Why are there so many socially awkward people today?

When you are learning to drive you are highly likely to be somewhat anxious.

If you let that limit the amount of driving you do, that anxiety won't ever go away. If you challenge yourself and confront the anxiety your driving improves and anxiety fades.

Same goes for just about everything.
Avoid the things making you anxious and the anxiety won't ever improve.
Get out there, interact, live life. Get into evening classes, sports clubs - anything that gets you out and about.

I've no idea if there are more socially awkward people today than yesteryear, but I'd point to the existence of men's sheds to say that its been a problem in the past. And anecdotally, the number of aging single men who I saw propping up bars from childhood

In some ways, the internet has helped where you can chat to people with similar interests online. In other cases, it can lead to further social isolation

And then there are happy introverts such as myself. Some people just enjoy their own company, others have to be around people at all times.

Screw Attack wrote: »

Cocooning.

Googled it, very good term

It's definitely an interesting topic. Some aspects of life thst have changed also I feel and contribute to this, it's more OK to not marry. We live longer now so more time to be alone if older, more time to sort of become more or what you naturally are, so if you are more likely to isolate, we'll you ve extra years to do so now.
I feel the Internet definietly changed dating, people possibly less brave now when there is the option to save face, don't risk asking that person out in work or at the gym where people k ow you, it's safer to go ask someone out on net where no one k ows you or them or if you've been out. But maybe less likely to actually work out than asking somene out you know you like already. So less relationships working.
It's also not too long ago women couldn't get a mortgage or generally have a job that could see them buy a house, this has changed, women don't need to marry a wealthy partner. They can have many benefits that were once only there if they married. If you get married now age early 20a people might see it as risky compared to my parents generation. So more people alone.
I think we're more aware now of social issues such as isolation and socially awkward people. They'd just call you odd maybe back in the day.
People can retreat to the net and say they ve pals, before they couldn't.
Personally I found the Internet great for my interests in cars. Growing up my pals all loved football, I d very little interest, so when the Internet came along I could talk to others about cars, I could also find groups of people who just met up parked their car and chatted, the Internet facilitied me finding these groups but also the formation of these groups.
I heard it said that men can find it hard now to find their role in society, they aren't the dominant ones so much, the provider so much, and while I think it's great we moved on from women having to give up jobs once married, change usually has positives and negatives. Be they large or small. A bit like how in ww2 it is said British people ate very healthy. They ry might not have been very happy with rationing and lack of choice but they actually ate better.

I've a new flatmate in who I work with, he's 25, nearly 26 and I'm 31. He's only been in a short time but it's apparent he gets home, cooks something and goes into his room, eats it in bed and watches YouTube/plays computer games.

It's early days yet but he's definitely cocooning, he said when he moved in he needed to be more social but he hasn't made any steps towards this that I've seen. He's only lived away for a year or so before and has spent the rest of his time living at home. I think that's stunted him and limited his development, he hasn't lived with different people and dealt with social interactions enough.

He talks about anxiety and things but I think a large part of this is he hasn't kicked on and still largely lives as a teenager would. I'll try my best with him but I don't want to lecture him and loose patience with him either. I told him to get out and about and do yoga, gym, whatever he is interested in but he didn't respond well to that or see the point. I asked him what he was interested in or excited about but he said when he watches an episode of anime and looks forward to the next one - clearly missing the point.

TuringBot47 wrote: »

Well, mainly in rural locations I imagine.
Also people had large families a generation ago, that definitely helped create wide social circles.

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I even think in urban locations mass would have being a big enough thing in the past and it would have involved a lot of social interaction.

mr_fegelien wrote: »

I would be one myself. No friends, no girlfriend. Pretty much regarding social interaction since 6th class 11 years ago. It seems to afflict males more than females.

I think the internet made people less connected. I spent nearly all of my life on my computer locked inside. That and being an only child contributed to this.

Or perhaps it's genetic. Some are just more introverted.

Social skills are skills to be learned, like any other. So, as someone else has already said, get out more and develop them.

tylercheribini wrote: »

So much of conversation is vacous nonsense(eg the weather)just for the sake of talking. The dreaded trapped-with-a-stranger-on-public transport jibber jabber is excruciating.

This can be true, but hearing it allows you to filter what is "good" conversation and what is "bad".