from Hacker News

Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation [pdf] (2023)

by sturza on 2/24/25, 11:58 AM with 19 comments

• by rcarr on 2/24/25, 3:47 PM

  I've spent the last year or so immersing myself in the improv scene of a major city and I am convinced that in 50 years time people will look at a weekly improv session as being essential to your mental health in the same way going to the gym or participating in an activity is essential to your physical health. One person I met who is training to be a psychologist is even questioning whether traditional therapy is the best strategy for a lot of disorders because the results they are seeing people getting from improv are so astounding. It brings people of all age brackets together in a way I have never seen any other activity do before - it is a true community builder. I strongly urge anyone suffering from loneliness, depression or anxiety to seek out their nearest school and give it a go or if there's nothing nearby then seeing if you can take a couple of weeks out to do a summer intensive in a big city.

• by TriangleEdge on 2/24/25, 4:29 PM

  I struggle to define what community is. Some years ago, I went to Las Vegas to watch some performances, and to this day, I think Las Vegas is the most social and most lonely place I've ever been. There's people everywhere and no one is interacting in any meaningful way.

  My belief is that to make friends and build connections, one of the only ways is to solve problems or face adversity together. Adversity meaning: "How do I do this bouldering route? It's so tricky.", etc. I see people pointing at social media, but I don't think this is the issue. I think the issue is that life is boring; most problems are solved. There's nothing to talk about. Why go learn guitar when AI can make a song for you?

• by InDubioProRubio on 2/24/25, 3:18 PM

  But this is what we wanted? It drives business to have people unhappy and shopping? It allows for the algos to divide and conquer. Why do we pretend this is not intentional? This is the expected outcome, this is wanted and not random walked towards. Divide and conquer, eat the society that brought you into existence, fade away, as societies unaffected by mind hacks take its place..

• by Kalanos on 2/24/25, 3:37 PM

  I really like this surgeon general. Hope he doesn't get axed.

  He is also taking a stance on alcohol in relation to hormonally driven tumor development.

• by johnea on 2/24/25, 11:32 PM

  "Our" epidemic?

  I hate these phrasings "Our", "We"... It almost never applies to me (which is a requirement to create a We), and it certainly doesn't in this case.

  I get cranky if I have to spend too much time around other people.

  Being happily alone is one of my greatest joys.

  Of course, I didn't take ritlin from age 5 either, so maybe that helps.

  Not sure what the author is talking about...

• by kelseyfrog on 2/24/25, 3:48 PM

  > Consider the opportunities and challenges posed by flexible work hours and arrangements (including remote, hybrid, and in-person work), which may impact workers’ abilities to connect with others both within and outside of work.

  Yuck. I don't want a RTO mandate based on the paternalistic mindset that it's good for me because I'll make more friends. I have plenty of friends, and even if I didn't, it's simply not their place to try and "help". Disgusting.