this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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I think it has more to do with concrete changes to how people socialize over the past 15 years, namely smartphones and the internet. People seek community through the internet but are functionally isolating themselves, and as irl relationships fade or never happen, they stay online more, which becomes a positive feedback loop. They develop social anxieties only because they have no experience with or are not used to socializing irl
My take : society needs to adapt to the status of women. We went from a society where women could only get a life through marriage to a society where they have to work and don't need to be married. This changes how men and women interact together, and we need to invent new ways around romance and dating.
The internet was able to trick people into thinking they were socializing when they were actually alone in their room all day.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. I was a shut in once and started going out. I’m still not good at it, but I’m getting better. I can’t go back to being a shut in. I need my in person socialization on a regular basis.
You saw that you were in plato's cave. But the majority of people either just haven't figured out that online socializing is an illusion or they aren't self aware enough to ever figure it out.
It isn’t necessarily an illusion. I have very real friendships thanks to the internet, but it’s insufficient on its own and lacks key components that your brain needs. It’s like junk food, you may feel like you’re getting everything, and it may be giving you some of what you need, maybe even in over abundance. But it needs to be part instead of most of all.
And yeah I talk about this openly for a reason. For those feeling alienated and isolated, there is hope and it starts by going to things and standing awkwardly in the corner until you either work up the courage to talk to someone or someone talks to you. And you just keep doing it.
I need to do this more.
Yeah you should. Massive benefits. I got friends and a wife out of it
And good on you. I am glad you were able to break out of your depressive spiral.