My loneliness is killing me

Something that sums up the personalities of Irish people for me is a) the suicide rate of young males and b) that article about how endemic sledging was towards family and friends of suicide victims in GAA matches. Also the undercurrent of bigotry towards CoI or people of any background other than good parish stock, although maybe that's getting better.

Anecdotally, I've also had more than one young lad confide in me back when I used to go out about mental turmoil they were having and I was thinking internally "why don't they talk to their friends about this?" Probably because I'm quiet and look a bit sensible. How stunted are Irish people?

Great at the aul attention seeking are the Irish. Like the chap with the head like a slab of boiled ham at the World Cup who rudely interrupted a fan's interview to roar "Je suis baggette", but little of substance a lot of the time.

Worked in an all male industry that became more mixed over many years.

For sure men are as bad as women, but it just tends to be a bit more open. Women are another level. They could hate each other but still be sending each other cards.

From my experience women / girls start the phony stuff very early. Whereas men start slower then get worse as they get older.

Men will cut the cord a lot quicker though. I dont see the point in going to the effort of a creating / maintaining a bullsh!t friendship if its not happening naturally. Personally there's nothing in that kind of nonsense for me. Not worth the effort.

I wish it wasn't weird to hug people.

I would do it more.

I think the problem is most people can't put up with themselves so need other people to distract them from their own thoughts. It's something we should be teaching at school level, how to enjoy your own company, so that if/when it happens later in life you're not left wondering what to do.

There’s also different kinds of phony stuff; the tough macho exterior that descends into the drunken blithering idiocy, would put any woman to shame.

Men Who Think Their Hard Men But Lonely.

New Thread Name. 🤔

I grew up in a small town and neighbours used to always call in to see each other at least a few times a week.

I still live in the same town and it just doesn't happen anymore.

It doesn't bother me because I like my own company but I can see how it could lead to other folks feeling left out and lonely.

Thread title reminds me of Bellow: "More Die of Heartbreak".

That was kind of commonplace. And no doubt it is a sad loss.

I know we have more openness now about mental health, but I also think a reason it is more visible is that more people have problems. Community definitely isn’t what it was 30 years ago, even 15-20, and there are bound to be consequences.

if you’re in the gutter you’ll have lots of friends……start doin well for yourself and watch the hate..

I took social media off my mobile a decade ago but a lot of people around me still seem to be deeply engrossed.

I wouldn't consider sites like this where people converse anonymously as social media, it's just a discussion forum.

My guess would be that over use of social media can make people feel that they are more alone.