"Virtual Reclusive": are you one?

Dionysus · 12-02-2010 07:42PM #1

There was a great discussion on Tubridy this morning about being a recluse; I'm just listening to it now on the RTÉ website.

In it they talked about a new type of recluse, the "virtual reclusive", those who isolate themselves from everybody but maintain a connection with an online community. They were also talking about the motivations for people to become reclusive. (Michael Harding, a self confessed recluse, is great and very funny in this discussion)

I'd say there's a fair slew of people here like that. Are you one of them, and why have you rejected the rest of people? (they were saying a lot of reclusive people are so because they fear rejection)

12-02-2010 07:47PM

Working 12 hour shifts on my own away from home does wonders for my social life.

I virtually live here.

GLaDOS · 12-02-2010 07:50PM

I have a social life and girlfriend, but all my time at home tends to be spent online... so I'm not sure

My name is URL · 12-02-2010 07:51PM

I have reclusive tendencies anyway, the internet just makes it easier to deal with

DazMarz · 12-02-2010 07:52PM

I go out a lot, but mostly to play bloody cards! Or to go to football matches, or to watch them in the pub. I work a lot.

A lot of my free time at home seems to be spent in front of my laptop.

InKonspikuou2 · 12-02-2010 07:54PM

Nah there's only so much porn on the internet. I get out every now and then for a rug & tug.

ibarelycare · 12-02-2010 08:00PM

I voted "No" but I think I'm more "Kinda." I love my friends and I love going out at weekends but for me one day a week is enough to see them. They tend to see each other a good few times a week but I love just coming home and being on my own and I spend a lot of time in the evenings online.

wylo · 12-02-2010 08:01PM

im one, ive good friends and go out every weekend, but my life is spent on the net from monday to friday, I love my own company too much, but on saying that I would go crazy if I didnt have people to head out with at the weekend.

btard · 12-02-2010 08:01PM

I heard some of the program. Michael Harding was the only one who had any inkling of what he was speaking of. Even then he's just a part timer. The others were just the usual chancers who like to hear themselves speak. Anybody who can go on a national radio program like Turbidys to discuss being reclusive has no ****ing idea what they're talking about. They look at it from their own gregarious ego ridden mind sets. Pontificating about motives and implying reclusives are somehow damaged or not normal. ****ing idiots.

sceptre · 12-02-2010 08:02PM

I could tick all of the above options. Depending. Not necessarily a good thing, mind you.

InkSlinger67 · 12-02-2010 08:13PM

Any reclusive couples around? Go to http://www.reclusive-swingers.ie/yeahbaby

admiralofthefleet · 12-02-2010 08:15PM

ScienceNerd wrote: »

I have a social life and girlfriend, but all my time at home tends to be spent online

im exactly the same

jokettle · 12-02-2010 08:26PM

I spend a good bit of time online, but my social life is much more prominent. I've been too shy to go to any boards beers as yet because I don't know too many boardsies IRL; does this make me an online recluse?

TPD · 12-02-2010 08:27PM

Time at home is mostly spent online and sleeping, but if I haven't got to get up before 11am, I'll probably head out socialising the night before.

12-02-2010 08:30PM

**Sees bloodshot eyes in laptop screen reflection** :eek:

cantankerous · 12-02-2010 08:31PM

This poll is lacking a "I'm depressed/don't want to deal with life anymore" option.

It's nothing to do with feeling like damaged goods or prefering your own company. Aswell it is probably the biggest reason people become "virtual reclusives".

Columbia · 12-02-2010 08:40PM

I spend about 16 hours a day on my laptop at home. I'm a research student, so I do the majority of my work on the laptop, I spend several hours a day idly surfing, we have no tv so I watch all tv shows and sporting events online, and I download radio shows to listen to later if I'm bored. I sometimes go a couple of days without leaving my room (I keep a mini-fridge up here for food

).

That's maybe 4-5 days a week, I usually spend a couple of days with my girlfriend and one evening hanging out with the guys, but that's all I'm really interested in doing.

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 12-02-2010 08:44PM

Social life ain't great at the moment because there's no one around. Everyone's either shacked up or abroad, I get out on Saturday usually through till Monday morning but the rest of the week is ghost town.
I'm not working, but I'm studying for exams. So spending a hell of a lot of time here.

But come April ye wont see me for dust

(hopefully!)

Loopy · 12-02-2010 08:45PM

I think if I didnt have a busy family life and work full time I defo would have reclusive tendencies... I love being on my own and not talking to anyone. I have made some good mates on boards so that cant be a bad thing..

Abi · 12-02-2010 08:51PM

Yes, because I prefer my own company but not enough to be a true recluse

This.

I'm a bit in betweeny. In general I pretty much keep to myself, and see friends whenever I / we have anything new to report. I'm on here most nights, but during the day I'm normally too busy.

stovelid · 12-02-2010 09:06PM

Surely the hoary old myth that the majority of people on forums have no real-life interaction with others has been well kicked into touch by now.

How many times was the word "blogger" mentioned?

Wazdakka · 12-02-2010 09:06PM

Loopy wrote: »

I have made some good mates on boards so that cant be a bad thing..

Depends on the mates..

G_R · 12-02-2010 09:20PM

I'm busy all day and it night i jus like to pan out on the couch either watching tv or surfing the web. On the weekend tho, i go out, i'd go insane if i didn't have mates to go out wit on friday/saturday/sunday.....

So i'm not a recluse, but hardly have a very active social life

bonerm · 12-02-2010 09:23PM

We are so distracted by the loud, showy, brash people of this world who demand (& usually get) our attention that we often don't realise that there is an entire of subculture of people out there quietly hiding in the shadows .... some by choice others by circumstance.

My own ambition is to make enough money so that I can finally get away from everyone. I'm almost there too. I've felt this way for a number of years now and the feeling continues to grow rather than diminish.

Earthhorse · 12-02-2010 09:25PM

I hate other people.

Wazdakka · 12-02-2010 09:31PM

bonerm wrote: »

My own ambition is to make enough money so that I can finally get away from everyone. I'm almost there too. I've felt this way for a number of years now and the feeling continues to grow rather than diminish.

Everybody needs a friend

bonerm · 12-02-2010 09:34PM

Wazdakka wrote: »

Everybody needs a friend

First thing I plan to buy! Althought I've heard he's let fame go to his head of late.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1012434/board

Scarydoll · 12-02-2010 09:41PM

The poll needs more options. There are loads of reasons why people are reclusive.
I'd say I'm a bit of a recluse. I'm socially awkward to the point of it being painfull. So I tend to be online alot.

brummytom · 12-02-2010 09:42PM

I'm sort of an inbetween. I hate people, so I like my own company a lot (don't be dirty); but I do go out a fair bit too.. so, yeah I'm not sure

Ban Ki Moon · 12-02-2010 09:47PM

Poor list of options in that poll

Latchy · 12-02-2010 09:55PM

I like my own company as much as being with others and I meet up with some friends every other wednesday , saturday , sunday or whenever some function or other is going on but usually on here most nights at some time

"Virtual Reclusive": are you one?

Are you a "virtual recluse"? 103 votes

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