.

Would that be the Scottish border I should head for?

TTT..... and how many will come to your funeral?

I've changed my arrangements for my funeral where there isn't one if you know what I mean. I know I won't know about it 'cos I'll be dead, but I wouldn't want to have a poor turn out.

[Barsel]

Would that be the Scottish border I should head for?

That was for Doug.

[ToraToraTora]

barsel: "TTT..... and how many will come to your funeral?" - if that's a dig spell it out.

[sandyRoe]

I like to think I have friends here on AB.  If I discovered they were AI bots I'd be devastated.

[pastafreak]

Since retiring almost 5 years ago, I've lost contact with people. One lady has moved, another lost her husband and stopped answering emails. Another younger woman who works has very unsociable hours. I saw her last summer and we left off she'd contact me as she was going away for several weeks. She didn't. Next I bumped into her in a shop one day when I had bad back pain. Neither of us said anything about meeting up. I've often just let friendships lapse...bad, I know. Finally I have another friend who I have lunch with...usually during term breaks. She's a very busy retiree who does a lot of volunteering. I'm really not all that sociable, I understand social anxiety...so I often feel desperately lonely. I don't tell anyone about it either...I don't want my daughter or brother worrying. I used to make frequent trips into town to just be around people, but my uncomfortable knees stop me. And I've become so lazy. So only 1 or 2 trips out. It will be worse come winter.

So I go on some other forums and have faceless conversations. 

[youngmafbog]

We are all your friends Sandy.  Well most of us I'm sure.

I only have a handful of friends, some I dont speak to physically for long perids of time but I know they would be there if I needed them and I sure they know the reverse.

And no one will be at my funeral - not having one.

[youngmafbog]

//I used to make frequent trips into town to just be around peopl//

I cant think of anything worse, I hate people and Town here is becoming too dangerous.

[pastafreak]

I don't drive youngmafbog, so I don't have too much choice where to go. My town is OK in daylight...in fact probably safer than 15-20 years ago.