TheDude76
Well-known member
Hi,
It's been awhile since I'd last logged in, and I'd like to give this another go.
I live in Albany, NY. Just a guy with an IT job and a strong curiosity about the world around him. This is, as I am made to understand, incredibly lame. Such is life. Anyway, when I'd last logged in (late '13), I'd been a member of a social club. I'd been a member for three years, and witnessed most members craving external validation via Facebook, but not doing a whole lot in real life. For the most part, this involved folks posting pictures of their dinner and the like. I did try very hard to get people to go out and do interesting things of their choice, and in that I was very mildly successful. So, I quit, and tried joining other local area groups, but was always brushed off. That being the case, regarding friends, I have none.
Then, there's relationships. I've done the online thing, and have witnessed a pattern after twenty years: these are not the women I want to have a relationship with. The whole "shopping" mentallity of online dating does nothing to help anyone, and I believe we'd all be much better off meeting potential partners in real life. For me, that involves attending events for groups that I'm not a part of, or heading to the bar and buying drinks for women all night, which I refuse to do. Regarding relationships, I've had none.
Soooo... any suggestions? Since I'd last logged in, I've read a lot about philosophy, particularly Existentialism and Epicureanism. I believe that Epicurus may have been on to something about purposely not being in relationships, but he was adamant in stating that people need friends, absolutely. If I was able to make some friends, I don't think the "no relationship" thing would be quite the concern that it is. Admittedly, I'm an introvert, but that doesn't mean I want to cut people completely out of my life.
I find it difficult driving around downtown, as I was just doing this evening, seeing people all over the place, and realizing that I have no way of connecting with them. Could be I'm just wildly socially inept. Anyway, I'd appreciate any and all suggestions!
Thanks,
The Dude
It's been awhile since I'd last logged in, and I'd like to give this another go.
I live in Albany, NY. Just a guy with an IT job and a strong curiosity about the world around him. This is, as I am made to understand, incredibly lame. Such is life. Anyway, when I'd last logged in (late '13), I'd been a member of a social club. I'd been a member for three years, and witnessed most members craving external validation via Facebook, but not doing a whole lot in real life. For the most part, this involved folks posting pictures of their dinner and the like. I did try very hard to get people to go out and do interesting things of their choice, and in that I was very mildly successful. So, I quit, and tried joining other local area groups, but was always brushed off. That being the case, regarding friends, I have none.
Then, there's relationships. I've done the online thing, and have witnessed a pattern after twenty years: these are not the women I want to have a relationship with. The whole "shopping" mentallity of online dating does nothing to help anyone, and I believe we'd all be much better off meeting potential partners in real life. For me, that involves attending events for groups that I'm not a part of, or heading to the bar and buying drinks for women all night, which I refuse to do. Regarding relationships, I've had none.
Soooo... any suggestions? Since I'd last logged in, I've read a lot about philosophy, particularly Existentialism and Epicureanism. I believe that Epicurus may have been on to something about purposely not being in relationships, but he was adamant in stating that people need friends, absolutely. If I was able to make some friends, I don't think the "no relationship" thing would be quite the concern that it is. Admittedly, I'm an introvert, but that doesn't mean I want to cut people completely out of my life.
I find it difficult driving around downtown, as I was just doing this evening, seeing people all over the place, and realizing that I have no way of connecting with them. Could be I'm just wildly socially inept. Anyway, I'd appreciate any and all suggestions!
Thanks,
The Dude