Solitude

[Lucio]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...ely?CMP=AFCYAH

I've been reading the above article and it's really made me think about how a lot of the stress in my life comes from interactions with other people. I know that as long as I had some basic form of interaction (e.g. the internet), I would quite happily live the kind of life without any regrets.

What I'm curious to find out is how many other people on Hexus would appreciate that lifestyle, or what the opposite side of things about how you define your lives by your interaction with other people, no matter how many.

[pollaxe]

Tricky one this as I'm by nature and inclination a bit of a loner.

I like my own company, I find as I'm getting older I much prefer dogs to people. That said, I also find that if I spend a lot of time alone then I become far too introspective for my own good and my thoughts often become increasingly negative.

I think I probably could live somewhere very isolated and with no-one else's company. I suspect that within a few weeks I'd probably go feral, grow an enormous beard and take potshots at any human beings who wandered near me (some say I'm more than half way there anyway.)

I think a lot of the problem lies in the kind of people you spend time with. If they irritate you (and sometimes everyone irritates me, I'm sure I'm not alone in this) then try to spend less time around them?

[dangel]

I find as I'm getting older I much prefer dogs to people.

Careful

Personally, I like a bit of both - and since I got married I have to say i'd now find it much much harder to live entirely on my own 24/7.

[schmunk]

since I got married I have to say i'd now find it much much harder to live entirely on my own 24/7.

You'd have to do your own cooking and cleaning...?

[scaryjim]

Hmmm, I'm not particularly good at being on my own. Although, having said that, I'm also not very good at hanging out with big groups. I like a bit of attention (spoilt brat younger sibling, you see ) every now and then (as in, every now *and* every then ). I've lived with minimal human contact before, but I don't think it was very good for me...

My wife's the complete opposite. She was an only child, and needs to have some space to herself on a regular basis. As a combination we make for some interesting times

[shaithis]

I drift between the two.

Sometimes I absolutely hate being alone, other times I just want to be completely left alone.

Now, I just need to figure out what the switch is!!

[Nick]

Absolutely NOT wanting to cause any offence but... isn't this an oxymoron thread?

"People stress me out, I reckon I can get by without them.... I'm interested in what everyone else thinks about that"

And as a bonus, I guess my post makes Lucio's post about people stressing him a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[Lee H]

I sort of bounce between the 2 in a severe way.

There was months where as soon as I got in from work, I'd ring a few mates, organise a gathering and get to my friends house for 7pm and stay out until 1-2 am each night with at least 3-6 of us at his house all the time.

Then theres been the times where I can't even be bothered to see anyone at all. I would not bother with organising something and I would just sign off MSN and other IM systems and just have a quiet night at home without any mithering and have my feet up watching TV etc.

Saying that, now Hayden's arrived, I've found I'm staying in all the time and just can't muster the energy to get off my bum and go out anywhere.

[dangel]

You'd have to do your own cooking and cleaning...?

Oh god no - i'd get a maid. Mexican obviously.

[Salazaar]

I certainly need plenty of alone time. Too much time in company kind of stresses me after a while; it's nice to just be able to ignore everyone else for a while and just get on with your own thing.

That said, I'm not so sure I could live my whole life like that.

[pollaxe]

Careful

Obviously my sexual preference remains goats and always will.

[jim]

I certainly need plenty of alone time. Too much time in company kind of stresses me after a while; it's nice to just be able to ignore everyone else for a while and just get on with your own thing.

That said, I'm not so sure I could live my whole life like that.

I'd go along with that - I enjoy having company, and someone to talk to, but constantly being in company makes me want to chill out more and more until I just give up and sod off...

Interestingly though, I tend to find forums and even online gaming with voice comms fairly relaxing... for some reason I don't find online social stuff stressful, or at least since I stopped trying to be somebody on an old forum I used to frequent anyway

[Salazaar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdYLmzxMlxY

[matty-hodgson]

Hmmm.. I'm sort of in the middle. I definitely don't want a family, and that definitely will not change, I just can't stand the constant ball-ache.

I'd quite happily live with my girlfriend though, if I could afford to. But going on my mock exam results for my A2s, I might as well just leave VI form and get a job, that way I can move out and don't have to put up with all the **** I get at home anymore.

But if it was either "totally socialite" or "loner". I'd go for "loner".

[WhiteGiant]

Only child here, so being alone is fine by me. Much more than a fortnight without speaking to anyone I know (friends/family) and I tend to go a little crazy.

I can happily do a week without seeing another human being. Would be especially great if those people were my housemates, but thats another story.

[Dingo]

What are "other" people?