One more thing to fix it as we say here!
I'd encourage everyone to just define his location on the profile page, this will help us understand the time-difference problem, and why some of us login in the morning, others in the evening, and if you don't know how to do it, please go to that link
http://www.alonelylife.com/usercp.php?action=profile

Hi mountaingirl! nice post; of course I also think that we're typing here for a reason. The main reason to me is because I can't easily tell anyone "I feel lonely". This is a good start to me, but i think it's only the first step. There's much yet to do!

Hi everyone maybe you all forgotten me cause I haven't logged in for a pretty long time....Iv'e been going thru some heavy personal issues......just want you all to know that you are precious and special and i love you all....I guess you probably think thats a crock but its not I do truely care about the hurting souls ....the world is a cold and scarey place...and we all need love and someone to care ....so please accept a hug from me and God bless you....

..... and a hug from me too. WELCOME

Hi Keeper :)
We all definitely cannot log in every day. I just skipped 3 days because I moved this weekend, and just got my computer set up again.

realandtruelove, you're so right. My theory is it's partly because we are all a bit timid about going crazy posting things or messaging people. We're not sure why we're here, whether it's a good place for us...that kind of thing.

mountaingirl, a big reason I posted this is exactly what you're saying. I think we are all here because we can help ourselves by helping eachother. The opposite of loneliness is companionship, and so helping someone else is helping both theirs and yours.

keeper is right. Rings very true with me. My loneliness is mostly a feeling of...why don't people return the same empathy I feel for them? This applies to my friends, girlfriends...I think we can reach a point where we give up on others, and then we are lonely. In that case, my view is it's not your job to jump up and help anyone, let someone come help you.

Agree completely with you, joey. We can make a community of some of us, though.

Hi patience :) *hug*

Now, for what I think we should do to start helping eachother:

- Messaging new members. Let's just set up a thread where we take turns sending a short friendly message to every new member. Then if they respond, we can sort of adopt them and get them involved :)

- It would be neat if we could have some idea where our neighbors are. truelove's suggestion to fill in our location would do that. Let's all fill in our locations, even if it's very vague, perhaps per state (in the US.)

- Chat room. Excellent idea from truelove. Something we can just hop on anonymously and...chat with. Perhaps we should set this up on IRC? We want something that is easy to stay connected to. I have the skills to set this up, if the site admin is not going to do it (or would like my help.)

That's all, happy Valentine's Day everyone :)

Now, for what I think we should do to start helping eachother:

- Messaging new members.  Let's just set up a thread where we take turns sending a short friendly message to every new member.  Then if they respond, we can sort of adopt them and get them involved

- It would be neat if we could have some idea where our neighbors are.  truelove's suggestion to fill in our location would do that.  Let's all fill in our locations, even if it's very vague, perhaps per state (in the US.)

- Chat room.  Excellent idea from truelove.  Something we can just hop on anonymously and...chat with.  Perhaps we should set this up on IRC?  We want something that is easy to stay connected to.  I have the skills to set this up, if the site admin is not going to do it (or would like my help.)

Hi Empathy! I think these ideas are good, especially the third. We could create a channel.
Welcome back, sweetpatience! Hugs!

I think a chat room would be a great idea as other chat rooms you visit can be very unfriendly and busy and there are always people who are just there to cause arguments. Our chat room would be so lovely.
xx

Hey guys... Chat room is a great idea, Empathy, IRC even more so!

i just found this forum, but it seems like a step in the right direction for a lot of people. i'm willing to help.

Not to be a bummer but I don't think strangers can really help, but it's worth a try, right?

I don't think people belong here unless they are TRULY lonely. Not people who are depressed and lonely for one day!